While I was on a business trip, I found out that my mother-in-law’s best friend had gone through my closet and tried on my clothes. But in the end, karma took care of everything, making any plans for revenge unnecessary. Just imagine someone going through your personal belongings while you’re away—now picture it being your mother-in-law’s friend trying on your designer outfits. That’s exactly what happened to me.
I’m Karen, a 32-year-old entrepreneur and mother. This strange situation happened just a couple of weeks ago as I was getting ready for a business trip to New York. As I was packing, my mother-in-law, Janet, walked into my bedroom, reassuring me not to worry. She promised to take good care of my husband, Dave, and our daughter, Marly, while I was away. I appreciated her offer and trusted her completely—a decision I would soon regret.
Two days into my trip, I got a surprising text from my neighbor and best friend, Lisa. She asked if I knew someone named Sheryl. When I told her I didn’t, she informed me that Sheryl, a friend of Janet’s, had been spending time in my house.
Lisa had seen her wearing my clothes and using my makeup! Shocked, I asked Lisa for proof. She sent me a video of a middle-aged woman strutting around my living room in my favorite red dress and applying what looked like my Chanel lipstick. I was furious.
I called Lisa, who confirmed that Sheryl had been entering my house whenever Dave wasn’t home. Lisa had thought Sheryl was a relative until she saw her through the window trying on my things. I was enraged but had to keep my cool until I got back home. When I finally returned, I was ready for a confrontation.
I found Dave, who had no idea what had been going on, and asked where Janet was. He pointed me toward our bedroom. When I walked in, I was shocked. My closet was a mess—clothes were thrown everywhere, makeup was left open, and, to my horror, my wedding dress was on the floor, stained with red wine.
Janet appeared, holding Marly’s hand, and tried to laugh it off as harmless fun. She explained that Sheryl had a date and needed something nice to wear, so she thought it would be fine to borrow a few things. I couldn’t believe her nerve.
Dave was just as angry as I was. He confronted his mother about violating our trust and privacy. As if things couldn’t get worse, the doorbell rang, and there stood Sheryl, with a smug smile on her face. She introduced herself, claiming that Janet had assured her it was fine to borrow my things. I calmly but firmly told her, “What you did wasn’t sharing; it was trespassing and theft.” Dave told her to leave and never come back, and I insisted that Janet leave as well.
Tensions were high at home for the next few days. I was furious but decided not to seek revenge. My friend Lisa suggested that I let karma take care of it, and I decided to follow her advice. A week later, I got a panicked call from Janet.
She told me that Sheryl was in the hospital with a severe allergic reaction that had left her face swollen and covered in a rash. The doctors thought it was caused by the makeup she had used—my makeup. Janet, embarrassed and full of regret, apologized for everything and asked for forgiveness.
Though I felt a sense of satisfaction seeing karma in action, I knew it would take time to rebuild trust with Janet. She made efforts to make amends, replacing the makeup, cleaning my wedding dress, and even hiring a professional to organize my closet. Dave also had a serious talk with her about respecting our boundaries, making it clear that her actions were unacceptable.
In the end, I didn’t need to do anything. Karma delivered the lesson, teaching both Janet and Sheryl a hard truth. Our family grew stronger through the experience, and Janet now respects the boundaries we’ve set. Sometimes, the best revenge is letting the universe handle it—with a little bit of humor.
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