Karma Strikes Back: The Truth Behind My Husband’s House Rental Ruse

My Husband Pretended to Rent Our House While He Actually Owned It, Karma Didn’t Let It Slide

Emma had always been the thrifty one, always making sure she had enough money left over after paying her rent. However, Emma finds out one day that the rent she has been paying is actually for her mother-in-law’s monthly allowances when her husband is gone for work and she pays the rent. Emma teams up with Karma, prepared to carry out justice.

I had always been a tightwad, carefully planning out every dollar of my pay. I watched my friends enjoy luxury like new clothes, makeup, and trips, but they were things I had to postpone.

“My goal is to take a vacation in a sunny location,” I expressed to Jessica, my closest friend. “To just lounge around on the beach and sip cocktails.”

Jessica would reply, “Soon.” “I know that you’re close to sorting the house out and finally being free of rent and whatnot.”

The residence. That was the source of our issues.

The rent for our small house accounted for a sizeable amount of my monthly income. My spouse, Paul, and I split the rent, but it was always his responsibility to pay our mysterious landlord.

I had complete faith in him, and naturally, I never questioned anything he did.

Paul would say, “Darling, don’t worry.” “I’ll take the money from our joint account each month and do the rest.”

Years went by, and I kept making sacrifices. Paul paid the water and power bills, and we split the cost of the groceries. Even if it wasn’t always easy, we both understood that it was a necessary task.

Paul had to depart early one day for a quick business trip. We had both grown accustomed to him leaving on these trips, so it wasn’t like anything new.

“Do you want me to take care of rent?” Helping him pack up his clothes, I asked. “I know that you’re going to be traveling on the first of the month.”

“Thank you, but no,” he replied. “I’ll try and log on from my laptop and do it, or I’ll just handle it when I’m back.”

“You already do so lot for us, honey. Allow me to assist and lessen your load,” I uttered.

With a heavy sigh, Paul removed two ties from his closet.

Curtly, “It’s fine, Emma,” he said. “I’ve got it under control.”

That was it; my spouse departed early the following morning. He never brought up the subject of rent again.

I left my workplace for the bank during lunch as the days passed and the rent was due the next day.

“Where are you headed off to?” As I gathered my purse and phone to head out of the office, Jessica asked.

“Just to the bank,” I answered back. “I’ll be back soon and then we can get something for lunch.”

Ready to ease my husband’s financial burden, I entered the bank. However, what I found was an entirely different universe.

I went up to a teller and filled her in on everything that was pertinent to my case.

“I just need to transfer rent money to my landlord,” I said. “My husband usually does this stuff, but he’s away on business.”

The teller glanced at my identifying document, grinned, and proceeded.

“Of course, ma’am,” the teller replied, accessing the account information. “Could you confirm the account number?”

Using the notepad I had swiped from Paul’s desk that morning, I read the number. He used to save all of his vital information on just one notepad.

Saying “thank you,” the teller entered the number.

She questioned, “A Mrs. Helen Parker?” “That’s your landlord’s account?”

I blinked, perplexed.

“Peter Henley? Do you really think that’s what it says? My palms feeling clammy, I let out a cry.

Sensing a problem, the teller double-checked the data, frowning slightly as she focused.

“Money has been sent from your account to this account. In actuality, it has been getting funding for years.”

Paul’s mom. Paul Parker’s mother was Helen Parker.

“There must be some mistake, surely,” I replied.

“I’m afraid not, ma’am,” she remarked. The monthly payments have been made to this account on a continuous basis. Look, if you’d rather go through everything yourself, I can print it all out for you.”

Too numb with shock, I nodded.

I drove home after leaving the bank in a stupor, completely forgetting that I had to return to work.

As soon as I got home, I immediately went to Paul’s study and started going through his drawers. I required clarification.

“How on earth have I been paying for his mother’s lifestyle all these years?” I uttered out loud.

I found what I needed pretty quickly. It was our house’s ownership document, signed and dated many years ago, showing Paul as the only owner.As soon as I got home, I immediately went to Paul’s study and started going through his drawers. I required clarification.

“How on earth have I been paying for his mother’s lifestyle all these years?” I uttered out loud.

I found what I needed pretty quickly. It was our house’s ownership document, signed and dated many years ago, showing Paul as the only owner.

Unsure of what to think, I sat silently for a short while until my phone rang.

“Emma?” Jessica’s voice carried throughout the space. “How are you doing? What prevented you from returning to the office?”

I swiftly updated my closest friend on the drama.

“So, the rent that you’ve been paying is actually Helen’s allowance?” Jessica let out a gasp. “That’s so ridiculous!”

“Yes,” I said while putting my hands over my head. “I’m at a loss for what to do. Paul will not be in for a few days.”

“Did he take his laptop?” Jessica enquired.

I answered, “No, actually, he didn’t.”

“After that, go over it! Seek out additional details!”

With shaky hands, I turned on his laptop and saw a string of messages that Paul and Helen had exchanged. The texts explained their strategy in detail, including how they would keep me in the dark and make sure I kept paying the rent—that is, how they would direct my money to her.

“What the heck?” I muttered something to myself.

Karma showed up quickly as the full weight of the treachery descended upon me. Floods were caused by a strong storm that passed through our town that evening.

My house was one of them, of course.

The following morning, water began to leak through the ceiling, and minutes later, the entire house was under water.

After gathering my possessions, I headed to a hotel. I wasn’t going to go through this by myself.

Jessica told me, “You can come to me,” when I called to let her know I was staying at a motel.

“No,” I replied. “I’ll be here for a time, but I don’t intend to stay in the house long. I’ll go to the house and gather the remaining of my belongings when Paul gets back.”

I went over to the house the day Paul was supposed to return and started going through the items that had not been harmed by the flooding.

Entering the house, he inquired, “Emma, are you okay?” “What happened here?”

I looked up at him, my eyes icy.

“I’m doing OK. The house isn’t, though. Some areas of the ceiling don’t appear too good. However, it’s fortunate that’s not our home, right? It may be covered by the landlord’s insurance.”

To his credit, my spouse is not a moron; he was able to recognize my irony with ease.

Paul turned pale as he realized he was stuck.

“I can explain, Emma,” he said.

“Don’t bother,” I said. “I discovered your texts to Helen, the ownership documentation, and the bank records. I am well informed.”

Paul lowered his shoulders in surrender.

“How could you do that to me?” Silently, I inquired. “Especially now that I was aware of my want to take care of myself. I wanted us to go and create memories together. But for the entire time, I was only taking care of your mother with my hard-earned money?”

“What should I tell you, exactly? that she needs it because she’s old” Paul queried.

I shot back, “We both know that’s not the case.” “Your father gave her everything. She is doing well. Besides, even if I had known, I still would have wanted to help Helen. It’s the years that you have been lying.”

Paul told them to just wait. “I’m sure that we can work through this.”

“We are unable to,” I answered. “You’ve been using me for years and I’m finally done with all of this.”

After leaving the house, I returned to the hotel, where Jessica had said she would come over and spend the night with me.

I sought legal advice the following day and battled to retrieve the money I had inadvertently given to Helen.

Ultimately, the court found in my favor and justice was served, ordering Paul and his mother to reimburse me for every penny I had provided them over the years.

I bought a little apartment with my newly acquired financial independence, somewhere I could quickly lock up and go when I wanted to go away.

What about Paul? I filed for divorce and left him in the past with his mother when the money was resolved.