My Husband’s Hero Act Was My Undoing / Chapter 5: The Maid, the Fire, and the Tenant
My Husband’s Hero Act Was My Undoing

My Husband’s Hero Act Was My Undoing

Author: Rachael Morris

Chapter 5: The Maid, the Fire, and the Tenant

← Prev
Next →

She moved in that weekend, acting like my house was made of solid gold.

I led her to the storage room. "Sorry it’s tight, but it’s all we’ve got right now."

She blanched at the golden angel figurine in the corner, framed Bible verses catching light even with the lights off.

"Oh, that’s just my parents’ old stuff—supposed to bring luck. Nowhere else to put it. Just toss a cloth over it if it bothers you."

Maggie, isn’t it bad luck to keep that here? It’s for warding off evil… Is it really safe to stay?

I put on my best innocent look, but inside I was cracking up. She was so superstitious, she’d probably never sleep again.

"It’s fine. We haven’t done anything wrong. Just think of it as a doll—I’m not superstitious anyway."

I slept like a baby during that stretch.

With my assets nearly moved, I started making plans to take my daughter abroad. The house was up for sale, cash only, no questions asked.

My in-laws and Jessica Harper, on the other hand, looked like they hadn’t slept in weeks. When I stopped by the next weekend, all three had bags under their eyes.

As soon as I walked in, my mother-in-law started in: "Sometimes, I think a daughter-in-law is worse than a stranger. Says she cares, but when I’m sick, I can’t even get a bowl of chicken soup."

Sitting on my mom’s couch, in my house, and she wanted to lecture me? Who did she think she was?

I set down my bag, called Jessica over, and slapped her across the face.

Everyone stared, jaws dropped.

"Is this how you care for them? They’re your savior’s parents—can’t even make them soup?"

"Mom, tell me honestly—did Jessica Harper mistreat you? If you’re suffering, just say the word. I’m here for you!"

My mother-in-law’s lips went purple with rage. I quickly tucked her arm back under the blanket. "Don’t get upset, Mom. Careful you don’t catch cold. I know you’ve had it rough—I’m here."

Jessica, clutching her face, yelled, "Maggie, are you nuts? You’re the heartless one—why are you hitting me?"

I turned and slapped her again. "We’re having a family talk—who asked for your opinion? Trying to stir up trouble? My mom’s not that petty. Is this how you treat a hero’s family?"

Her hair was wild, eyes red, ready to throw down. My mother-in-law coughed, "Enough! Stop it!"

"We need to bring food to the hospital tonight. Jessica’s pregnant, so Maggie, you fry up some pierogis."

I straightened my clothes, and as I left, shot at Jessica, "Pregnant and already acting like a delicate flower? If I were you, I’d be scrubbing the bathroom on my hands and knees to make up for all this."

She must’ve wanted to kill me.

Later, as I was frying pierogis, she came in with a toilet brush and a bucket, her face twisted with resentment. She hovered close, pretending to clean the grout by the stove.

"Sis, you can’t just pick on me—I…"

Even as she whined, she nudged the bucket toward the hot oil!

Bang!

I barely had time to blink before the whole bucket tipped!

My heart jumped into my throat.

Suddenly, a strong arm shot out from behind me, slamming the pan lid over the skillet. Water splashed, flames sputtered, but not a single drop hit the oil.

"Hey, ma’am, watch out. Hot water and frying pans don’t mix!"

I spun around, stunned. There stood Tyler Brooks, the college grad renting the master bedroom. He reeked of booze, hair wild, half-hiding a sharp, intimidating face. Easily six-three, with a kind of effortless authority.

Jessica, clearly rattled, crouched to pick up her bucket. "How did I drop that…"

Tyler just snorted and nodded at me. "Hey, can we talk for a sec?"

Before leaving, I shot Jessica a look that could curdle milk.

In the bedroom, Tyler quietly asked if I was selling the house—he wanted to buy it. He and his friends were launching a startup and could scrape together the money if I could wait a few months.

I checked his ID. Since I still needed time to deal with the Sutton mess, I agreed.

When I stepped out, my mother-in-law blocked me in the hallway.

She crossed her arms, glaring. "Maggie, remember you’re still tied to the Sutton family. A widow alone with a guy in her room—what do you think people will say? You should stay out of the rental business. Hey, student—come talk to me about the rent."

Oh, really?

If she wanted a show, I renewed Tyler Brooks’s lease for six more months, letting him parade around in front of her just to spite her.

She thought she could police my reputation?

← Prev
Next →

You may also like

I Was My Wife’s Plan B—Until I Left
I Was My Wife’s Plan B—Until I Left
4.7
She brought her old flame home—and I lost everything except myself. When my wife Linda moved her injured high school sweetheart, Howard, into our house, I became invisible overnight. Forced to play caretaker and test dummy while my own health faded, I watched as my family’s loyalty was lavished on a man who wasn’t me. Decades of sacrifice—cooking, cleaning, raising our son and grandson—meant nothing when compared to Linda’s nostalgia for what might have been. Pushed to the breaking point, I walked away, choosing dignity over devotion. But freedom comes with its own kind of heartbreak. Now Linda’s paralyzed, Howard’s gone, and my son begs for forgiveness I’m not sure I can give. As old wounds surface and bitter truths unravel, can a man finally claim his own life—or is regret all that’s left? If you spend your life serving others, what do you have when they’re gone?
I Was His Test—Now I’m His Exit
I Was His Test—Now I’m His Exit
4.8
Betrayal doesn’t whisper—it screams in neon. For three years, I sacrificed everything to care for my comatose husband, only to start seeing a barrage of floating comments that expose every secret, every lie, and every humiliation I was never meant to know. Each step I take, the invisible audience mocks my devotion and cheers for the woman stealing my life. When an accident proves their predictions true, and my so-called best friend is unmasked as the ‘heroine’ in their twisted story, I realize I was never the main character in my own marriage. But what happens when the side character finally breaks the script? Is it too late for me to rewrite my ending—or will the world keep rooting for my downfall?
Married the Villain in Their Story
Married the Villain in Their Story
4.9
They say I’m just the villain’s sidekick—so why does he hold my hand like I’m his only happy ending? Two days after our arranged marriage, I start seeing cruel, anonymous comments floating in the air—insults, accusations, spoilers about my life. Turns out, I’m the throwaway character in someone else’s love story, doomed to be dumped so my husband Grant can end up with his true soulmate. But as I stumble through awkward breakfasts, secret kisses, and the chaos of falling for a man I was never meant to keep, I realize the audience is always waiting for me to fail. Every move I make is judged—by strangers, by fate, maybe even by Grant. But when his hand finds mine in a crowded mall, and his lips find me in the dark, I start to question the script. Am I really just a plot device, or can I rewrite the ending? If loving him means breaking the story, will I finally get to be the hero—or will I be erased for good?
My Husband’s Secret Lover Is a Man
My Husband’s Secret Lover Is a Man
4.7
I thought I had the perfect marriage, until a haunting dream revealed my husband’s betrayal—with another man. Now every touch, every whisper, makes me question if I’m just the extra in my own love story. How do you fight for a husband whose heart was never yours to begin with?
His Secret Wife, My Public Shame
His Secret Wife, My Public Shame
4.9
He betrayed me with words—now the whole world thinks I’m the villain. When I discovered Carter’s secret love letters to Emily, our perfect family shattered overnight. Everyone—from my mother-in-law to his coworkers—urged me to forgive, to keep up appearances, to think of our daughter Maddie and let it go. But the ache of betrayal is everywhere: in the way Carter avoids my eyes, in the weight of the silence between us, in the humiliation of being called crazy while his mistress plays the victim. I gave up my career to support his dreams, only to be replaced by a fantasy I can never live up to. As gossip spreads and loyalties shift, I’m forced to choose between breaking apart the life I built or living with a wound that never heals. Can a marriage survive when everyone insists the pain is all in your head? If the world wants to cast me as the villain, what happens when I finally step into the role for real?
I Was Never His Heroine
I Was Never His Heroine
4.9
Love was supposed to be simple—until I found out I was just the supporting character in his story. For three years, Carter Winslow kept me at arm’s length, refusing even the smallest touch. On the night I tried to break through his walls, my world shattered—mocking voices in my head, secrets I was never meant to know, and a cruel twist: I was never the heroine. Now, the real leading lady is stepping into the spotlight, and I’m left with nothing but heartbreak, humiliation, and a new resolve. If I’m destined to lose everything, why not flip the script? Will I fade out quietly, or will I set the whole story on fire before my exit? Who really controls the ending—me, or the narrative that wants me gone?
His Affair Went Viral—But I’m the Wife
His Affair Went Viral—But I’m the Wife
4.9
Everyone saw the headline: a Manhattan mogul forced a jet to turn around for love, but the real heartbreak was mine. While the world obsessed over hashtags and the glamorous actress he chased, I was the wife—trapped in a decade-long marriage, invisible at the center of the spectacle. My husband’s affair wasn’t a secret anymore; it was a viral event, and even my best friend urged me to fight fire with fire. But what happens when the woman everyone envies is just as lost as the mistress who broke her home? Beneath the diamond-dusted facade, loyalty and pride become weapons, and every betrayal is broadcast for millions to judge. He says we’re both prisoners of our past, that neither of us can truly walk away—but this time, I might be ready to prove him wrong. The world thinks this is a husband’s redemption arc, but what if the wife finally takes center stage? If I leave, does he lose everything—or will I finally find out who I am without him?
I Was Her Stand-In Husband
I Was Her Stand-In Husband
4.8
She came home on our anniversary with another man’s mark—and I didn’t even ask why. For three years, I played the perfect husband, a stand-in for the man she truly loved. Now, with only seven days left until my assignment ends and I can finally leave this world, every lie, every bitter silence, and every leftover gift is one step closer to my freedom. But when Rachel tries to pull me back with guilt and old routines, I realize I’m done being her lapdog. If she wants Lucas, why not go to him? The clock is ticking, the portal is opening, and our marriage is about to shatter. But will walking away finally set me free—or will the truth I’ve hidden destroy us both?
My Husband Was Always Watching
My Husband Was Always Watching
4.9
I was the perfect wife—until my secrets came out. For six months, I played the role of sweet, delicate trophy wife to Graham Sterling: always smiling, never letting him see the real me. But one bar fight, a viral scandal, and a mistaken showdown with his supposed mistress later, my careful act crumbled—just as old wounds and family lies threatened everything. When my past is splashed across the tabloids at a high-stakes gala, it’s not just my reputation on the line, but the business alliance our marriage was built on. Can I survive being exposed, or will I lose the only man who ever saw the real me? As betrayals, business wars, and my own insecurities collide, I must decide: keep hiding behind my mask—or risk it all for a love that was always watching, even in the shadows. When the truth is finally revealed, will Graham still want me, or was our fairytale always built on a lie?
Villain in My Own Marriage
Villain in My Own Marriage
4.9
He thought he was the hero of his own love story—until his wife left him alone in a hospital, and a snarky, invisible audience began commenting on his every move. Evan Turner, rich, successful, and married to his childhood sweetheart, suddenly finds himself the villain in someone else's narrative—a supporting character in a romance that isn’t his. As Lila grows distant and a mysterious 'male lead' enters the picture, Evan’s world unravels: jealousy, heartbreak, and a surreal barrage of mocking comments haunt his every step. When illness strikes and the marriage teeters on the brink, Evan faces a choice—accept his role as the villain, or write a new ending for himself. But as Lila prepares to leave for good, will Evan reclaim his story, or be erased from it forever? Whose narrative will survive when the final curtain falls?