My mother-in-law’s friend raided my closet while I was away, but karma had a surprise that made any revenge seem mild.
Imagine someone going through your closet while you’re not home—now picture it being your mother-in-law’s best friend trying on your designer outfits. That’s what happened to me. I’m Karen, a 32-year-old entrepreneur and mother, and I recently found myself in this unbelievable situation.
It all began a couple of weeks ago when I was packing for a business trip to New York. My mother-in-law, Janet, casually walked into my bedroom while I was getting ready to leave. She reassured me not to worry, promising to take care of my husband, Dave, and our daughter, Marly, while I was gone. I appreciated her offer, but little did I know what she was really up to.
As I packed, Janet’s gaze wandered to my walk-in closet, admiring my collection. I brushed it off, eager to get to the airport. I trusted her completely, but looking back, that was a mistake.
Two days into my trip, I received a text from my neighbor and best friend, Lisa. She asked if I knew someone named Sheryl. When I replied no, she informed me that this 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 for proof, and she sent me a video of a middle-aged woman prancing around my living room in my favorite red dress and applying what looked like my Chanel lipstick.
Furious, I called Lisa, who confirmed that Sheryl had been entering my house whenever Dave wasn’t around. She had assumed Sheryl was a relative until she caught a glimpse of her trying on my things through the window. I was seething but knew I had to keep my cool until I could get home.
When I finally returned, I was ready to confront the situation. I found Dave, who was unaware of everything, and asked where Janet was. He pointed me to our bedroom, where I was shocked to find my closet in complete disarray—clothes scattered everywhere, makeup left open, and my wedding dress lying on the floor, stained with red wine.
Janet appeared, holding Marly’s hand, trying to downplay the mess as harmless fun. She explained that Sheryl needed something nice to wear for a date and thought it was okay to borrow a few things. I couldn’t believe her audacity. Dave was equally upset, confronting his mother about the breach of our trust and privacy.
Just then, the doorbell rang, and it was Sheryl, smirking as she introduced herself. She claimed Janet assured her it was fine to borrow my things. I calmly but firmly told her that what she did wasn’t sharing—it was trespassing and theft. Dave told her to leave immediately, and I demanded that Janet do the same.
Tensions ran high in our household over the next few days. Though I was furious, I chose not to seek revenge. My friend Lisa advised me to let karma handle it, and I decided to follow her lead.
A week later, I received a frantic call from Janet. She told me Sheryl was in the hospital with a severe allergic reaction that left her face swollen and covered in a rash. The doctors suspected it was caused by the makeup she had used—my makeup. Embarrassed and remorseful, Janet apologized for her actions and asked for forgiveness.
While I was satisfied to see karma working its magic, 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 conversation with her about respecting our boundaries, making it clear that her actions were unacceptable.
In the end, I didn’t have to lift a finger. Karma did its job, teaching both Janet and Sheryl a valuable lesson. Our family grew stronger through the experience, and Janet now respects the boundaries we’ve set. Sometimes, the best revenge is simply allowing the universe to take care of things, with a touch of humor.
