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My husband was shocked and hurt when I asked for a divorce after thirty years of marriage. He felt he had always been a good husband. But I had a reason he didn’t even guessed about.

Isn’t it funny how people’s perceptions of the very same event can be so different? Even something like a marriage. My husband Zack thought he was a happily married man, I knew I was unhappy.

Our two realities finally clashed when I asked him for a divorce on our thirtieth wedding anniversary, two weeks after our third and youngest child left home.

He stood there staring at me in absolute shock. “What?” he asked. “Who’s getting a divorce?”

“You,” I told him. “Or rather, I am.”

Zack sat down heavily, still staring. “You’re divorcing me?”

“Yes,” I repeated. “I’m divorcing you.”

“But why?” he cried, and I was surprised to see tears in his eyes. “I love you, Kelly, I always have, and I never cheated on you, not ever!”

“That’s true,” I said. “You never cheated and you never drank or gambled.”

One of the most important things in a relationship is to LISTEN to what the other person is really saying.

“But…Then why?” he asked angrily. “I did NOTHING and you’re divorcing me? Are you having an affair?”

“NO!” I cried. “I’m not! Do you want to know why I’m leaving you, Zack? I’ll tell you…” I walked right up to him and looked him in the eyes.

“I’m leaving you because you did NOTHING! When the children came and I was holding a full-time job and coming home to do the housework alone, you did NOTHING.

“When I was so ill I could barely get out of bed, you did NOTHING; when my father died and I was devastated by grief, you did NOTHING; when I went through menopause and had depression, you did NOTHING.

“When I was so sad that our two oldest children left home, you did NOTHING. You never brought me a flower just to say you loved me, you never stood up for me when your mother was so mean to me.

“That time I twisted my ankle and I could barely walk, I had to get out of bed at 6:00 am and fix breakfast — and you lay there snoring and did NOTHING. Nothing seems to be what you do best!”

“You never told me!” Zack cried with an injured look on his face.

“I told you every time I asked for your help,” I said. “Every time I snuggled up for a kiss and you were more interested in what was on TV. I told you when I begged for your love and attention, for romance.

“I told you five years ago when I asked you to go to couples therapy with me and you refused because there was NOTHING wrong and you were happy.”

“We can go now,” Zack said hopefully. “Set up the appointment and I’ll come!”

“Of course, now that you see me determined to leave,” I commented. “But you don’t actually care enough to go look for a therapist and set up the appointment yourself.”

“Please, Kelly,” Zack begged. “Please give me a chance to make you happy!”

I stared at him and a deep sadness welled up in my heart. I shook my head. “At any time in the last thirty years, I would have given anything to hear you say those words.

“Now I look at you and all I feel is sadness — and pity. You’ve never bothered to make me happy before Zack, and honestly, I’m not wasting one more day of my life on you.”

I moved out the next day and found myself a pretty little apartment in Venice Beach and started a new life. I sold my car and started cycling everywhere even to work.

My children were shocked, especially my oldest daughter Amy who told me her father was devastated and seeing a therapist for depression. I was sorry for him, but my own happiness was finally my priority.

I took up dancing, made new friends, threw out the dowdy old wardrobe that I’d bought to please Zack, and changed my hair. My children were stunned and said I looked twenty years younger.

I felt younger and pretty, and energetic, and hopeful. A year later, I met Sam, a sweet, considerate man who spoils me, lavishes care and attention on me, and wants to marry me.

I guess I’m still a bit nervous about taking the big step again, but we’ve set a date for the summer. I couldn’t have fallen for a nicer man, and I am finally learning what real love is all about.

As for Zack, I hear he is now dating a much younger woman who orders him around like a slave, has him hopping to her every whim, and spends his hard-earned money like water. I guess we all get what we deserve!

What can we learn from this story?

• What we do is just as important as what we don’t do. Zack didn’t cheat, but he also didn’t offer Kelly the love and support she needed.
• One of the most important things in a relationship is to LISTEN to what the other person is really saying and to consider their needs and wishes as important as your own — something Zack didn’t do until it was too late.

Ricky Nelson was a musician and actor who died in 1985. In a twist of fate, he made a decision that ended up saving his twin sons’ lives. But where are the boys now?

Ricky Nelson’s life came to a heartbreaking end in a tragic plane crash, leaving behind four children. Before his passing, he had made a last-minute decision that saved his twin sons from being on that doomed flight.

Decades later, the twins continued to honor their father’s memory in their way. Take a look at how they carried on his legacy and what Ricky’s children have been up to in recent years.

A Tumultuous Marriage and Family Life

Ricky was a beloved figure in the entertainment world, known for his musical talent and for becoming a teen idol. Rising to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, he captivated audiences with his boy-next-door charm and hits like “Hello Mary Lou” and “Garden Party.”

He first gained national attention when he starred in his parents’ radio and television show, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” The show gave him the platform to launch his successful music career, with hits spanning rock, pop, and country.

However, behind the glitz and glamour, his personal life was far from idyllic. In 1963, he married Kristin Harmon, an actress and painter, and the daughter of football player Tom Harmon and actress Elyse Knox.

The couple had four children together—daughter Tracy, twin sons Matthew and Gunnar, and their youngest son Sam. Their marriage, however, became rocky as Kristin struggled with substance abuse.

Despite attempts at rehabilitation, their marriage suffered. Eventually, in 1982, after nearly two decades together, they separated in what was described as a “vitriolic” divorce.

Despite the issues in their marriage, Ricky remained devoted to his children. Kristin, on the other hand, struggled with her addiction even after the split. Unfortunately, in May 2018, she passed away from a heart attack.

Tracy announced her mother’s passing on Facebook, sharing in part, “A force. A reckoning. Artist, first, always. Anarchist, bohemian, beauty. Hurricane Kris. No one could blow the house down like she could. And no one could make something out of nothing like she could.”

A Devastating Plane Crash and a Life-Saving Decision

On December 31, 1985, Ricky died when his DC-3 plane crashed en route to a New Year’s Eve concert in Dallas, Texas. He was traveling with his fiancée and five band members when the aircraft went down in a wooded area near De Kalb, Texas.

The pilot and copilot, though critically burned, were the only survivors. While the world mourned Ricky’s death, an eerie twist to the story emerged — his twin sons were supposed to be on that plane.

At 18, the twins were beginning to follow in their father’s footsteps, pursuing a career in music with his support. The boys had been looking forward to spending New Year’s Eve with their dad and traveling on his private plane for the first time.

However, Gunnar later recounted how their father called them the day before the flight with an unusual request. Initially, Ricky had planned for the twins to meet him in Alabama and fly together to Dallas. But in a phone call that Gunnar described as “chilling,” Ricky changed his mind.

“[…] He sounded strange — not the way he normally sounded. And he said, ‘You know, boys, I was just thinking…I want you guys to fly to Dallas directly, commercial, and meet me there,'” Gunnar recalled.

The boys were confused by their father’s insistence, as the point of the entire trip was to fly on his DC-3 plane for the first time. Ricky was “adamant,” and Gunnar added, “Our dad was such an affable guy that when he was sounding like that, we both knew that it wasn’t the time to argue.”

That decision, which Gunnar believed likely came from his father’s gut feeling, saved their lives. Matthew learned of his father’s death when a radio station began playing Ricky’s songs. He initially thought it was a special tribute to his father’s music, unaware of what had transpired.

He pulled over, “[…] And the DJ came on after a long pause on the last note of ‘Garden Party’ and said, ‘This has been a tribute to Rick Nelson, who was killed with his band […]'” Matthew shared.

He was with someone at the time, who looked at him and said, “It can’t be true!” Overwhelmed, Matthew, according to the person he was with, passed out and did not remember much of what happened afterward.

Gunnar learned of the tragedy shortly after, seeing the devastating news on television. “So, you know, that whole thing of ‘Take the time to notify the family,’ that didn’t happen with us because that comes with being a family like ours,” Matthew revealed.

In the wake of the crash, the Nelson twins faced not only emotional devastation but also financial challenges. “People think that we came into money,” Matthew remarked.

“We were like the poor kids in the rich neighborhood. Our dad died, and unfortunately, the truth was, he was over $4 million in debt, and we spent years paying that back,” he explained.

Carrying On the Nelson Legacy

Despite the profound loss and the financial burdens they faced, Ricky’s children went on to build successful lives, each in their own way, while keeping their father’s memory alive.

Tracy became an actress like her parents. She appeared in films and TV shows such as “Square Pegs” and “Yours, Mine and Ours”, establishing a career of her own.

She, however, faced a health battle when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. Following treatment, she recovered and became pregnant two and a half years later.

After becoming a parent, Tracy reflected on her relationship with her own parents, and said of her bond with her father, “I had a close but strange relationship with my dad because he was such a kid in so many ways. I was always reminding him to do things. I think he sometimes resented that.”

After the plane crash, Kristin’s brother, actor Mark Harmon, attempted to gain custody of Sam. Mark eventually gave up the custody battle, though Sam lived with his uncle while his mother was in rehab. Like his siblings, Sam pursued a career in entertainment, becoming both an actor and musician.

Matthew and Gunnar followed most closely in their father’s footsteps. In the early 1990s, they achieved massive success with their rock band, Nelson, making a name for themselves in the music industry with their harmony-laden power-pop sound.

The duo enjoyed widespread fame during the pre-grunge era. However, as the musical landscape shifted, the twins found themselves out of sync with the emerging grunge movement, but they continued to create music and maintain a loyal fan base.

More than three decades after Ricky’s death, Matthew and Gunnar remained inspired by their father. In addition to their own music, the twins regularly performed “Ricky Nelson Remembered” concerts, paying tribute to their father’s timeless hits.

“It’s an ongoing labor of love, an open letter to our dad, who was our best friend,” Matthew said. These performances not only kept Ricky’s music alive but also served as a deeply personal connection to the man who shaped their lives.

In the years since Ricky Nelson’s death, his children faced immense challenges, both personal and financial. However, they have continued to honor his memory — from Tracy Nelson’s acting career to Sam and the twins’ dedication to preserving their father’s musical legacy.

• Desi Arnaz Jr. started life as a star after being born to iconic parents.
• He later struggled with some serious issues and dated a lot before finally settling down.
• The actor had a child and granddaughter but lost one of them before fans saw him in recent years.

Desi Jr. found fame at a very young age before struggling with addiction issues. After he cleaned up his life and stopped being a playboy, he got married. He’s since lost his granddaughter and now prefers living out of the spotlight after putting his career on hold.

Desi Jr.’s Start in Life

Desi Arnaz Jr. is the famous son of the late Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, who appeared together on “I Love Lucy.” The show is significant in Desi Jr.’s life as his mother became pregnant with him while starring in it.

On January 19, 1953, viewers watched as Lucille’s character, Lucy Ricardo, gave birth to a son, Ricky Ricardo, on the sitcom. Desi Jr., now 77, once revealed that the episode got shot four months before his birth. The show’s writers had already decided that Lucille’s child on the sitcom would be a boy.

The actress’ real-life son was born on the morning of that Monday while the episode of his birth aired that same night. Clearing the confusion about his birth, Desi Jr. explained, “Because it was in all the newspapers the next day, many people thought that I was born on the air.”

Viewers continued believing that Lucille’s son started his life playing the role of Ricky, but he never did. Instead, several different actors played the character over the years. After “I Love Lucy” concluded a few years later, Desi Jr.’s mother moved on to star in the sitcom “Here’s Lucy.”

Lucille was described as the queen of television comedy, having appeared in series like “The Lucy Show.” In 1986, she made her comeback by starring in the ill-fated “Life With Lucy.” Three years later, she died from cardiac arrest after having open-heart surgery.

She was 77 when she left Desi Jr. an orphan since his father passed on a few years before. Although Lucille’s child did get into acting, he had personal struggles that caused him to put his career on hold. One of his issues was addiction.

Struggling with Addiction

Desi Jr. became famous at age 14 as part of a pop rock band, “Dino, Desi, and Billy,” that released the track “I’m a Fool.” He got into acting by co-starring alongside his older sister, Lucie Arnaz, in “Here’s Lucy” from 1968 until 1974. In 1970, he got into film acting by featuring in “Red Sky at Morning.”

His role earned him a Golden Globe Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, and he also starred in “Billy Two Hats.” By age 29, things were quite difficult for Desi Jr. with him describing himself as “dangerously close to the terminal stage of (substance) abuse.”

He felt empty inside and tried self-medicating with alcohol and abusing substances. Lucille’s son confessed his distress saying, “I was destroying myself,” and added, “I got tired of being me.” His substance abuse affected his parents badly too.

Lucille once said, “I can’t tell you how much his addiction hurt us.” She admitted that she tried listening and being understanding to her son. The actress also tried to be strong and tough during that challenging time but “It tore me apart.”

After his parents divorced when he was six, he maintained a relationship with his father. When his son turned 16, Desi Sr. followed a family tradition of giving him a formal letter. The letter, which saved the young actor’s life, marked Desi Jr.’s transition from being a boy into a man.

The older man urged his son to simplify his life and “learn from the difficulties.” Lucille’s ex-husband told their son, “The purpose in life is not the temporary rewards but a deeper lasting happiness.”

His father’s advice came in handy for Desi Jr., who finally voluntarily “detoxed” in a medical treatment program. Lucille and her ex-husband got invited to go with their son, and they did. Their lastborn child fondly recalled that it “was probably the most amazing thing that could have happened.”

He recalled how supportive they were, and what happened to him helped them tremendously. Going into rehabilitation helped Desi Jr. to recover and “The Mambo Kings” producers later asked him to star as his late father. Desi Sr. passed away in 1986, but his son declined to play the role.

At the time, his mother had just died, and he felt the timing wasn’t quite right, but he later reconsidered. Between his struggles with substance abuse, Desi Jr. also had a busy romantic life.

Being a Playboy

At age 25, Desi Jr. confessed that years before, he used to be a playboy. From age 13, he thought he was in love despite not knowing what it was. But, by 25, his attitude was, “If it feels good, hang in there,” adding, “I guess I’m a playman.”

His playboy days got covered publicly. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School but chose not to go to college. At age 17, he dated 23-year-old Patty Duke. In his middle twenties, Desi Jr. called Patty a “friend” and refused to discuss their past.

His sister revealed that Patti had loved her brother but was quite unstable at the time. She was so into him that she chased him all over the country until he ended their relationship. He met Liza Minnelli at age three when she opened his bedroom door and introduced herself.

Two years after dating Patti, he ran into her in Las Vegas after Cabaret, and they started a relationship when she was 26. For 18 months, the couple lived together, but according to him, they always traveled. Traveling that much was hard on their relationship.

Liza ended up leaving Desi Jr. for Peter Sellers. After Sellers, and before the actress separated from her second husband, Jack Haley Jr., she saw Desi Jr. in New York. Speaking of his bond with Liza, Lucille’s son said they now know each other better because they know themselves better.

He also had relationships with Kim Darby, and Tina Sinatra, and tried seeing skater Dorothy Hamill. His and Dorothy’s only date backfired when he introduced her to Dino Martin. Desi Jr.’s friend and former pop-rock bandmate became her doubles partner, with the former saying, “I wasn’t jealous then,” but “now I am.”

Dino recalled, “Desi was in love three times a week in those days.” During the time they had their band, Dino was the “wild man,” Billy Hinsche was the best musician, and Lucille’s son was “the lover of the group.”

Dino said they didn’t have a shortage of groupies who were “10 to 12 years old.” Despite having a busy love life when he was younger, the actor eventually settled down and had a family.

Settling Down

In 1992, Desi Jr. was 38 when he revealed that he’d finally settled down. He lived in Nevada and had remarried a wife who was a dance teacher. The couple shared a 14-year-old daughter from his wife’s first marriage.

The actor appeared to have calmed down drastically and worked for the New Life Foundation, a nonprofit spiritual development program, as its national spokesperson. On occasion, when he felt they were worth it, he did theater work and movies.

But he clarified that he wasn’t chasing after a career as he focused on putting back old-fashioned values in his life. He was more interested in living a simple life. But Desi Jr. also had a biological child, Julia Howe, from a fling with ex-model Susan Callahan-Howe.

Desi Jr.’s Tumultuous Relationship with His Daughter

Since childhood, Julia’s mother said her father is the child of Hollywood Royalty. When her grandmother, Lucille, died, she decided to handle matters on her own. She got a subpoena to get a DNA test, and at age 20, the procedure got done and returned with a result of 99.97%.

Soon after, the father and daughter started having a “beautiful relationship.” The star’s daughter knew he didn’t have to create a relationship with her, but felt when she was 18 and over, he could’ve acknowledged her as his, yet chose not to.

The bond Julia built with her father didn’t last long according to her. By 1994, she was 25, a substance abuser, and worked near Manhattan. She sadly didn’t have anything positive to say about him.

Julia explained that all she wanted from Desi Jr. was for him to pick up her calls and answer her letters. She noted how her father helped others who had substance and alcohol abuse problems but failed to reach out to assist “his own flesh and blood,” adding, “Maybe he’s weak like me.”

The father-daughter pair’s relationship seemed to get better over the years, and by 2021, Julia revealed how he helped her a lot throughout her life. The then-25-year-old also noted how her father assisted her daughter, Desiree S. Anzalone, through college. The star’s granddaughter sadly died in recent years.

Losing His Granddaughter

Desi Jr. built a relationship with his granddaughter before she died on September 27, 2020, from stage 4 breast cancer. The 31-year-old lost her battle with the disease at Connecticut’s Smilow Cancer Center. She was born on September 15, 1989, to Julia and Mario Anzalone.

Desiree was Desi Sr. and Lucille’s first great-grandchild. Her mother said she died “peacefully” but confessed that watching Desiree “slip away” isn’t something she’d wish on her worst enemy. Julia feels it’s something no mother should have to witness.

She described her late daughter as “special” and “something else.” They were and still are best friends with her “mini-me.” Julia recalled how beautiful Desiree was inside and out and reminded her of her grandmother.

Desi Jr.’s grandchild was 25 when she was first diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She got chemotherapy but eventually decided on a double mastectomy. Desiree went into remission for some time, but in 2018, she discovered the cancer had returned.

It came back as stage 4 and spread to her lungs, liver, and bones. Julia figures her daughter could’ve been with them for a few more years, but the cancer had started spreading, and the tumors were bigger. Desiree’s family had expected her to, at least, survive through the holidays.

What went wrong with Desi Jr.’s granddaughter was that fluid kept building up around her heart. Surgeries got done, but the issue would return within two weeks. When Desiree died, she’d gone into surgery and returned 12 hours later.

They then told Julia she only had days or hours with her daughter, and that was “really tough” for her. Julia was there before the loss happened, which she described as “unimaginable.” Before her death, the photographer received hormonal chemotherapy.

Desiree wished to enlighten others during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Her mother said she wanted “to give awareness for young girls her age because this does happen. It’s rare, but it does happen.”

Desi Jr.’s late granddaughter wanted people to know that no matter what age if you feel something, you should get it checked. Although Desiree’s case was a rare one, it is something that happens, it’s just not talked about often.

Usually, people who faced what Desiree went through are in their late 30s, 40s, and 50s. The late photographer wanted to educate women like her about preventative measures. The first time she got diagnosed was right after her birthday, ironically before breast cancer awareness month.

The second time when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer it was about three years later, and again, right after her birthday and before breast cancer awareness month. Julia found it strange that the diagnosis 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Julia was unable to spend much time with Desiree in her final days. Desi Jr.’s daughter revealed that the virus kept them apart because she didn’t want Desiree to catch another illness.

She saw her daughter but not as much, and they hung out daily when the photographer was around. Luckily for Julia, her daughter lived with her for a while. Confirming the bond Desi Jr. had with his granddaughter, Julia noted how Desiree spent lots of time with him.

There was a point where the granddaughter lived with her grandfather for around four or five months. In 2008, the late photographer attended the TV Land Awards that honored her great-grandmother. Since Desiree’s death, Desi Jr.’s sister has shared his photos several times, eliciting responses from fans.

What Fans Think about Desi Jr.’s Recent Look

Fans got a peek at what Desi Jr. looks like now since placing his career on hold. For his birthday in 2022, Lucie uploaded a hilarious Instagram photo of her kissing her brother’s cheek while he made a funny face.

She captioned the post, “Who loves you, Baby??? Happy Birthday to my handsome, nutty brother who turned 69 today!!! I love you, Desi.” Lucille Ball‘s son sported short gray hair and a matching beard and mustache.

The following year, Lucie honored him again on his special day with three Instagram images. The first one, which matched the one from the previous year, showed her embracing him around the neck while they both smiled.

The second one seemed to show what the siblings really looked like in 2023. Both Lucie and her brother sported gray hair, but this time Desi Jr.’s beard and hair were scruffier and longer. He also wore glasses and a cap. The third picture showed him getting a hug from his sister.

He had his gray hair and beard and also wore glasses again. Lucie wished “Little Desi” a “very happy and healthy 7th decade.” She declared her love and randomly confirmed that he never acted as Ricky.

On August 3, 2024, Lucie Arnaz shared the latest photos of her brother. In the first picture, she hugged his arm and laid her head on his shoulder as they posed together. Desi Jr.’s hair and mustache were even longer, and he wore a cap.

The difference in Lucie’s second image was that she had her eyes open. The third and fourth photos were of Desi Jr.’s sister and friends. Lucie thanked Nick Luckinbill for treating his family and their “special guest, my recalcitrant brother” to a meal at Wally’s in Las Vegas.

She noted how Desi Jr. was alive and well but revealed that he liked staying undercover. At the time, the siblings were in Las Vegas for the 35th Anniversary of the “Star Trek V” celebration at The Treksperts Convention.

Margaret never expected to come home to find her husband, Martin, frantically digging up their beautiful garden alongside his ex-wife. Their hushed whispers and dirt-stained hands hinted at long-buried secrets. Upon confrontation, Margaret realized Martin wasn’t as perfect as she thought.

I’ve heard of men cheating on their wives with their colleagues, friends, and even exes, but I never thought I’d be forced to think like that about my husband, Martin. I always thought he was the perfect man I could’ve asked for.

We met through a mutual friend two years ago, right after I’d broken up with my ex-boyfriend of five years. I was at my lowest… heartbroken, insecure, and questioning everything about myself.

That’s when Martin came into my life, like a breath of fresh air.

From the moment we met, he was nothing but kind and attentive. He’d listen to me ramble about my day for hours, never once checking his phone or looking bored.

What really won my heart was how he showed up at my doorstep with homemade chicken soup and my favorite rom-com movies downloaded on his laptop.

“Everyone needs a little TLC when they’re sick,” he said with a warm smile.

This is it, I thought. This is the man I’ve been waiting for all my life.

One of the things that endeared Martin to me was his cute little quirk. He’d stammer when he got nervous or stressed, and I found it absolutely adorable.

There was this one time, about a month into our relationship, when he was taking me out to this fancy Italian restaurant for our “monthiversary” (yes, we celebrated those back then).

Martin was all dressed up, telling me about this new accounting software his firm was implementing, getting all excited and animated.

“It’s going to revolutionize how we handle client data,” he said, waving his fork around for emphasis. Suddenly, the fork slipped from his fingers, clattering to the floor and splattering tomato sauce all over his shirt.

His face turned red in an instant.

“I-I-I’m so s-sorry,” he stammered, looking mortified. “I d-didn’t m-mean to… Oh g-god, what a m-mess.”

I couldn’t help but find his flustered state endearing. I reached across the table and took his hand.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I said softly. “These things happen. Besides, red is totally your color.”

That got a chuckle out of him, and soon we were laughing about it. Later, over tiramisu, he admitted that he tended to stammer when stressed or embarrassed.

As our relationship progressed, Martin opened up more about his past, particularly about his ex-wife, Janet.

“She was always after more,” he’d say, shaking his head. “More money, more things, more status. Nothing was ever enough.”

According to Martin, their marriage had crumbled under the weight of Janet’s insatiable greed. He told me stories of maxed-out credit cards, arguments over designer clothes, and tantrums thrown when they couldn’t afford lavish vacations.

“That’s why we broke up,” he explained one night as we cuddled on the couch. “I just couldn’t keep up with her demands anymore. It was like I was drowning, and she kept pushing my head underwater.”

How could anyone treat such a wonderful man so poorly? I thought.

That day, I vowed that I would never be like that. I would appreciate Martin for who he was, not what he could give me.

When Martin proposed a year into our relationship, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Our wedding was small but beautiful, and it was the best day of my life.

Fast forward to last Tuesday. I had just spent the weekend at my mother’s place and was looking forward to getting home. I decided to surprise Martin with his favorite lasagna for dinner.

However, as I pulled into our driveway, I saw something that made me slam on the brakes too hard.

There, in our front yard, were two people digging up my beloved garden. And not just any two people. It was Martin and a woman I recognized from photos as Janet, his ex-wife.

I sat in the car for a moment, blinking rapidly, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me. But no, they were there, digging up all the flowers I had worked so hard to grow.

What was Janet doing here? Why was she with Martin? And why on earth were they destroying my garden?

At that point, I got out of the car and marched over to them.

“What’s going on here?” I demanded, my voice trembling with anger.

Martin’s head snapped up, his eyes wide with shock. “M-M-Margaret!” he exclaimed, dropping the shovel with a clang. “Y-you’re h-home e-early.”

He’s stammering, I thought.

At that moment, all my worst fears came rushing in. Martin only stammered when he was truly stressed or nervous. But why? What was he hiding?

My mind raced with possibilities. Was he cheating on me with Janet? Had they never really broken up? Or was it something even more sinister? Why else would they be digging up our yard in secret?

“W-we were just…” he started, but Janet cut him off.

“Oh, you didn’t tell her?” she began. “Love, she DESERVES to know that 10 years ago we buried a time capsule.”

“A time capsule?” I repeated numbly.

“Yes, we buried one when we were still together. When we lived here,” she revealed, gesturing to a muddy metal box near her feet. “We always planned to dig it up someday.”

Martin nodded, looking sheepish. “Y-yeah. We, uh, we thought it would be fun to look back on our memories.”

“Your memories,” I echoed. “So, you decided to destroy my garden for your little trip down memory lane?”

“I-I’m sorry,” Martin stammered. “I d-didn’t think—”

“No, you didn’t think,” I snapped before storming into the house.

Inside, I paced the living room, trying to process what had just happened. How could Martin do this? How could he keep this secret from me? And how dare he prioritize his past with Janet over our life together?

I heard the front door open and close, followed by hushed voices in the hallway. Then Martin called out, “Margaret? Can we talk?”

I took a deep breath and stepped into the hallway. Martin and Janet were standing there with the muddy time capsule between them.

“What’s there to talk about?” I asked coldly.

“Please, let us explain,” Martin pleaded. “It’s not what you think.”

Janet nodded. “We just wanted to reminisce a bit. There’s nothing —”

I held up a hand, cutting her off.

“You know what? Fine. Go ahead. Reminisce. Dig up your past. I’ll be outside.”

I brushed past them and went outside. As I looked at the mess they had made of my garden, an idea formed in my mind.

So, I started gathering wood for a bonfire. By the time I had a good blaze going on, the sun had almost set. I could hear Martin and Janet in the kitchen, laughing over something they’d found in the time capsule.

“Hey,” I called out. “Why don’t you guys bring that stuff out here? We could have a nice little bonfire.”

A few minutes later, they joined me outside, and Martin put the time capsule on the ground.

“This is nice,” he smiled.

I nodded and reached into the box to grab a handful of its contents. I had a few old photos and letters in my hand.

“Margaret, what are you —” Martin started, but his words died in his throat

“What are you doing?” Janet demanded.

“Burnt bridges should stay burnt, don’t you think?” I said firmly. “It’s time to focus less on the past and more on the future we’re supposed to be building together, Martin.”

I watched as the flames consumed their memories, thinking this wasn’t how I imagined our life together. However, it also gave me hope that maybe we could build something new from here. Something honest and real.

Looking at Martin, I also realized he wasn’t the perfect man I thought I’d married. He was just as flawed as the rest of us.

Suddenly, Janet broke the silence.

“I think I should go,” she said, backing away from the fire. Neither Martin nor I tried to stop her as she hurried out of the yard.

Once we were alone, Martin turned to me with tears in his eyes.

“Margaret, I’m so sorry,” he said. “I never meant to hurt you. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you about the time capsule.”

I took a deep breath, “Did you think I wouldn’t understand?”

“I was afraid,” he admitted. “Afraid you’d think I still had feelings for Janet, afraid you’d be upset about the garden. I thought if I could just dig it up quickly while you were away, it would be over and done with. But I guess I was wrong. I messed up, big time. Can you ever forgive me?”

“I don’t know, Martin,” I said honestly, staring at the fire. “You’ve broken my trust. That’s not something that can be fixed overnight.”

“We have a lot to talk about, and a lot to work through,” I continued. “But not tonight. Tonight, I need some space.”

“Of course,” Martin nodded. “I’ll… I’ll sleep on the couch.”

As he returned to the house, I remained by the fire, watching it slowly die down.

The garden needs to be replanted, I thought. New seeds, new soil, new life. Maybe our relationship could be the same way.

Only time would tell which path we’d choose. But one thing was certain, my thoughts regarding Martin would never be the same again.

What would you have done if you were in my place?

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: Imagine coming home after a long day, expecting peace, only to find your husband and his ex-wife in your living room. That’s exactly what happened to me. But Melissa wasn’t just there for a chat. What she was doing was beyond anything I could’ve imagined

Mary realized she had forgotten her wallet while trying to pay for some groceries, but a kind boy, Mark, paid for her things. Sometime later, Mary and her daughter learned that Mark’s grandmother needed expensive surgery, so they decided to act, shocking the poor kid.

“Oh, geez. I must have forgotten my wallet in John’s car. I’m so sorry. I’ll have to come back for these things later,” Mary said to the cashier, who started picking up the items and putting them back. Meanwhile, Mary closed her purse, prepared to walk away when the boy behind her in line spoke up.

“Wait, ma’am. You don’t have many things anyway. I’ll pay for them,” he said. He couldn’t be older than 12, and Mary noticed that he didn’t look particularly well-off.

“Oh, no. I couldn’t put you out like that,” Mary countered.

“I insist, ma’am. Sometimes, we have to do good things, and karma will reward us later, right? That’s what my grandmother says all the time,” the boy said, placing his few things on the belt and paying for everything that Mary had picked out. Luckily, it was only a few essentials.

Mary’s daughter, Anastacia, was sick with the flu. She needed someone to watch the kids because her husband was in Europe on a business trip, so Mary decided to go to Santa Ana from San Diego, California. But her friend, John, had driven her up, and it seems she left her wallet in his car.

Once they got their groceries ready, Mary and the kid went outside. “Hey, I’m Mary Cummings. What’s your name?” she said conversationally.

“I’m Mark.”

“Thank you so much for what you did, Mark. It saved me a trip to the store. Listen, how about you give me your phone number so I can pay you back as soon as I get my wallet,” Mary suggested, and the kid wrote down his number on the receipt.

“Here, but don’t worry about it. There’s no rush. I live nearby anyway,” Mark said offhandedly.

“Although I also believe in paying it forward like you and your grandma, we have to pay off our debts,” Mary added, and they said goodbye.

She got home and told Anastacia about leaving her wallet in John’s car and the kid at the store who paid for her things. Mary only went there to buy a few things for chicken noodle soup, so it wasn’t anything important. “Still, it was nice to see a young man being so kind,” Mary finished her story while storing things and getting ready to make the soup.

“I agree. Although kids today are all so progressive, some of them can be pretty self-centered,” Anastacia.

“I don’t think this kid comes from a rich family, though. Maybe that’s why he’s so nice. But anyway, I’m worried that he might need that money urgently,” the older woman continued. Luckily, she called John, who agreed to come up to Santa Ana the following day and return her wallet.

***

Mary and Anastacia rang the bell at the address Mark had given them. Earlier, John came up, gave Mary her wallet, and Mary called the kid to return the money. He told her where he lived, and now they were right in front of his home.

The house was small and old. But it looked clean, and the garden was maintained. It was clear that these people didn’t have a lot of money, but they took pride in keeping it pretty. Mark answered the door.

“Hello, Mrs. Cummings,” Mark said upon opening the front door.

“Hey, Mark! This is my daughter, Anastacia. Here’s your money. Again, thank you so much for everything,” Mary told him with a kind smile.

“Thank you. You didn’t have to hurry,” the boy replied and looked behind him for a second. “Listen, I would invite you in, but I’m not supposed to have anyone over. My grandma would be mad.”

“Oh, where is she? Maybe, we can come later to meet her. Does she like pecan pie? Because we’re going to the bakery right now,” Anastacia added happily.

“Well, she’s actually at the hospital and won’t get out for a while,” Mark explained with a frown. Mary and Anastacia wanted to know more, so he continued. “She needs a huge surgery, and I started a GoFundMe, but I’ve been trying to promote it. It’s not that popular. For now, the hospital has understood, and they are keeping her in observation while I raise the money.”

“Oh, sweetie. You shouldn’t have to do that on your own,” Anastacia said, concerned.

“We don’t have anyone else. It’s only us,” Mark shrugged. Mary and Anastacia looked at each other and came to a wordless decision.

“Give me the link to the GoFundMe, and your grandmother’s name. Also, come with us to the bakery. We’ll go visit her and see if the doctor lets her eat some pie,” Mary offered, although it was more of a demand.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to.”

“We have to,” Anastacia insisted, and Mark went with them.

After buying some pies, they went to the hospital to meet Mark’s grandmother, Mrs. Julie Strada. They talked to her for a while, and Mark decided to stay with her that night, so Mary and Anastacia left.

When they got home, Anastacia shared the GoFundMe link with anyone she could think of, and she also donated a few hundred dollars. But Mary felt so hopeless. “They need so much money for this surgery. I don’t know if sharing the link is enough,” she breathed sadly.

“Let’s think,” Anastacia said, looking at her computer. “How about we share the story of the boy? I mean how he helped you, although they need the money so much. I mean, he couldn’t know you were going to pay it back. Maybe it could go viral? Let’s try Reddit.”

“That’s a one-in-a-million thing, Anastacia,” Mary replied skeptically.

“We’ll see,” the younger woman said with a smile and started writing everything that happened on Reddit. She posted it on several subreddits and her Twitter.

At first, there were only a few commenters, but thousands of people had read the story and donated to the cause after a few days. They still needed a lot more donations to reach the goal of $230,000, which was the cost of Mrs. Strada’s entire treatment.

But surprisingly, a famous new outlet picked up the story, shared it, and even interviewed Mary and Mark for their article. The GoFundMe project reached way beyond their goal, and they were ecstatic. Mark couldn’t believe it. He had only paid around $20 for what Mrs. Cummings needed at the store, and she somehow found a way to pay it back and more.

What can we learn from this story?

• Helping others can change your life. Mark helped an older woman at the store, not knowing how hard she would work to pay him back for his gesture.
• There are still good people around the world. Tons of viral stories have gotten people enough donations to pay for their family members and even their pets’ treatments, which proves how good people can be.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who had to put his baby up for adoption when he was a teenager.

In a shocking twist that left fans buzzing, Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko’s “Dancing With the Stars” journey came to an abrupt end. The talented pair had captivated audiences with their incredible performances and undeniable bond.

Brooks Nader, the glamorous model, and her partner, pro dancer Gleb Savchenko, have been one of the most talked-about pairs on this season of “Dancing With the Stars.”

Their performances, especially Nader’s fiery salsa dedicated to her “ride or die” sisters, have certainly grabbed attention. After going through a challenging divorce this year, Nader poured her emotions into her dance, delivering a powerful performance that earned praise from the judges.

One of the judges, Carrie Ann Inaba highlighted Nader’s progress, stating, “I saw it. You did what we were talking about. You were finishing your moves. I felt like you were dancing in the power.”

Despite receiving a respectable score of 32 out of 40, Nader and Savchenko found themselves in the bottom three, alongside NBA champion Dwight Howard and actor Chandler Kinney. While it was a tight race, Nader and Savchenko’s elimination left some viewers talking, many of whom were quick to share their thoughts online.

Some people felt that while Nader’s beauty and family support were admirable, something was missing. “She’s gorgeous, and it’s fun to see her family support — but I just can’t connect to her,” one fan commented.

Another echoed a similar sentiment, “Her attitude had a lot to do with it… She’s a beautiful woman but her personality makes her not likable. I’m glad she went home.”

Others offered more critical feedback, focusing on her dancing. “She’s beautiful but her dancing is very stiff. She’s not fluid at all,” one fan noted. Another added, “If she took it serious she has a lot of potential to be a good dancer but she’s too wrapped up in herself and gleb people are tired of them[sic].”

However, not all fans agreed with the elimination. Many were shocked by the outcome, feeling that Nader and Savchenko didn’t deserve to go. “That was shocking!!” a user exclaimed, while another remarked, “Should have been the basketball player, not Brooks and Gleb.”

One viewer even remarked, “I’m shocked Brooks and Gleb were eliminated! I don’t know who I would have chosen to go home, but not them!” With a score tied to Kinney and higher than Howard’s, the elimination of Nader and Savchenko felt like a “wild” result for many.

Nader may have sensed her elimination was coming. Reflecting on the night, she admitted, “I just said, imagine if it was us, so maybe I manifested it. But we have so much fun together.”

And fun was certainly a theme for her partnership with Savchenko, as the duo even sealed their bond with matching tattoos. Just before their “Dancing With the Stars” performance on October 8, Nader opened up to Us Weekly about the new ink.

“I think [choosing the placement] was a joint effort,” she shared about her hip tattoo, explaining that they wanted it to be in a spot that wasn’t immediately visible. While the exact design remains a mystery, the ink marks yet another memorable chapter in their time on the show.

The duo certainly became a hot topic of discussion, capturing the audience’s attention both on and off the dance floor. During week two of the competition, a backstage video of the pair left fans in shock as they were spotted sharing an intimate moment, further fueling the buzz around their partnership.

In a clip that quickly made its way online, the pair was caught being openly affectionate, even sharing a kiss. Internet users took to social media platforms expressing everything from confusion to disbelief.

But it wasn’t just the kiss itself that got people talking — the real buzz centered around what it meant for their future on the show and whether their chemistry was more than just professional.

One TikTok user wrote, “I fear their showmance is gonna ruin their chances of winning,” while another bluntly stated, “He’s distracted and she’s unserious.”

An Instagram user was quick to point out, “Their chemistry is obvious,” while another asked, “I thought he was married with a kid lol.” One user summed up the curiosity, “Well it will be interesting to see his wife’s reaction to this.”

Over on X, reactions were no less dramatic. One user posted, “Like not shocked but omg,” while others were left questioning Savchenko’s relationship status. “Wait, what happened to Gleb’s baby mom?? This show is messy,” one wrote.

The truth is that Savchenko and his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, officially divorced in 2021. The couple had publicly announced their split nearly a year earlier in November 2020, ending their 14-year marriage. According to court documents, their divorce was finalized on October 22, 2021.

Savchenko and Samodanova share joint legal and physical custody of their two daughters, Olivia and Zlata. Their breakup wasn’t without controversy.

In the months following their separation, Samodanova accused Savchenko of “ongoing infidelity” and said her trust in him had been “irrevocably broken.”

While Gleb Savchenko has always maintained his silence on these accusations, his relationship status has continued to stir speculation — and his display of affection with Nader only fuels the fire.

As the video continued to stir conversation, the focus shifted to how the unexpected romance would impact their “Dancing with the Stars” journey. While some saw their undeniable chemistry as a potential advantage on the dance floor, others were more skeptical, worried that their relationship could become a distractio