I Found a Christmas Gift for My Husband’s Mistress—So I Gave Them a Surprise They’d Never Forget
Two days before Christmas, I found a hidden gift in my husband’s closet. It was not for me. It was for his mistress.
I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. Instead, I got creative.
I never thought I’d be the type to pull off a revenge prank, but here we are. And now, as I sip this glass of wine, I can’t stop smiling. Let me tell you how it all went down.
It started about a month before Christmas. Something felt off. My husband, Jimmy, began working late. Like, really late.
And then one evening, totally out of the blue, he came home early. That was weirder than him being late.
“Hey, you’re back early!” I said as I walked into the house. “I took half the day off. Headache. How’d your meeting go?”
He shouted from the kitchen, “It was fine.”
I dropped my keys into that little ceramic bowl we bought on our honeymoon. That memory stung a little.
Even with the Christmas decorations I had put up all over the house—garlands on the stairs, wreaths on every door, the tree I decorated alone—everything still felt empty.
“I made pasta,” he offered. “Want some?”
“Already ate,” I replied. “Got a headache. I think I’ll sleep early.”
I dragged myself upstairs, each step heavier than the last.
That night, I stared at the ceiling while he snored next to me. Five years married. No kids yet. We kept saying we were waiting for the “right time.”
Now, I wondered if that time was ever going to come.
My mom once warned me, “You’re only 23, Alina. What’s the rush?”
But I was so sure Jimmy was The One. He was different. He was loyal. He was… and then his phone lit up at 2 a.m.
A text.
Not from me.
Two days before Christmas, I decided to check his office. Just a little snooping. Nothing big. Then I moved on to his closet.
And there it was—behind some winter coats and old gym gear—a red gift box.
My heart jumped. Maybe it was for me?
Then I saw the note.
“LOVE YOU, JULIE!”
My name… is not Julie.
I opened the box. Inside was the exact diamond necklace I’d shown him months ago. We were walking past a jewelry store after dinner.
“Look how pretty that is,” I’d said.
He barely glanced up. “Too expensive.”
Apparently not too expensive for Julie.
I didn’t cry. I didn’t even shake.
I picked up the phone and called my friend Mark. He builds furniture and has a habit of overengineering things.
“Remember when I helped with your divorce papers?” I said. “Time to return the favor.”
“Alina? You okay?”
“Not really. How fast can you rig a gift box?”
Mark’s workshop smelled like sawdust and… vengeance. He examined the box with interest.
“Spring-loaded,” I told him. “I want something that explodes the moment she opens it.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You sure?”
“Make it count.”
I handed him a little container I’d brought with me—thick green paint. The kind that sticks.
He nodded. “It’ll go off as soon as the lid’s lifted more than an inch. Three-foot splash radius. Heavy-duty stuff.”
Perfect.
That evening, I returned the box to its hiding place. Everything was ready.
Then came Christmas morning.
The sky was bright, crisp. Normally, I love Christmas—the lights, the joy, the warmth. This time, I stayed quiet, sipping coffee as Jimmy put on his coat.
He tried to sneak the red box under his arm.
“Heading to the office?” I asked sweetly.
“Just for an hour,” he mumbled. “Urgent meeting.”
“On Christmas? Don’t work too hard,” I smiled.
He left. I grabbed my keys and followed. He drove to Honey Bunz, our favorite little brunch spot. The place we used to go for anniversaries.
I parked across the street.
And there she was. Julie.
Blonde curls, flawless makeup, expensive clothes. She looked like she stepped out of a catalog.
She clapped her hands as Jimmy walked in. “Aww, Jim, you shouldn’t have!”
“Anything for you, sweetheart,” he replied, loud enough for everyone to hear.
He sat across from her, setting down the shiny red box.
“I picked this out just for you.”
Julie gasped. “Oh my God, is it… the necklace from La Enchanted Diamonds? The one I showed you last month? And maybe the diamond ring too?”
“Open it and see, sugar.”
She struggled with the ribbon. “The knot’s tight.”
“Let me help,” he said, leaning over the table.
From my spot outside, I hit record on my phone. “Three… two… one…”
SPLAT!
Green paint exploded everywhere.
Julie shrieked, jumping to her feet. “MY HAIR! MY DRESS!”
She looked like the Grinch had sneezed on her. Paint dripped down her face, onto her coat, into her purse.
“WHAT THE HELL IS THIS, JIMMY?!”
He stood there frozen, his nose dripping green.
“I… I don’t know…”
“Is this supposed to be funny?!” she screamed.
An old lady at the next table choked on her mimosa. “I think it’s hilarious!”
A teenager pointed her phone. “Someone get this on video!”
“Already going viral,” her friend laughed, typing furiously.
Julie grabbed her purse, now ruined. “This dress cost more than your car, you idiot!”
Jimmy tried to grab her arm. “Julie, please—”
“Don’t call me that! And for the record? YOUR WIFE IS WAY BETTER THAN YOU.”
She stomped out, green footprints trailing behind.
Best. Christmas. Ever.
I got home minutes before Jimmy walked through the door—still dripping green.
“What happened to you?” I asked, struggling not to laugh. “You look like the Grinch!”
He blinked. “Some kids… paint balloons… outside my office…”
“On Christmas? That’s awful!” I said, handing him an envelope. “Oh, this came for you. Merry Christmas!”
His fingers trembled as he opened it.
Divorce papers.
“WHAT?!”
“Merry Christmas,” I said, pulling the real necklace from my pocket. “You have great taste. Shame Julie didn’t get to enjoy it.”
“You… you switched the boxes?!”
“Oh yes,” I grinned. “How do you like your surprise?”
“Alina, wait. Please. I can explain—”
“Explain what?” I snapped. “That you cheated? That you lied? That you bought her the necklace I wanted?”
He begged. “It was just a fling! She didn’t mean anything!”
“Then why did you give her something so expensive?” I asked.
He tried to come closer, dripping green paint all over our floor.
“Don’t,” I said coldly. “I believed you for months. I thought it was me. That I wasn’t enough. But looking at you now? I see it clearly.”
“Please give me another chance.”
I picked up my suitcase. “Thanks for the necklace. Consider it a parting gift. And Jimmy?”
He looked up.
“Green really isn’t your color.”
I drove away, catching one last glimpse of him standing on the driveway, dripping in shame.
Later, I found out Julie dumped him right after the explosion. She didn’t want to be known as “the green mistress.” Can’t blame her.
Jimmy tried dating again, but it’s hard when everyone knows you as the Christmas cheater who got painted on camera.
As for me? I’m doing great.
The necklace looks amazing. And every time it sparkles, I remember how I wrapped up my marriage…
…with a big, green bow.
