Man Hides in Closet to Surprise Wife, Hears Male Voice Say 'Watch out!' near Him — Story of the Day

Simon moved to another city without his wife, Anna, to advance his career against her wishes. Later, he realized how much he needed her and returned, hoping to surprise her. However, he had no idea what he would encounter in their closet.

"I don't think I should quit my job until I have kids, Simon. It's not a good idea," Anna shook her head when her husband, Simon, suggested that she become a stay-at-home wife.

"Why not? I can provide everything, and it'll be better this way. You get to relax and live a life of a trophy wife," he laughed, but Anna didn't see the humor. They tabled the conversation at that moment and tried to move on.

However, Simon would not stop nagging Anna to quit her job, and a few months after bringing it up for the first time, she finally decided to do it. At first, it seemed great. Anna had time to read, start a few home projects for herself, and sign up for a few classes.

The issue was that Simon became increasingly more demanding as time went on. "I pay for everything in this house and expect to have dinner on the table when I come home, ironed shirts, a clean house, and everything a housewife should do. What are you doing all day?" he screamed at her one night.

Miami was fantastic for Simon… at first.

Anna had forgotten to wash one of his shirts, and he went on a 20-minute rant about the house chores. She always had dinner ready, and the duties were mostly done. This had been a one-time oversight, and Simon seemed to lose his mind.

Additionally, he criticized her for other things. "You don't dress up anymore! Don't you have time for the gym? You're gaining weight. I can't let my wife look like a mess every day, especially if we don't have children. Get yourself together, Anna, or I'll walk away!" he finished ranting and went to their bedroom.

Anna cleaned and ironed his shirt as quickly as possible and couldn't meet his eyes that night. He had never talked to her like that or berated her for anything. She felt awful for this simple mistake, but she was human. It wasn't fair.

The next day, he kissed her cheek and went to work, acting as if nothing had happened. Anna decided never to bring it up again and did her best to keep the house immaculate. After all, she was now dependent on him financially. Unfortunately, things got exponentially worse from then on.

Simon started getting home late at night, claiming he was meeting with clients and working on a new project. However, he still expected everything to be perfect, and the critiques about her image and body also seemed to increase.

Anna was seriously considering returning to work or running away when Simon came home with an unexpected announcement.

"I'm leaving!" he screamed, smiling brightly.

"What?" Anna asked, confused.

"I'm moving down to Miami," Simon continued, dancing as he walked through their living room.

"Why?" she added, raising her hands.

"I got a new job opportunity and can't pass it up," he replied, still dancing.

"I'm sorry, but isn't this something we have to discuss as a married couple? Moving to Miami is a big commitment. We have our house, and packing our things takes time..." Anna started thinking.

"Wait a minute. I think you didn't hear me, or you've just gotten stupid from being home all the time," Simon laughed and stopped dancing. "I said I was leaving. You're not coming with me."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard what I said. I'm leaving for Miami. This job is amazing, but I will also enjoy my time there and spend nights dancing with many Latinas. I can't wait!" he said, still excited.

"Are you crazy? We're married!" Anna noted, outraged.

"So? Being married doesn't mean I can't get to explore my life. It's like I'll be free for once in my life, and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it," Simon shrugged.

"You can't just leave me here," she declared.

"Please, you'll be fine. I'll send money. Everything will be perfect."

"That's crazy! You can't do that!"

"Watch me, Anna!" Simon mocked and walked to their bedroom.

Despite her protests, Simon packed his things and made all the arrangements to move. "You're really doing this? I'll file for divorce," Anna decided to threaten him on his last day at their house in Utah.

"Please," Simon scoffed. "You won't divorce me. What will you do? You have no money and nowhere to go. I'm tired of the pressure of being a husband. I need this break, and we'll see how things go. Maybe, I'll bring you to Miami. But for now, I need some freedom. You can just wait for me."

Anna had no words. She couldn't believe those comments came from the man she had married. However, the worst part is that he was right. She didn't have any other family and had no real money since she quit her job a while ago. She felt so stupid as she watched her husband get into a cab and drive off to the airport.

"This is not what I signed up for," she told herself and stomped into her house, determined to make a real change.

***

Miami was fantastic for Simon… at first.

"I'll handle my own wife, Peter. It's none of your business," Simon finally showed his anger.

The nightlife was delightful, the women were beautiful, the beaches were perfect, and the food was terrific. However, he had a job to do to keep living down there. And for the first time, his life was a mess. He could go to a restaurant or get takeout for food, but he hated sending his clothes out for cleaning and ironing.

His temporary apartment was a dirty disaster all the time, and he could barely sleep most nights. Yes, he had talked about being with women, but he only danced with them at clubs. He wasn't interested in anyone else, especially when his work project took all his attention.

He never imagined that this fantastic opportunity would be so stressful and how little time he would actually have to enjoy himself. Worst of all, Simon had no idea how much he would miss Anna. Anna always had food ready and knew what he liked and the right spices in certain dishes.

She knew what kind of detergent to use on his clothes and how to iron them properly. She knew that lemon-scented anything was terrible for his allergies, so she cleaned the house and dishes with only lavender products.

But there was something else he didn't think he would miss: the scent of her hair and her pillow. He thought of her soft body in bed most nights, and it was hard to find sleep afterward. Nothing was the same, and his performance at work took a toll because of it.

Suddenly, Simon knew that the only reason he was successful at work and so happy in life was that Anna arranged everything for him. The realization hit him one morning like a truck, and he wanted to be back in Utah with her. Or she had to come to Miami. He needed her desperately.

The problem is that she often ignored his calls when he tried, and his work only got more complicated, so he barely had any time. Anna was probably angry at him for moving to Miami so unexpectedly, and he felt like a fool for disregarding her for so long.

It was time to do something special for her. He went to a jewelry store on Friday night after he got off work and bought some plane tickets for Saturday morning. He would fly home, convince his wife to come to Miami, and everything would be better.

When he arrived at the house, Simon thought of an excellent idea. Wouldn't it be neat to surprise her? Perhaps it was time to be more romantic. Maybe, she wouldn't be so angry if he tried to do something like that, so he looked around their perfect house and tried to think of anything special.

He hadn't done something romantic in so long that this task was unexpectedly challenging, but he decided to hide in their big coat closet because that was the first place she would check when she returned home. He didn't bother turning on the light; he just got inside and closed the door.

However, he stepped on something, and suddenly, a voice uttered, "Watch out!"

"AAAAAAH!" a huge and downright girly scream came out of Simon's mouth. He scrambled to open the door quickly and almost fell to his knees, coming out of the closet. "WHO'S THERE? I'M CALLING THE POLICE!"

"Simon, calm down," the male voice continued, and Simon focused as the figure exited the closet. It was their neighbor and good friend, Peter.

"Man! Are you insane? What the hell are you doing here?" Simon yelled, arranging his hair and trying to calm his breathing.

"Actually, I was fixing the coat closet door when I heard some keys rattling. I decided to hide to surprise what I thought was a burglar. But you came in," Peter explained calmly.

"Why are you fixing things in my house?" Simon asked, confused and a little peeved.

"Simon, you've been gone for weeks, and Anna asked me for this favor. I also had to fix the kitchen sink last week. She said she had no money to call a plumber, so I did it," Peter continued. "Didn't you move to Miami? I thought you guys were taking a break or something."

"NO! I mean, I did move to Miami, but we're not taking any breaks. We're still married. Anna's my wife, Peter, so she should call me to hire any repairmen," Simon said, flustered.

"Oh, OK. But I don't see her packing or getting ready to move with you. I think she's actually at a job interview right now. What's the deal, dude?" Peter continued.

"Excuse me? Job? Anna? No, she can't get a job. No," Simon shook his head and wet his lips nervously.

"OK, whatever. I just wanted to help Anna with her repairs because she seemed so sad and desperate lately. Maybe, you should talk to her," Peter suggested.

"I'll handle my own wife, Peter. It's none of your business," Simon finally showed his anger.

Peter chuckled darkly. "You'll handle your wife? Funny. I know it's none of my business, but let me give you some advice."

"Any man would kill to have a wife like Anna, including myself," he began, making Simon growl under his breath. "So, watch out, buddy, because she has options. Many. Just around this neighborhood even. See you later."

Their neighbor walked out of the house, giving Simon a mocking grin that made him seethe, but just then, Anna's car pulled up on their driveway.

"Simon? What the hell are you doing here?" Anna asked, getting out of the vehicle and slamming her door. "Peter, are you finished?"

"Yeah, Anna, dear. It's done. Let me know if you ever need anything else," Peter said, giving a final mocking look at Simon and walking away.

"What was he doing in our house, Anna? That's unacceptable. You're a married woman!" Simon immediately started to scold her as he always did. However, Anna was not so complacent anymore.

She went into the house and raised her hands to stop him. "What I do in my house is none of your business, Simon. You left me. You thought I would just put up with that disrespect? You think you can go to Miami and be with women, and I wouldn't care?" she asked, smiling, but her tone was serious.

It was a hard decision to make, not knowing if he would revert back to cruelty.

"Anna, it's not like that," Simon began, but Anna shook her head.

"I don't care what it's like. I finally have a new job, and I'm meeting with a lawyer tomorrow to get started on our divorce," she revealed, crossing her arms and looking proud of herself. "I will never endure your crazy demands and rants again, and I won't tolerate anything less than being treated like a princess."

"I know I treated you horribly. Please, listen to me, Anna," Simon began and got the ring he bought out. "I got you this, and I'm back because I miss you so much. I can't live without you."

"HA!" she laughed mockingly. "You probably can't live without a 24/7 maid. I see your messed up clothes and hair. It's unattractive. I don't know what I saw in you ever. Please, get out of my house."

"No, Anna. Don't do this. Please listen. I was an idiot. I didn't see how much you cared for me, for us… you're right that I'm a mess because I don't have you at home, but I miss you. I miss your smell on the pillow, your voice, and everything else. Please, I came to get you back. We can move together to Miami, or I'll ask my boss to be moved back here," Simon got on his knees and started pleading.

"I can't be without you. Please, believe me."

"I don't. Get out of my house, which I know is technically ours, but it might not be for long since you're the one who left," Anna continued and turned her back on him.

Simon had to leave because she was definitely not listening, but he grabbed his car keys from the bowl near the front door. He drove for a long time around their town and realized how much he missed the quiet, unassuming place. Miami was light, music, and fun. But he barely enjoyed it.

He needed to get Anna back, or his life would never return to normal.

Over the next few days, he tried everything to win Anna back. Gifts, flowers, and chocolates, and he even started repairing things he saw around the house. He bought her new purses and took time off work to stay in Utah longer. He was determined to fix his marriage.

However, she moved forward with a lawyer and was officially served with divorce papers sooner than he expected. He was living at his mother's house in the meantime.

On a last attempt, he printed photos from his cellphone. He had many options, which showed how happy they had been initially and how he had messed up. He decorated their living room with all the photos and waited for her to get off work.

There were candles and roses as he tried to recreate how he proposed. She got there and had an exasperated look on his face. However, she let him speak.

"Anna, I know it can't make up for all my mistakes. Everything was my fault, and I know it. I took you for granted and insulted and criticized you. I treated you like a cook and a maid and afterthought. But I'll spend the rest of my life treating you like a princess from now on. I know it's hard to believe, but I'm a different man now. I still have to work on myself; maybe couples therapy can help us. I want to do everything for you, especially give you the life of luxury I promised you at some point," Simon said with the album and the flowers in his hands.

Anna sighed and grabbed the flowers. "What's that?"

"It's an album of our best pictures together. The ones I had on my phone, anyway. I hope you like it," Simon added quietly. "Will you have dinner with me? My treat, of course."

"Alright," Anna responded, tired.

Simon took her to her favorite restaurant, which was like a first date – at least for him. He was so nervous. But he asked her about her job and if she liked it, and surprisingly, Anna answered. From there, their conversation continued.

And Simon continued to court her every day until Anna eventually called off the divorce. She was forgiving, and the truth is that Simon was back to being the man she had fallen for. It was a hard decision to make, not knowing if he would revert back to cruelty. But she had to take that chance.

They went to individual and couples therapy and worked on their relationship. A few months after Simon returned from Miami, he moved back into his house.

He kept his promise. Anna was his princess for the rest of their life, and he appreciated every single thing she did for him. They had date nights, movie marathons, and fun outings. A few years later, they added two more little princesses to their household when their twins were born, and Simon knew he was the luckiest man in the world.

What can we learn from this story?

• Never underestimate the things your spouse does for you. Many overlook their spouses because it becomes routine, but Simon messed up. He was lucky that Anna eventually forgave him, but many couples don't make it because of this issue.
• Try not to be financially dependent on anyone. Anna shouldn't have quit her job and depended solely on her husband, but it often happens in a marriage. It's always best to divide the household expenses so that each person can have their own bank accounts and money to save.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who came home early to surprise his wife but kicked her out of the house later.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.