Emily Taylor

Backstabbed — Sophia Andrews, please meet Mila, our new team member. She’ll be joining your department. Sophia glanced up from her monitor to see a young woman in her early twenties. Her light brown hair was neatly tied back in a ponytail, and she wore an open, slightly shy smile. Mila shifted nervously on her feet, clutching a slim folder of documents to her chest. “Nice to meet you,” the young woman tilted her head slightly. “I’m so glad I got the job. I promise I’ll do my best.” The manager, Mr. Paul Gregory, had already turned to leave but paused at the door. “Sophia, you’ve been with us in logistics for twenty years. Please get Mila up to speed. Show her everything—the system, the routes, how to work with the hauliers. In a month, she should be able to manage her section independently.” Sophia nodded, studying the newcomer. Twenty-three—old enough to be Sophia’s daughter, if she’d ever had children. At fifty-five, Sophia had long since made peace with the fact that family would always be an impossible dream. Just work, a flat with geraniums on the windowsill, and her cat, Barney. “Take a seat,” Sophia indicated the desk beside her. “Let’s get started.” In her first week, Mila confused haulier codes and forgot to enter data into the log. Sophia patiently corrected her, explained again, drew diagrams on scraps of paper. “Look, here you put Exeter, but the consignment’s going to Edinburgh. That’s a four-hundred-mile difference, see?” Mila blushed to her roots, apologised, fixed it straight away. And then made mistakes somewhere else. By the middle of the second week, things started to look up. Mila picked things up quickly, scribbling Sophia’s every word into a battered notebook with cartoon cats on the cover. “Sophia, why don’t we work with this haulage company? Their prices are good.” “Because they missed deadlines. Twice. Reputation’s more important than a discount—remember that.” Mila nodded, jotting it down. Then, suddenly: “Do you bake your own pies? Your lunch smells amazing.” Sophia smirked. The next day, she brought in a bigger container—cabbage pies. Mila devoured them at lunch with such joy, it was as if she’d never tasted anything so wonderful. “My gran used to bake like this,” Mila said, gathering up the crumbs. “She passed away two years ago. I really miss her.” Without thinking, Sophia placed her hand gently on Mila’s thin fingers. Mila didn’t pull away, instead offering a grateful smile. Then came apple cake, cottage cheese biscuits, honey sponge—which Mila declared the best cake of her life. Sophia realised she was baking extra just to share with Mila. A strange and long-forgotten warmth settled in her chest. “Sophia, can I ask your advice? Not work-related.” “Go ahead.” “My boyfriend proposed. But we’ve only been together six months. Do you think it’s too soon?” Sophia put her papers aside, looked at Mila’s anxious eyes. “If you’re unsure, it’s too soon. When you meet the right one, you won’t need to ask.” Mila sighed in relief, as if Sophia had lifted a weight from her shoulders. By the end of week three, Mila was negotiating with hauliers herself, double-checking routes, spotting others’ mistakes. Sophia watched with quiet pride—she’d done it. She’d taught her well. “You’re like a mum to me,” Mila said one day. “Only better. My mum’s always criticising, but you support me.” Sophia blinked, turning to the window. “Get on with your work,” she muttered, but a smile stayed on her lips the entire evening. Over a month, Mila blossomed. Sophia noticed the confident way she spoke with pugnacious hauliers, how quickly she processed requests, how easily she navigated the database. Her pupil exceeded all expectations. …At the Friday staff meeting, Mr. Gregory looked grimmer than usual. He sat at the head of the table, twirling a pencil, silent for a long while. “It’s a difficult situation,” he said, scanning the room. “The market’s down, three major clients have gone to competitors. Senior management has decided to streamline staff.” Sophia exchanged glances with her colleagues. Everyone understood what “streamline” meant. Layoffs. “Decisions will be made over the next month about each department,” Mr. Gregory continued. “For now, business as usual.” After the meeting, Sophia returned to her desk, casting a furtive glance at Mila, who stared blankly at her monitor, fingers frozen above the keyboard. Fifty-five. Sophia knew the arithmetic. Her salary—one of the highest. Her tenure—long, which meant a generous redundancy package. From a bean counter’s perspective—the perfect candidate for the chop. Bitter, unfair, but she’d cope. Retirement soon, savings in the bank, mortgage long paid off. But Mila… The girl had changed. She no longer chatted at lunch, no longer asked for seconds of apple cake, barely responded when Sophia addressed her. “Mila, what’s up?” Sophia perched on the edge of her desk. “Worried about the cutbacks?” Mila jolted, giving a brittle smile. “No, I’m fine. Just a bit tired.” But Sophia could see—she wasn’t fine. Poor girl. Just found her feet and now this. Unfair. Two tense weeks crawled by. Colleagues whispered in corners, speculated on who’d go first. Mila worked in silence, focused. Sophia caught her looking at her oddly more than once, but put it down to general nervousness. Thursday after lunch, an internal email pinged up: “Sophia, please see the director.” Sophia stood, straightened her jacket. That was it. Twenty years in the company, and now—out. She steeled herself, opened the office door, and stopped dead. Across from Mr. Gregory sat Mila. Back straight, folder on her knee, face unreadable. “Come in, have a seat,” Mr. Gregory gestured. “We’ve got a serious matter to discuss.” Sophia sat, glancing between them. Mila didn’t look her way. “Mila’s been working hard,” Mr. Gregory opened some papers, “and she’s identified a number of significant errors. In your work, Sophia.” Sophia stopped breathing. Her brain scrambled: Mila, with her cat notebook, the word “errors.” The same Mila who’d devoured her pies, asked for advice about marriage. “I’ve gone through the data from the past eight months,” Mila finally spoke, but only to Mr. Gregory, as if Sophia didn’t exist. “I found eleven critical discrepancies in the paperwork. Incorrect route codes, invoice mismatches, shipping dates muddled.” She opened her folder, pulling out sheets with highlighted lines. Sophia recognised her handwriting. “I believe I can manage the section better,” Mila continued, levelly, almost as if reciting a procedure. “Sophia’s an experienced employee, but age takes its toll. It’s cheaper for the company to keep me—lower salary, higher efficiency. It’s just maths.” Mr. Gregory leaned back, drumming his fingers. “What do you say, Sophia?” Sophia stood up, took the papers, scanned the highlighted rows. Errors that weren’t errors at all. “I’m not going to make excuses,” she returned the papers. “In twenty years, I’ve learnt one thing: you can’t do every step to perfection. The result is what matters—goods arrive on time, clients are happy, the accounts add up.” “But mistakes like these could ruin us!” Mila leaned forward, letting emotion slip for the first time. “I’m just trying to help!” Mr. Gregory smirked—not nastily, but wearily, like a man who’s seen this before. “You know the type of staff we really don’t need, Mila? Those who’ll throw a colleague under the bus for their own gain.” Mila paled. “I’m well aware of these so-called errors,” he continued. “They’re not mistakes. They’re the wisdom of someone who’s learned how to navigate the system’s bureaucratic roadblocks, speed up the process where it jams. On paper, yes, it’s breaking protocol. In reality? It’s expertise. You’re just too green to know the difference.” Mila gripped the armrests. “You’ll work your notice, then you’re done,” Mr. Gregory concluded, closing the folder. “Letter on my desk by the end of the day.” “Please—” Mila’s voice broke. “I need this job. I’ve got a mortgage, I’ve only just started…” “You should have thought sooner. That’s all. You’re dismissed.” Mila stood, her folder slid from her hands, papers scattering across the floor. She scrambled to gather them, head bowed, face wet with tears. The door closed quietly behind her. “Well, Sophia,” Mr. Gregory shook his head, “she nearly elbowed you out—a real snake in the grass, that one. You took her under your wing.” Sophia said nothing. Her chest felt hollow and echoing. “You’re with us until the company shuts its doors,” he added. “Talent like yours? We don’t let go.” She nodded, and left. Mila sat at her desk, staring at the monitor. As Sophia walked by, Mila looked up—eyes prickly, hostile, glittering with tears. Sophia didn’t look back. She sat at her computer, opened her work program. The pies on the window ledge stayed untouched until evening… Backstabbed

Emma, this is Lucy, our new team member. Shell be working in your department, said Mr. Jenkins.

La vida

Mum, Please Smile Arina never liked it when the neighbours came over and asked her mother to sing a song. “Anna, sing us a tune, your voice is lovely and you dance so well,” they’d say. Her mother would begin singing, the neighbours would join in, and sometimes they’d all dance together in the courtyard. Back then, Arina lived with her parents and her younger brother, Tony, in their own house in an English village. Her mother was cheerful and welcoming, and when the neighbours left, she’d say, “Come again sometime, it was lovely to spend time together,” and they’d promise they would. But Arina couldn’t explain why she felt embarrassed when her mother sang and danced. She was in Year 5 at the village school when she finally said, “Mum, please don’t sing and dance… I get embarrassed,” though she didn’t quite understand why herself. Even now, as a grown woman and a mother herself, Arina can’t explain what she felt. But Anna replied, “Arina, darling, don’t be ashamed when I sing—be happy! I won’t always sing and dance, not when I’m older…” But back then, Arina didn’t think about how life isn’t always joyful. When she was in Year 6, and her brother was in Year 2, their father left. He packed his bags and left forever. Arina never knew the reason. As a teenager, she asked, “Mum, why did Dad leave us?” “You’ll know when you’re older,” her mother replied. Anna couldn’t bear to tell her daughter that she’d caught her husband at home with another woman, Vera, who lived nearby. Arina and Tony were at school, but Anna came home early after forgetting her purse. Surprised to find the door unlocked at eleven in the morning, she walked in and saw the devastating scene in their bedroom. Her husband and Vera stared at her, as if she was the intruder. There was a terrible row that evening. Anna packed his things and told him, “Go. I will never forgive your betrayal.” Ivan tried to reason with her, but she wouldn’t listen. “You have my things and my final answer,” she said, and left for the garden. Ivan took his things and left while Anna watched discreetly from around the corner, too hurt to face him again. “We’ll survive somehow,” she thought, as tears streamed down her face. “But I’ll never forgive.” And she didn’t. Anna was left alone to raise two children and soon realised how hard it would be. She took two jobs—cleaning by day and working nights at the local bakery. Exhausted, her smile slowly vanished. Though her father lived only four houses down with Vera, Arina and Tony still saw him. Vera had a son Tony’s age, who was in the same class as him. Anna never forbade her children from seeing their father; they’d play together, but always ate at home as Vera never fed them. Sometimes, even Vera’s son would come to their house, to the neighbours’ surprise. Anna would feed them all; she didn’t resent her ex-husband’s stepson. But from then on, Arina never saw her mother smile. Anna was kind and caring, but closed in on herself. Sometimes, Arina would come home from school wanting her mum to talk to her. She’d offer up stories from her day, like, “Mum, imagine, today Genka brought a kitten to class, it started meowing during lessons, and even the teacher couldn’t work out who it was. We told her it was in his bag, and she sent both Genka and the kitten home, calling his mum to school.” To this, her mum could only reply, “Right… I see…” Her laughter had gone. But Arina often heard her crying softly at night. It was only when she was older that Arina understood her mother’s tiredness. “She worked two jobs, staying up at night; she must’ve been exhausted and probably lacked vitamins. She always made sure Tony and I were well-dressed and our clothes were clean and ironed,” Arina later recalled. Back then, she’d often beg, “Mum, please smile—I haven’t seen your smile for so long.” Anna loved her children in her own way. She didn’t often hug them, but would praise them for good grades and never causing trouble. She cooked well, and their home was always tidy. Arina felt her mother’s love especially when she braided her hair. Anna would stroke her daughter’s head, always with that sad gentleness. She lost her teeth early, but never replaced them. After school, Arina didn’t even consider going off to university—she didn’t want to leave her mum alone, knowing it would cost money. She got a job in the village shop nearby, helping support her mum as Tony grew up fast and needed new clothes and shoes. One day, a new customer came in—a man named Michael, from a neighbouring village eight miles away. He smiled and said, “What’s your name, beautiful? You’re new here, I haven’t seen you before when I’ve passed through.” “I’m Arina, and I haven’t seen you either.” He introduced himself, and soon started visiting often, picking Arina up after work for long walks or a spin in his car. Once, he even brought her to his own home. He lived with his mother, who was in poor health; his wife had left him and taken their daughter to town, not wanting to care for his mum. He had a big farm and a good house, and always treated Arina to delicious meals—cream, meat, sweets. She liked his home and soon, he asked her to marry him. “I’ll be honest—you’ll need to look after Mum, but I’ll help.” Arina agreed, happy inside, but didn’t show too much. Looking after his sick mother wouldn’t be a problem. Michael was nervous, but delighted when she accepted. After their wedding, Arina moved to Michael’s village. Tony was grown up, away learning to be a mechanic. Arina and Michael soon had two sons in quick succession. She was busy at home—after his mum died, the farm still needed constant work. Michael never let her do the heavy lifting, always saying, “You leave that to me—just milk the cows and feed the chickens; I’ll see to the pigs.” He was a loving husband and great with the children. Though Arina had never lived on a big farm before, she knew how to do everything, and Michael was generous, often saying, “Arina, let’s take some meat and cream and milk to your mum—she has to buy everything, while we’ve got it all fresh and homemade.” Anna would accept with thanks, but never smiled. Even when surrounded by her grandchildren, she remained solemn. Arina often wondered how to help bring her mother back to life. “Arina, maybe you should talk to Father Joseph at church, he might have some advice” Michael suggested, and Arina took the idea to heart. The priest promised to pray for Anna and told Arina to ask God to bring a good person into her mother’s life. One day, Anna asked her daughter, “Could you lend me some money? I want to get my teeth done.” Arina was overjoyed—anything to help her mum smile again. She gave her the money, though Anna insisted she’d repay it. They caught up by phone as Michael was busy helping his Uncle Colin, who’d just bought a nearby house and moved in after things didn’t work out with his wife. Uncle Colin invited Michael and Arina to visit—they were surprised to meet his new partner: Anna, Arina’s mum. Anna blushed but was smiling. She looked younger, happier, completely changed. “Mum! I’m so happy… why didn’t you say anything?” “I didn’t want to tell you in case it didn’t work out.” “Uncle Colin, why didn’t you tell us?” “I was afraid Anna might change her mind. But now we’re happy.” Michael and Arina were thrilled that Anna and Colin had found each other. Anna was transformed—beaming and always smiling now. Thank you for reading, subscribing, and for your support. Wishing you all the best in life.

Mum, Give Us a Smile Emily never liked it when the neighbours popped round and asked her mum to sing a tune.

La vida

Pensioner Shares Heartbreaking Story: The Last Time I Saw My Son Was Over Six Years Ago—After His Wife Told Me I Was Not Welcome, He Cut All Ties, Took the Money from Selling My Flat, and Never Looked Back

Its been over six years since I last saw my son. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday, with

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My Sister Wants Me to Move Out of the Apartment I Co-Own Because She’s Having a Baby – Is It Reasonable for Her to Expect This?

My sister is asking me to move out of our own flat because shes expecting a baby. Is this really normal?

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My Husband’s Ex-Wife Demanded I Babysit Their Grandchildren—But My Response Left Her Speechless — “Are you seriously refusing? It’s just for three days! Katya’s got an emergency, an unmissable holiday in Turkey, she hasn’t had a proper break in ages, and I… well, you know my blood pressure, plus my back’s gone after gardening. And Sergey’s their grandfather. It’s his duty to help.” The voice on the phone was so shrill that Sergey didn’t even need to put it on speaker. Standing by the stove, Elena heard every entitled note. She recognised that tone instantly—Larissa, her husband’s unforgettable first wife. Sergey glanced guiltily at Elena while awkwardly slicing bread, as the conversation spiralled into another of Larissa’s melodramatic ultimatums… [rest of summary omitted for brevity, but the title refers to this opening and the unfolding story] If you enjoyed this story about setting boundaries, subscribe to the channel and leave a like. And let me know in the comments: What would you have done if you were in Elena’s shoes?

My goodness, is it really so hard for you? Just three days. Sophies in a pickle, she found a last-minute

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My goodness, is it really so hard for you? Just three days. Sophies in a pickle, she found a last-minute

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“She’s Just Manipulating My Husband!” Fumed Anna—A Story of Love, Exes, and Choosing Yourself

Shes just playing on my husbands feelings, Fiona complained. I stared at my phone and felt that familiar

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When My Mum Discovered I Was Married, Had a Good Job, and Owned My Own Flat, She Quickly Came Asking for Financial Support – But My Husband Made It Clear She Shouldn’t Expect Anything From Me Ever Again

When my mother discovered that I was married, held a respectable job, and owned a flat of my own, she

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“So What Did Your Complaining Ever Get You?” Her Husband Asked—But He Never Expected What Happened Next When Life at 5am Feels Suffocating, Marina Faces the Truth About Her Marriage, Her Panic Attacks, and the Power She Never Knew She Had Eighteen Years of Being the Accountant, Cleaner, and Silent Partner—Until She Shows Her Husband Just Who Really Holds the Keys to the House, the Family, and the Business When Marina Reveals the Hidden Truth About the Mortgage, the Business Loans, and ‘The Other Woman’—A Husband Discovers What It Means to Lose Everything He Took for Granted After Years Spent Chasing His Business Dreams, He Never Noticed His Wife’s Quiet Strength—Until the Day She Decides to Take Back Control of Her Life and Their Daughter’s Future From Exhaustion, Panic Attacks, and Self-Doubt to a Kitchen-Table Ultimatum—How One Woman’s Quiet Determination Reshaped Her Destiny and Left Her Husband Speechless Does Supporting Your Husband’s Business Always Pay Off? Marina’s Story of Betrayal, Strength, and Starting Over Will Make You Think Twice

And what exactly have you achieved by all your whinging? her husband asked. Yet, what followed left him

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My Wife Slept Peacefully Beside Me… When Suddenly I Got a Facebook Notification: A Woman from My Past Asked to Be Added as a Friend I Accepted Her Friend Request and Messaged Her: “Do We Know Each Other?” She Replied: “I Heard You Got Married, But I Still Love You.” She Was an Old Friend, Looking Stunning in Her Profile Picture. I Closed the Chat and Looked at My Wife Sleeping Soundly After a Long Day at Work. Watching Her, I Reflected on How Safe She Felt Sleeping Peacefully in Our New Home Together. She’s Far from Her Parents’ House, Where She Used to Spend Every Day Surrounded by Family. When She Was Upset or Sad, Her Mum Was There for Comfort, Her Siblings Would Make Her Laugh, and Her Dad Always Brought Her Favourite Things—Yet She Trusted Me Completely. All These Thoughts Ran Through My Mind, So I Picked Up My Phone and Hit “BLOCK.” I Turned Back to Her and Fell Asleep by Her Side. I’m a Man, Not a Boy. I Swore to Be Faithful to Her—And I Always Will. I’ll Fight Forever to Be a Husband Who Never Betrays His Wife or Breaks Up His Family…

My wife was asleep next to me… when suddenly, a notification popped up on Facebook. A woman had