Eliza, a single mother of three, trusted a contractor to remodel her kitchen, but he disappeared halfway through the job, leaving her with a kitchen that was unusable. What he didn’t know was that Eliza had a cunning plan up her sleeve to make him regret ever crossing paths with her.
I always wondered why people said being a single mother was hard, because my friends and family always supported me when I needed help. I learned the real reason when fate put me in a situation that left me fuming with rage.
A woman in her home | Source: Midjourney
Before I get into what happened that day, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I’m Eliza, a single mother of three. My ex-husband cheated on me with his old friend from school.
He gave me all the usual excuses: “I won’t do it again,” “It’s not what you think,” “We were just having fun.”
I gave him several chances, but he didn’t change.
A woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
The final straw was when I caught him in our bedroom with her while he was supposed to be watching our kids. It was stupid of him.
Long story short, I kicked him out and filed for divorce. That creep didn’t even bother to fight for custody.
I guess he knew I would win because my case was rock solid.
A man in his house | Source: Midjourney
I have been living alone with my children, Chelsea (10), Trevor (8), and Kayla (6), for about two years. My world revolves around them, and my days are a juggling act of work, housework, and parenting.
At first, living without a man in the house felt strange to me, as I had always relied on my husband for heavy chores. Although I worked and contributed financially to the household, I wasn’t the one fixing leaky pipes or rewiring light switches. That was his job.
A man fixing a pipe | Source: Pexels
So I often relied on friends and family to help me out. My brother Adam usually stops by to take care of such things. But this time, I had no choice but to hire a contractor.
And that’s when I learned how some people treat single mothers when they realize there’s no man at home. I know it sounds horrible, but it’s a harsh reality that hit me hard.
A woman looking out the window | Source: Midjourney
It all started a few months ago when the kitchen drain became clogged. I was washing dishes when I noticed that water had started to build up in the sink.
I am very careful when washing dishes though. I always make sure that no food particles fall in because I know that they always clump together and cause jams.
Anyway, I quickly tried a few tricks, like mixing baking soda and vinegar, but nothing worked. In the end, I had to wash the dishes in the bathroom. Imagine that!
A woman washing a bowl | Source: Pexels
That same night, I called my brother.
“Adam, I think you’re going to have to come over because there’s a problem with the kitchen drain,” I began. “There’s a huge clog and I can’t seem to fix it.”
“Don’t worry, Liz,” he said. “I’ll come by tomorrow.”
However, when Adam got closer, he realized there was little he could do to fix the problem.
“It sounds like a serious matter,” he said, scratching his head. “I guess you’ll have to find a professional.”
A man scratching his head | Source: Freepik
So I talked to my friends about hiring a contractor, and one of them recommended this guy, Mark. He said he was “one of the best” in town. I wish I hadn’t listened to him.
A few days later, Mark finally showed up, apparently overwhelmed with work. He was in his thirties, seemed friendly, and gave off that “trust me, I’m a professional” vibe.
“Can you tell me what the exact problem is?” I asked as I examined the drain.
A plumber examining a kitchen drain | Source: Freepik
“A clogged drain and leaks,” he told me. “You should consider remodeling the kitchen. It will save you more headaches in the future.”
Remodel? I thought. That sounds like a lot of work.
So Mark explained to me why he needed to remodel it, and even offered me a very reasonable price. He also promised to finish it in about six weeks, which seemed pretty fast to me.
A contractor examining the kitchen sink | Source: Freepik
Talking to him, I realized that he was a true professional and knew what he was doing. I told him that I would give him my answer the next day.
That afternoon, I called Adam to tell him about Mark.
“I think you’re right,” Adam said. “You should go for the remodel. Plus, the price seems good.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “I’ll call you tomorrow to start the work.”
“Sounds great,” he replied. “Do you want me to be there?”
A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels
“Thanks, Adam, but I’ll make do,” I said. “The guy seems solid and doesn’t seem like a troublemaker.”
Adam had always been there for me, and I didn’t want to depend on him anymore. He had his own life, and I figured it was time for me to take over.
I didn’t know it would be the worst decision of my life.
I should have involved Adam.
A woman looking ahead | Source: Midjourney
Mark started on the kitchen two days later. While he was working, my kids Trevor and Kayla came in to see what was going on. I thought Mark would be upset, but he was surprisingly kind to them.
I felt relieved to see him.
Everything was going well for two weeks, until the day Mark didn’t show up. I thought he must have gotten sick or something, so I let it go and waited for him to come the next day.
A woman standing by the window, thinking | Source: Midjourney
He didn’t show up again. This lasted three days and then I decided to call him.
“Mark, where are you?” I asked. “I’ve been waiting for you for three days.”
“Oh, Eliza,” he said nonchalantly. “I’m working on another job. I’ll stop by later.”
What do you mean? I thought. Another job? What about the hanging cupboards in my kitchen? Who’s going to fix them?
I got angry, but decided to be polite and asked him to come back soon. BIG MISTAKE.
A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels
Another week went by and he still didn’t show up. I called, but he didn’t answer. I even left him voicemails.
“Hey, I understand you’re busy, but I need some kind of deadline,” I said.
He didn’t answer.
That’s when I lost my cool because I knew exactly what was happening.
He thought he could take advantage of me because I was a single mother. No husband to chase him. He thought he would disappear and I would let him go.
A man looking ahead | Source: Midjourney
But I’m not that kind of woman. I’ve been through too much to let anyone play games with me. So I got creative, and Mark wasn’t prepared for what came next.
I took a few photos of the half-finished kitchen, with a few cabinets hanging at odd angles, exposed wires, broken pipes, and everything else that made my kitchen look ugly.
I then posted those photos on a couple of local home improvement groups on Facebook.
A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels
I didn’t post anything offensive. I simply wrote:
I hired a contractor named Mark on the recommendation of a friend. He is very good at work and I was almost done remodeling my kitchen when he suddenly disappeared. Has anyone else experienced these types of delays?
I let the photos speak for me. I knew exactly what I was doing.
A woman looking ahead, smiling | Source: Midjourney
The comments were not long in coming.
I know him. He was supposed to fix my bathroom and he never showed up!!!
OMG! I’m sure this is the same Mark I’ve been calling for the past two months because he left my house half-finished. I’m glad I found a better contractor.
Mark makes up the best excuses. He disappeared with my initial deposit and I’ve been chasing him for a month. I’m so sorry your kitchen looks like this.
And the list went on.
Facebook login page on a phone | Source: Pexels
It seemed like the whole town was fed up with him, waiting for a chance to vent. Even Adam was shocked when I told him. He regretted not being there with me.
Anyway, as the post gained more traction, I was sure it would reach him, and it did. I got a call from Mark two days after posting the photos.
A man with a disgusted face | Source: Midjourney
“Hey, I’ve been hearing some things on the Internet… People say I don’t finish work. That’s not true, is it?” she asked me, practically pleading.
His trembling voice told me he was panicking. It was clear that I had touched a nerve by exposing it.
“Well, Mark, I can’t control what people say,” I said calmly. “Maybe you should focus on finishing the job you started.”
I didn’t yell at him or accuse him. I just wanted him to know that I was in this situation because of him.
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
A few hours later, I received a message from him.
I will come with the team tomorrow and we will finish everything. Please help me remove those criticisms.
He was practically begging me now and I thought he must have realized that I wasn’t a single mother he could ignore.
The next day, Mark came to my house with his team. They worked faster than I had ever seen, rushing to get everything done.
A contractor working in a kitchen | Source: Freepik
It was almost comical how desperately he tried to finish, as if I was going to take down the post the moment he finished.
After the job was done, I thanked Mark and he left with his team. He then sent me a message asking if I could take down my post and leave a nice review instead.
I’ll think about it, I said. But in reality, I wasn’t going to take down the post or write a new one.
A woman texting the contractor | Source: Pexels
I wanted him to realize that he couldn’t just leave like that after betraying so many people.
He thought I was one of those people who didn’t speak up, especially since I was a single mother. But I guess he messed with the wrong person.
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I now believe that I made the right decision by taking matters into my own hands. If Adam had been around, Mark would not have dared to mess with me, and his actions would not have been exposed on the Internet.
Everything happens for a reason, and I finally understand why.
A happy woman in front of her house | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: After a painful betrayal, Danika thought a week in Seattle would help her heal. But three days into the trip, a chilling discovery on her doorbell camera forced her to rush home. What did she see on the recording?
This work is inspired by real people and events, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not guarantee the accuracy of events or the depiction of characters, and are not responsible for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and the opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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