Up next in 10
He Knew Something Was Off… Then the Truth Broke Him 💔 | Storytime Stateside
Aug 13, 2025
#redditrelationship #aita #redditstories He Knew Something Was Off… Then the Truth Broke Him 💔 | Storytime Stateside Timothy "Tim" Burns had it all — a dream job, a loving wife, and a bright future. But one camping trip and a strange shift in his wife's behavior set off a chain of events that shattered everything he believed in. When suspicion led to investigation, Tim uncovered a devastating betrayal involving his boss, his friends… and his wife. What he found? Unforgivable. 🔍 Dive into this chilling story of deception, infidelity, and revenge — where the person you trust most might be the one hiding the biggest secrets. Subscribe for more real-life inspired stories of betrayal, justice, and emotional reckoning. 🛑 Viewer discretion is advised due to mature themes.
View Video Transcript
0:00
The faint aroma of a successful deal
0:02
still hung in the air as Timothy Tim
0:04
Burns hung up the phone. A major new
0:07
service contract was signed, sealed, and
0:09
delivered.
0:11
His IT firm's future was secure. His
0:13
promotion was guaranteed, and the salary
0:16
increase meant he and Candace, his wife
0:18
of 5 years, who preferred to be called
0:20
Candy, could finally start the family
0:22
they had always talked about. But the
0:25
elation of success was short-lived,
0:27
replaced by a cold dread that had been
0:29
creeping into his heart ever since he
0:31
got back from a camping trip with his
0:33
boss, Jake Hudson. Candy had been
0:35
different, distracted, distant, and
0:38
prone to snapping at him for no reason.
0:41
It was as if a switch had been flipped.
0:44
The loving partner he knew had been
0:45
replaced by a stranger. The final brutal
0:48
piece of the puzzle came when he was
0:50
doing laundry. He picked up her
0:52
underwear and noticed a hardened,
0:54
unmistakable substance. The smell was as
0:57
familiar as it was sickening. A
1:00
horrifying realization washed over him,
1:02
a tsunami of betrayal and disgust.
1:05
His world shattered, the fragments of
1:07
his trust scattering across the floor.
1:10
He knew what he had to do. With his new
1:13
contract requiring him to travel to the
1:15
West Coast for 3 days, he sought legal
1:17
counsel.
1:19
Ruby Hawkins, a family law and divorce
1:21
lawyer, listened patiently to his story,
1:24
her expression unreadable.
1:26
"Are you sure your wife is cheating on
1:28
you?" she asked, her voice calm and
1:30
professional. "Not 100%," Tim admitted,
1:34
the words tasting like ash. "But I need
1:37
to know. And if she is, I want a
1:39
divorce," Ruby explained the nuances of
1:41
divorce in their state. While most were
1:44
no fault, proving infidelity could lead
1:46
to a more favorable outcome.
1:49
It was a cold transactional reality he
1:51
had never imagined facing.
1:54
You'll need solid evidence, she said.
1:57
Photographs, videos. I can hire an
1:59
investigator to find out for sure. Do
2:02
it, Tim said, a hard resolve setting in.
2:05
I'll be out of town for about 3 days,
2:07
and I think that's when she'll probably
2:08
do it. Ruby introduced him to Marvin
2:11
Johnson, a private investigator who gave
2:14
Tim the tools of a spy, a tracker for
2:16
Candy's phone, a device to record
2:19
landline calls, and an audio recorder to
2:21
hide in her purse.
2:23
Tim hated every second of it, but the
2:26
need for truth was a fire he couldn't
2:27
extinguish.
2:29
There were other signs, too, that nawed
2:31
at him. Jake, his boss, had been more
2:34
arrogant and condescending since the
2:36
camping trip. A sly smirk on his face as
2:39
if he shared a secret with the world
2:40
that Tim was not privy to. A week later,
2:43
Candy drove him to the airport. Her kiss
2:46
goodbye felt like a performance, a
2:48
hollow gesture.
2:50
I'll call you this evening after dinner,
2:52
he said. Okay, honey. Have a good
2:54
flight, she replied, her smile not quite
2:57
reaching her eyes. That night, he called
3:00
as promised, and his stomach clenched
3:02
when she told him she was waitressing at
3:04
a party Jake was hosting.
3:06
One of the other waitresses had called
3:08
in sick, and Jake had asked her to fill
3:10
in. He was paying her $150 for the
3:13
night. Tim knew she needed the money,
3:15
but the situation felt wrong. A puzzle
3:18
piece that didn't fit. "Okay, go ahead,"
3:21
he said, his voice strained. "But be
3:24
careful. Tell me all about it tomorrow.
3:27
You know I love you, right? Yes, she
3:30
replied, her voice a little too quick.
3:32
And I love you, too. Good night. The
3:34
moment he hung up, he called Marvin.
3:38
I just wanted to let you know that Candy
3:39
was asked to waitress at a party at Jake
3:41
Hudson's house, he said, his heart
3:43
pounding in his ears.
3:46
Marvin's calm voice was a lifeline.
3:49
We'll keep an eye on her and let you
3:50
know. The next day was a blur of
3:53
unanswered calls and voicemails. The
3:56
knot in his stomach tightened with every
3:58
silent ring. Then came the email from
4:01
Marvin. A brutal, impersonal message
4:03
that delivered the final blow. Candi
4:06
spent the night at Hudson's house and is
4:08
still there. She was very busy last
4:11
night. I've attached a couple of photos,
4:14
but be warned, they are quite graphic. I
4:17
will give you my full report when you
4:19
return. Tim's hands shook as he opened
4:21
the attachments. The photos were a
4:24
kaleidoscope of depravity. A sickening
4:27
tableau of his wife having sex with
4:28
three men, men he once considered
4:31
friends. Tears streamed down his face,
4:34
the hot salt, a bitter contrast to the
4:36
icy betrayal in his heart. His wife of 5
4:39
years had become a stranger in a
4:41
stranger's bed. He tried calling her
4:43
again, but the phone went straight to
4:45
voicemail.
4:47
The hotel bar became his sanctuary, a
4:49
dark place where he could drown the
4:51
images in his mind.
4:53
He checked the tracker the next morning,
4:55
and it confirmed his worst fears.
4:58
Candi's phone was still at Jake's house.
5:01
Marvin's second email contained more
5:03
photos, this time with a horrifying
5:05
count of 10 men, including Jake, his son
5:07
Mike, and five of Tim's own colleagues.
5:10
The final three men were strangers,
5:12
likely Mike's friends. The rest of his
5:14
business trip was a fog. The signed
5:17
contract, the new job, all of it meant
5:19
nothing now. He checked out of the
5:21
hotel, and caught an early flight home.
5:24
The taxi ride was silent, a somber
5:27
journey to a life that no longer
5:28
existed. Her car was missing from the
5:31
driveway. The tracker showed her phone
5:33
still at Jake's. He went inside, changed
5:36
his clothes, and called Ruby's office.
5:39
He was in for another shock. "Hello,"
5:42
she answered, her voice breathless.
5:45
Hi, it's me, Tim, he said, his voice
5:47
flat. Where are you? I'm home, she lied,
5:52
her voice a brittle shell. Just
5:54
finishing up a few things before class
5:56
starts.
5:57
Tim knew her classes didn't start for
5:59
another 2 weeks. Her blatant lie was the
6:02
final insult. I see, he said, his voice
6:05
colder than a winter's night. Well, I'm
6:07
done here in California. I'm heading
6:09
home. Oh, okay. she replied, a nervous
6:13
tremor in her voice. I missed you so
6:15
much. Call me when you land and I'll
6:17
pick you up at the airport. Don't worry,
6:19
he said, the words a hammer blow. I'll
6:22
take a taxi. Bye. He ended the call,
6:26
leaving her to wonder why he hadn't said
6:28
I love you. A phrase that had been a
6:30
constant in their lives for 5 years. He
6:33
went to Ruby's office, the box of
6:35
evidence from Marvin in his hands. It
6:38
contained not only the photos, but two
6:40
DVDs. hours of video showing Cand's
6:43
debauchery.
6:45
The things she did for these men were
6:46
things she had always refused to do for
6:48
him. The love he had felt for her, once
6:51
a mountain, crumbled into dust. I'll go
6:54
ahead and file for divorce, citing
6:56
infidelity, Ruby said, her voice full of
6:58
empathy. We can also file a lawsuit for
7:01
alienation of affection against Jake and
7:03
the others. Well get a good
7:04
settlement.
7:06
Do what you have to do, Tim said, a grim
7:08
resolve in his voice. Just don't do
7:11
anything stupid, Ruby cautioned, a
7:14
warning look in her eye. I don't want to
7:16
bail you out of jail. Don't worry, Tim
7:19
said. I won't. He left Ruby's office and
7:22
sat in his car, the full weight of his
7:25
situation settling on him. He couldn't
7:27
work for Jake anymore. He couldn't work
7:30
with the men who had defiled his wife.
7:33
He pulled out his phone and found a
7:35
number he had been saving for just such
7:36
an emergency.
7:38
Carlson. The man on the other end
7:41
answered. John, this is Tim Burns, he
7:43
said. Tim, how are you, old friend?
7:47
John Carlson, the CEO of Empire, had
7:50
been trying to get him to come work for
7:51
him for years. It could be better, Tim
7:54
said. Listen, is that vacancy at Empire
7:57
still open? Of course it is, John
8:01
replied, a note of surprise in his
8:03
voice. Have you finally decided to join
8:05
a reputable company?
8:07
Yeah, something like that, Tim said, the
8:10
words heavy with irony.
8:12
Some things came to my attention, and I
8:14
realized I could no longer work there.
8:16
Just give me a job. I promise I'll work
8:19
just as hard for you as I did for Jake.
8:22
You have a job, John said without a
8:24
moment's hesitation. Can you start on
8:26
Monday? Absolutely, Tim replied. Why
8:30
don't you and your wife come over
8:31
tonight? John offered. Rose made her
8:35
famous lasagna. We can catch up and
8:37
discuss your compensation package. I'd
8:39
love to, but unfortunately I can't bring
8:42
my wife, Tim said. I can explain tonight
8:45
if you want. Of course, Tim, John said,
8:48
his voice full of concern. You know,
8:50
Rose is a licensed counselor. Maybe she
8:52
can help you if you want. That actually
8:55
sounds good, John. I appreciate it. I'll
8:58
call Rose and let her know, John said.
9:01
Come over at say 6:30. Today at 6:30.
9:04
Thanks again, buddy.
9:06
Tim drove home, the weight on his
9:08
shoulders replaced by a newfound
9:10
lightness. He felt in control again.
9:13
When he got there, Candy's car was still
9:15
missing. He went inside, showered, and
9:18
sat down at the computer to write his
9:19
resignation letter. Candi finally
9:21
arrived around 5:00 p.m., her face
9:23
flushed, and her hair a mess. She went
9:26
to kiss him, but he turned away, a
9:28
reflex of disgust. She ended up kissing
9:30
his cheek, a hollow gesture. Everything
9:33
is fine," she asked. "Not really," he
9:37
said, his voice cold. "I don't feel
9:40
well. I'm meeting someone for dinner."
9:43
"Are you cheating on me?" she asked, a
9:45
flicker of panic in her eyes. "You mean,
9:48
have I been cheating on you?" he
9:50
retorted, the sarcasm dripping from his
9:52
words. "No, I never cheated on you, and
9:56
I have no intention of doing it now. Can
9:58
you say the same?" she recoiled in
10:00
horror, a silent admission of guilt.
10:04
"How was your little job at Jake's
10:05
house?" he asked, his eyes never leaving
10:08
her face. "Everything went well," she
10:11
lied, the words a thin veil. "Even when
10:14
it was hard, it was still fun." "I bet,"
10:17
he said flatly. He looked at his watch.
10:20
"I guess I'll go." He stood up, walked
10:23
past her without a word, and headed to
10:25
the master bedroom to change. When he
10:27
came out, she was sitting on the sofa,
10:30
her hands clasped together.
10:32
"How long will you be gone?" she asked,
10:35
her voice small.
10:36
"I don't know," he said. "Don't wait up
10:39
for me. Bye." He grabbed his keys and
10:42
left, the final nail in the coffin of
10:44
their marriage. The phone rang as his
10:47
car pulled out of the driveway. It was
10:49
Candy calling Jake, unaware that the
10:51
conversation was being recorded.
10:54
Jake, I think he knows something, she
10:56
said, her voice a panicked whisper.
10:59
What makes you think that? He asked. He
11:02
didn't touch me, she said. He always
11:05
kisses me and says he loves me, but he
11:07
didn't. He seems so cold and just left.
11:11
So what if he knows? Jake said a sneer
11:13
in his voice.
11:15
You can always come and stay with us.
11:17
Don't worry about Timmy boy. I'll keep
11:19
him so busy he'll hardly ever be home.
11:21
But I don't want to lose him," she
11:23
exclaimed. "I love him." Jake laughed, a
11:28
cruel mocking sound. "You've shown us
11:31
all how much you love him over the past
11:32
2 days, haven't you? Let him get this
11:35
out of his head. He'll come around, and
11:38
if he doesn't, well, we can do something
11:40
about that, too." "You're not going to
11:43
hurt him, are you?" she asked, her voice
11:45
trembling. "Not in many words," Jake
11:48
said.
11:49
We'll show him how things are going to
11:51
be from now on. You'll help us make this
11:53
happen. Remember who you belong to now.
11:57
I'm sure you wouldn't want the school
11:59
board to see the video footage we have
12:00
of you. You wouldn't dare, she cried.
12:05
Oh, yeah. I'd love to, Jake said, his
12:07
voice full of menace. I have a video of
12:09
you on a hike and plenty of videos of
12:11
you in very compromising positions. Your
12:14
rear literally belongs to me, so you
12:16
need to keep little Timmy in line.
12:18
Trapped, scared, and defeated, Candy
12:21
gave in. "Okay, Jake," she said, a
12:25
whimper in her voice. "But don't hurt
12:27
him. As you say, he replied and hung up,
12:29
leaving her alone with her choices.
#Troubled Relationships
#Violence & Abuse