Sweet Revenge: How I Turned My Ex’s Family’s Greed Into the Perfect Petty Payback
What happens when you’re trying to do right by someone you love, but their family makes you the villain? For one Redditor, the answer was a masterstroke of petty revenge involving Journey tickets, a greedy family, and a six-hour road trip to nowhere. If you’ve ever fantasized about serving karma to those who richly deserve it, this is the story for you.
Let’s rewind: Imagine you’re 18, in your first serious relationship, and trying your best to be generous. You buy your girlfriend’s mom her favorite concert tickets for Christmas. A few months later, the family’s true colors show, and they’re not pretty—think manipulation, financial abuse, and a breakup orchestrated by everyone but you. But what’s a little heartbreak compared to the sweet, sweet satisfaction of poetic justice?
Family Values: Greed, Manipulation, and a Christmas Gift
Our tale begins with u/handdagger420, who found himself entangled in a family straight out of a cautionary tale. His then-girlfriend, sweet and innocent, had grown up in a tightly knit, homeschooled, and deeply religious household. On the surface, it looked like a classic American family—until you peeked under the hood.
When the girlfriend’s father was injured and forced onto disability, the family’s matriarch devised a scheme: suddenly, all the kids developed suspicious “disabilities,” all confirmed by a conveniently friendly doctor. The real kicker? Mom was collecting government SSI checks for each of her four children, and—wait for it—paying herself a healthy $64/hour as their so-called “caregiver.”
Our narrator’s girlfriend even admitted she was coerced into faking dyslexia. The mother was living large while the kids’ checks padded her bank account. If there’s a Hall of Fame for sketchy parents, this woman would be a shoo-in.
The Breakup: When Love and SSI Don’t Mix
Despite the drama, our narrator did his best to be a good boyfriend. He even bought Journey tickets as a thoughtful Christmas present—because nothing says “thanks for welcoming me into your family” like a night belting out “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
But things went south fast. When the girlfriend wanted to move in with our hero, her mom lost it. Not only would the family lose those juicy caregiver payments, but apparently, dating outside their Christian denomination was also a cardinal sin. Cue the melodrama: accusations flew, threats were made, and the relationship crumbled under the weight of family pressure.
The Twist: Journey’s “Faithfully” Takes on New Meaning
Months later, our narrator was on the cusp of a fresh start—new apartment, new chapter, but just $300 shy of the security deposit. That’s when inspiration struck: those Journey tickets, still sitting in his Ticketmaster account, unused and unappreciated.
With the click of a button, he sold them and secured his new place. The kicker? The concert was just two weeks away, and the ex’s family had NO idea the tickets were no longer theirs.
The Road Trip to Nowhere
Fast forward to concert night. Our narrator’s phone blew up with angry messages. The ex’s parents had driven three hours, only to be refused at the gate. Desperate, they scoured the parking lot for scalpers, but alas—the show was sold out. Six hours of driving for a whole lot of nothing.
The ex reached out, saying her parents were furious. But our hero? He just grinned and basked in the delicious irony. Karma, it seems, has a killer sense of timing.
Why Do We Love This Story So Much?
There’s something universally satisfying about petty revenge stories—especially when they target people who truly have it coming. In a world where manipulative behavior often goes unpunished, it’s cathartic to hear about someone getting their just desserts. Plus, who among us hasn’t fantasized about pulling off the perfect, victimless act of retribution?
This story also taps into another, deeper truth: generosity should never be mistaken for weakness. When someone tries to take advantage of your kindness, it’s not just fair—it’s downright poetic—to reclaim what’s rightfully yours.
The Moral: Don’t Be a Piece of Sh*t
As our narrator so succinctly put it, “Don’t be a piece of sh*t to others, or you may receive the same in return.” Whether you’re doling out Christmas gifts or collecting government checks, what goes around really does come around.
So next time you’re tempted to take advantage of someone’s goodwill, remember: you might just find yourself on a road trip to nowhere—while they’re at home, happily unpacking in their new apartment.
What’s your favorite petty revenge story? Drop your tales of sweet justice in the comments below!
Original Reddit Post: My Ex's Mom