My Stepmother ‘Gifted’ Me an Old, Smelly Couch — When She Saw What I Did With It, She Demanded $2,500 From Me

When Nicoles stepmother calls her saying that she has a gift for her, Nicole goes over excitedly. But when she discovers what the gift is, Nicole is torn between keeping her father happy or retaliating. Finally, she accepts it and plans to transform it into something completely different. In the end Nicole is ready to claim the rewards of her hard work.

Ever have one of those moments where you shouldve just trusted your gut? Yep, that was me, standing in my stepmothers basement, staring at the ugliest, smelliest couch Id ever seen.

A close up of a young woman | Source: Midjourney

My stepmother, Susan, called me earlier that morning with a grand gesture for my birthday. She insisted that she had a “priceless” gift that was too big for her to move alone.

“Youre going to love it, Nicole!” she said. “Its absolutely priceless! Come over later today, and well show it to you.”

Now, this is the point when I tell you that Susan and I had never been close. In fact, if Im being honest, she barely tolerated my existence. So, imagine my absolute surprise when she offered me a gift.

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

“Curiosity killed the cat, Nic,” I said to myself as I got into the car.

I just wanted to see what it was, and I hoped that, for once, she might actually be genuine.

So, I get to my dads house, and he tells me that Susans busy.

“Shes sorting out the basement, honey,” he said. “Susan is finally cleaning out her clutter. Its about time, to be honest. Come, have a cup of tea.”

A smiling older man | Source: Midjourney

“No, let me check out the gift first, Dad,” I said. “Im so curious!”

He chuckled, oblivious to my nerves. Susan had a knack for random gifts. Last year, she gave me water bottles and socks for my birthday. I wondered if this year would be any different.

“Fine,” he said. “Ill get Susan, and then we can have some tea and a slice of cake. Susan made lemon cake this morning.”

A slice of lemon cake | Source: Midjourney

I paced in the foyer while my dad went down to the basement. Moments later, I heard them on the stairs.

Then I saw it.

My dad and Susan were making their way out of the basement with the monstrosity of a couch. The fabric was stained and ripped, with a stench that could probably knock out an adult horse! It looked like it had been neglected for decades!

A stained yellow couch | Source: Midjourney

“Happy Birthday!” Susan beamed, as if she were handing me the keys to a new car.

My dad looked at me expectantly, hoping Id be happy with the gift. But it was horrendous! Rejecting it would hurt him, and Susan knew it. I could see it on her face.

A close up of a man | Source: Midjourney

I swallowed my frustration and called my boyfriend to bring his van over.

“Ill be there in about ten minutes, babe,” Derek said.

“Thank you!” I replied. “I think they want the couch out today, so I need to take it home.”

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“Not a problem, Nic,” he said. “Im just gaming online. But Ill be done soon.”

I knew that Susan was using me as a free dump and delivery service. That couch wasnt fit to be in any home. But again, I was determined to keep the peace for my father.

Derek showed up as I was drinking my cup of tea, and we loaded the couch and left for my home. He was going to follow me home, and we planned on having dinner together.

A young man in a driving | Source: Midjourney

“This couch is rough,” he said. “Looks like its been through a storm or two.”

My initial plan was to dump it at the curb and let someone else take it, but then something shifted inside me. I wasnt going to let Susan win.

I decided to restore the couch and give it a second life. And so began a project I ne ver thought would lead to surprising results.

A young woman with yellow rubber gloves | Source: Midjourney

First, I tackled the smell.

The couch reeked of a stench that it seemed to have a life of its own. And the odor only got stronger as the day went on.

Luckily, I found a recipe for a DIY deodorizing solution online: white vinegar, water, and a few drops of lavender essential oil. I mixed it up and sprayed it generously over the couch, letting it sit for a few hours.

Glass bottles on a counter | Source: Midjourney

The vinegar smell was overpowering, but it faded, taking most of the nasty odor with it.

Next, I had to deal with the stains.

The years of spills and neglect had left their mark, so I whipped up a cleaning concoction of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and a small amount of dish soap. With a soft brush in hand, I carefully scrubbed the stained areas, working the mixture into the fabric.

Different cleaning supplies on a counter | Source: Midjourney

I let it sit for about fifteen minutes before wiping it off with a damp cloth. The transformation was already noticeable. The stains were fading, and I felt optimistic about my restoration project.

But then I had to deal with the rips and tears. A simple needle and thread werent going to fix this.

A woman scrubbing a couch | Source: Midjourney

“Nic, you need material,” Derek said while marinating chicken in the kitchen. “Theres no other way than to do a funky patch job.”

“I agree,” I said. “Will you be fine here while I do a quick dash into town?”

Derek nodded.

“But why are you rushing?” Derek asked.

A young man in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney

“Because if I dont, itll end up as another sidelined project.”

“Go,” he laughed. “Ill finish dinner in the meantime.”

So, I went to the local thrift store and found some reasonably matching fabric, random buttons, frills, and even two throw cushions.

A young woman in a thrift shop | Source: Midjourney

I used fabric glue to patch the larger holes and an iron-on fabric mender for the smaller tears. Finally, to give the whole couch a more cohesive look, I added some decorative buttons and tufting in key areas, making it look almost intentional.

A young woman sitting on a couch and looking through buttons | Source: Midjourney

“Alright, give it a rest, Nic,” Derek said as he took the last flatbread out of the pan. “You can finish it off in the morning.”

My arms were exhausted from all the scrubbing, so I was ready to listen to Derek and just sit down and eat everything he prepared.

Flatbread on a board | Source: Midjourney

But the next morning, I was back at it. I used my steam cleaner and thoroughly steamed the couch. I spent hours going over every inch of it, bringing the fabric back to life while I imagined every germ evaporating into oblivion.

By the time I was done, the couch looked like something out of a high-end furniture store.

“Damn, Nic!” I said to myself. “Well done, girl.”

A woman steam cleaning a couch | Source: Midjourney

Feeling pretty proud of my work, I decided to post the couch on a social media marketplace for $5,000. It was almost a joke because I just wanted to see if anyone would go for it.

I loved the restoration of the couch, but I also just wanted to see if I could make some money from my DIY project.

“What on earth?!” I exclaimed when my phone buzzed with a notification. Someone named Maggie was ready to purchase my couch!

A woman holding a phone | Source: Midjourney

To my shock, within a day, I got an offer from someone in the ritzy part of town. I couldnt believe my luck, but I accepted the offer anyway.

“This is just wonderful,” Maggie said.

The moment I agreed to the sale, she came flying over to my place to test out the couch.

“This couch is going to be perfect for my art studio! Why would you ever want to get rid of it?” she asked.

“Im just redecorating,” I said sheepishly. “But look, its yours to love and enjoy.”

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

A few days later, Susan showed up at my doorstep, furious. She had seen the post and the fact that the couch had been purchased for $5,000.

“You ungrateful little brat! How dare you sell my gift?” she screamed.

“Susan, you gave me a piece of junk. Actual junk. I put in the time and effort to restore it. The only reason it was worth anything now is simply because of my work.”

But she didnt back down.

A close up of an angry woman | Source: Midjourney

“It was my couch! I expect half the money since you sold it. Thats $2,500!”

I couldnt believe her nerve.

“No, Susan. If you wanted to sell the couch, you shouldve done it yourself. The transformation and profit are all mine.”

“Youll regret this!” she shouted, storming off.

She hasnt come back, so I dont know what shes planning. But I know Ill be getting a call from my dad soon.

A smiling young woman | Source: Midjourney

Read alsoMy Father Took Back the Motorcycle He Gifted Me after I Restored It, So I Got My RevengeI Almost Ruined My Sons Engagement Dinner by Oversalting the Stew – I Never Imagined the Fix Would Be So EasyMy Stepdaughter Demanded I Transfer All Her Late Dads Assets to Her Name – I Did, but She Didnt Like It

What would you have done?

If you enjoyed this story, heres another one for you |

In-Laws Kicked Us Out of the House They Gifted After We Paid for Renovations — Then It Got Even Worse

When Mikes parents offer him and his family a home, they are over the moon. Mike and Maria have a growing family, and they need the extra space. So, they venture into renovations, making the house a home. But one day, Mikes parents called, wanting their home back.

When my in-laws offered us a house, we thought it was a dream come true. With three kids and a tight budget, any help came as a blessing.

A close-up of a house | Source: Midjourney

But, let me be honest with you: the house was far from ideal.

“Its in the middle of nowhere, Mike,” I told my husband when we were sitting on the couch talking about the possibility of moving into the house.

“Its miles away from the kids school and our jobs! Well have to leave a lot earlier just to make it on time,” I said, sighing.

A couple sitting on a couch and talking | Source: Midjourney

“I know, Maria,” my husband said. “It irritates me that the nearest grocery store is twenty minutes away. But I dont want to seem ungrateful.”

I understood. Their gift came at the perfect time. Our little two-bedroom house was cluttered, and our three kids had to share one bedroom.

A cluttered bedroom | Source: Midjourney

“Well do it for the kids,” I said, taking his hand. “Whatever happens, well make it work for them.”

“Think of it as a fresh start, kids,” Mikes mom said when we went over to their home for dinner. “Youll love the peace and quiet, and the kids will have a lot of space to run about in. This is going to be good for you.”

“Yes, Mom,” Mike said. “We agree with you. Were looking forward to this new start and just going on a journey together as a family.”

A family sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney

Read the full story here.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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