My Boyfriend Fooled Me into Covering His $8,400 Rent — So I Served Him a Revenge He’ll Always Remember

They say love blinds you, but in my case, it did more than that — it left me deceived, heartbroken, and stuck with an $8,437.63 bill. I trusted a man who promised forever but was secretly planning to disappear. Karma, however, doesn’t turn a blind eye — it hits hard.

I met Ethan on a rainy Tuesday at the bookstore café where I worked part-time. He ordered a simple coffee and asked about a book I had hidden away. We ended up talking for hours. His laugh creased his eyes, and the way he listened made me feel valued.

“You work full-time and still manage this?” he said, impressed. “That’s dedication.”

“Rent in this city is no joke,” I replied, hiding my exhaustion.

He told me he was a freelance app developer with a big client lined up. “Maybe soon you won’t need two jobs.”

I should’ve been wary then — the perfect promise wrapped in a charming smile.

A year later, we moved in together. A modest one-bedroom with squeaky floors and good light.

“Let’s keep it simple,” Ethan said. “I’ll cover rent and utilities since my income varies. You handle groceries and cooking.”

“Are you sure? Seems uneven,” I said, adding up costs.

He held my hands. “I’m saving for our future. Every dollar goes to our house fund.”

“House fund?” My heart skipped.

“In a few years, down payment for a place that’s ours. No more landlords.”

I kissed him, believing it all.

For three years, I juggled teaching, cooking, and grading while Ethan worked on apps or went to meetings. I never questioned him.

“You’re the only one who’s believed in me,” he said one night, holding me close. “I can’t wait for our future.”

“Are you proposing?” I joked.

He just smiled and hugged me.

Then came the letter.

An official notice of unpaid rent—$8,437.63—in my name alone. The lease had my signature—or a close forgery—and only my name appeared.

I called the property manager. Payments stopped six months ago. Multiple notices sent, all ignored.

I sat frozen where Ethan and I built dreams, now shattered.

He came home, upbeat, talking about funding for his app. I stayed silent.

Later, I found his phone unlocked, revealing months of texts with Megan—his secret girlfriend—planning a move to be together.

He’d been stealing rent money for six months, planning to vanish.

When he left for a “client meeting” in Megan’s town, I called the landlord.

Together, we changed the locks and played a little prank—eggs in his sneakers.

Ethan came back, shocked. After he paid the owed rent, he took his things—all but the ruined shoes.

I was left with the truth and a hard-earned lesson: when someone shows who they are, believe it the first time.