Whether it’s a cheating partner, a selfish relative, or someone acting entitled, karma has a way of catching up to everyone. These five tales highlight how justice can unfold in the most unexpected ways—even when everything seems out of control.
Karma—the powerful law of cause and effect—often works behind the scenes. But every now and then, it acts swiftly and unmistakably.
In this set of stories, we explore five unforgettable moments when people who did wrong faced immediate and undeniable consequences, reminding us that actions truly do come back around.
1. My Sister Planned Grandpa’s Birthday, Then Made Him Pay — Karma Put Her in Her Place
When my younger sister Ariel volunteered to throw our grandfather’s 90th birthday celebration, I braced myself. I knew her well enough to expect something selfish, but I didn’t imagine it would be quite this bad.
Right away, the party felt off. Ariel had chosen a sushi bar—knowing full well that Grandpa hated sushi. The guests? Not our family or his friends, but mostly her rowdy college buddies. None of Grandpa’s lifelong companions had even been invited.
When I quietly pulled her aside and asked why she hadn’t invited anyone important to Grandpa, she just waved me off, saying, “He’s enjoying being with the younger crowd.” But anyone could see Grandpa sitting alone, uncomfortable and out of place, barely touching his food.
Then came the real shocker.
As the bill arrived, Ariel handed it to Grandpa like it was a birthday card. “Here you go, Gramps! Happy birthday — now pay up!” she said with a laugh, clearly clueless about how awful she sounded.
That was it for me.
“Ariel, seriously? Grandpa shouldn’t be paying for his own birthday dinner,” I snapped, grabbing the check from her.
But Grandpa, ever the gentleman, gently said, “It’s alright, Jocelyn. I don’t mind.”
I wasn’t having it. “No, Grandpa. Let me cover this one. You’ve given us enough already.”
As Ariel returned to her little clique, I walked to the bar and asked for the aux cord, pretending I wanted to play a sentimental song.
Instead, I hit play on a series of voice messages Ariel had sent me—complaining about the very people now surrounding her at the table.
“I can’t stand my roommate,” her voice blared through the speakers. “Her boyfriend is always over and he’s disgusting. She’s even worse.”
The room went silent. Then came the awkward glances and the cold shoulders. One by one, her friends left the table until Ariel sat alone, humiliated and speechless.
Grandpa looked at her gently and said, “Ariel, you owe everyone here an apology. Especially me.”
Ariel muttered an apology, barely meeting his eyes. She knew exactly what I had done—and why. She also knew she deserved it.
That night, she learned a tough lesson. Karma doesn’t miss.
2. Man Demands My Wheelchair for His Tired Wife in Walmart — Then Karma Shows Up
I was minding my own business, navigating Walmart in my wheelchair to pick up groceries, when a man stepped directly in front of me and blocked my path.
“My wife’s exhausted,” he said, gesturing to the woman behind him. “You need to let her use your chair.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he said sharply. “She’s been on her feet all day. You’re young. You don’t need it.”
“I can’t walk,” I replied calmly. “That’s why I have this chair.”
But he refused to believe it. “You’re faking it,” he accused, raising his voice.
Before I could respond, a Walmart employee named Miguel came over.
“Sir, we can’t ask anyone to give up a mobility aid,” he said evenly.
But the man wasn’t done. He started shouting, demanding a manager, and accusing me of fraud.
Then karma made its entrance.
The man took a step back, tripped over a display, and crashed into a tower of canned vegetables. Cans rolled in every direction as he landed flat on his back.
His wife rushed to help, but he tried to stand and slipped again, going down harder this time.
Everyone was staring. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
Miguel rushed to assist, but the man only yelled about suing the store. His wife eventually managed to get him out of there, red-faced and muttering.
That man demanded my dignity. Karma gave him canned justice instead.
3. My Ex Put My Furniture on the Lawn with a “Free Stuff” Sign — He Regretted It Fast
Brendan and I had been married for four years before our relationship crumbled. After the divorce was set in motion, I left for the weekend to stay at my parents’ house and clear my head.
When I came back, my heart dropped.
My furniture was strewn across the front yard. A hand-painted sign read “Free Stuff!” and people were already poking through my things.
Furious, I called Brendan immediately.
“Why the hell is my furniture on the lawn?”
“You were going to take everything anyway,” he said. “I overheard you on the phone saying you wanted half. So, I thought I’d get ahead of it.”
That was a lie. Yes, I’d vented to a friend about how unfair things felt, but I hadn’t planned to take him for all he was worth.
“You’re a child,” I said, hanging up on him.
I considered asking a friend to help store my belongings. That’s when I remembered: inside one of the bedside tables was something precious—Brendan’s late father’s watch.
He cherished that watch more than anything. And now it was mine.
Later, while staying at a friend’s place, I got the call.
“Gina, please, I need the watch. I didn’t mean for things to go this far.”
“Oh no,” I said. “I think one of the neighbors took the table. You’ll have to ask around.”
He panicked. Eventually, he offered me $500 to get it back.
I agreed.
The next day, I handed him the watch. He handed me the cash—without knowing I had the watch all along.
Revenge, sometimes, fits in the palm of your hand.
4. My Parents Spent My College Fund Meant from Grandpa — Years Later, Karma Had Its Say
After my grandpa passed away, he left me a sizable inheritance to pay for college. But the money was placed in my parents’ control until I turned 18.
At 19, I checked the account.
It was empty.
I confronted them, and they admitted it: they used the money to bail out my older brother, who had wasted his money on a flashy car and debt. Whatever was left, they used as a down payment on a bigger house.
I was speechless.
“You’ll find another way,” my mom said weakly.
That day, I cut them off. I worked my way through college with grants and part-time jobs. I eventually built a good life for myself, bought a home, and put the pain behind me.
Then one day, my brother called.
“We need help,” he said. “Mom and Dad are in trouble.”
Turns out their house investment had gone south. They were in deep debt and desperate.
Part of me wanted to laugh. But mostly, I felt numb.
I agreed to meet them. When I arrived, they broke down, crying and begging for forgiveness.
They had finally realized what they had done.
I forgave them—but I never forgot the lesson. Karma doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it whispers, years later, when no one’s expecting it.
5. My Husband Cheated with His Secretary — Then Karma Demolished His Life
Brody and I met at work, and even after we married, we kept working in the same office. I thought it was romantic—until the day I caught him stroking his secretary Lila’s leg at his desk… in full view of our coworkers.
“Brody,” I said, “what’s going on?”
He didn’t even flinch.
“We’re discussing work,” he lied, while Lila grinned.
“Really? Is putting your hand up her skirt part of the meeting agenda?” I asked, humiliated.
“Don’t make a scene,” he barked. “I’m filing for divorce. I’ll keep the house. You get nothing.”
That night, I stayed in a cheap motel room, sobbing and questioning my life.
The next day, I dragged myself into the office, heartbroken but determined to keep my job.
Then fate stepped in.
A new boss arrived—Mr. Anderson. Sharp, focused, no tolerance for nonsense.
Within days, Brody was fired.
Turns out he had been skimming company funds for months. Mr. Anderson noticed it immediately and reported him.
The man who cheated on me and flaunted it so shamelessly now had no job, no dignity, and no power.
Weeks later, he knocked on my door.
“I messed up,” he said. “I miss us.”
I didn’t even blink.
“No, Brody,” I said. “You made your bed. Now lie in it.”
I closed the door with my head held high.
Karma didn’t just find him—it knocked him flat. And for once, I didn’t have to lift a finger.