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

Nicole was surprised when her stepmother, Susan, called her with a “priceless” birthday gift. After years of giving her random, impersonal presents, Nicole was curious. She went to her father’s house to see the gift. What she found was a disgusting, stained, and smelly couch that seemed to have seen better days.

Susan insisted it was a “priceless” gift, while Nicole’s father was oblivious to the situation, encouraging her to just accept it. Nicole was torn — she didn’t want to upset her dad, but the couch was a disaster. In the end, she decided to take it home and make the best of it. Her boyfriend, Derek, helped her load it up, but Nicole was determined to do something with it rather than just throwing it away.

She began the restoration project by first tackling the overwhelming smell. After finding a DIY deodorizing solution online, she sprayed the couch with vinegar, water, and lavender oil, which helped eliminate most of the stench. Then, she moved on to the stains. Using a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap, she scrubbed the fabric, and the stains began to fade.

But there were still tears and rips to deal with. She rushed to a local thrift store to find fabric and materials to patch up the couch. She used fabric glue for the larger holes and iron-on mending for the smaller ones. She even added decorative buttons and frills to make the couch look intentional.

The next morning, after hours of cleaning and steaming, the couch looked brand new. Nicole was so proud of her work, she decided to list the restored couch for $5,000 on a social media marketplace. She figured it was a joke, but within a day, someone named Maggie offered to buy it. When Maggie arrived to check it out, she was thrilled and explained it would be perfect for her art studio.

However, things took a turn when Susan showed up at Nicole’s door, furious after seeing the sale post. She demanded half of the $5,000, claiming the couch was hers and she deserved $2,500. Nicole, frustrated, explained that the couch’s value came from her effort, not from Susan’s original gift. Susan didn’t back down, storming off in anger and leaving Nicole to brace for what would come next.