A greedy brother inherits a house and mocks his younger sister, who only gets five rusty old clocks from their late grandmother. Little did they know about what was hidden in those timepieces.
“Oh, so grandma called you as well?! I thought you’d be busy in the library…like a good little bookworm!” 26-year-old Brian scoffed at his younger sister Linda, 19.
She had just stepped down from the taxi. Fear filled her eyes as her heart told her: “Nothing will happen to grandma. She’ll be fine. She’ll live for a hundred years more.”
Brian and Linda had come to visit their 90-year-old granny Marlene. She had requested them to see her urgently.
“Sweethearts, I wish to see you one last time. I might not get another chance again,” Marlene had painfully told them on the call two days ago…
As Linda entered her grandma’s bedroom, she coughed, noticing that it was pretty dusty. Marlene was too old and sick to do things on her own. She hadn’t swept the floor, and Linda saw the ceiling was moldy due to leakage.
Linda opened the clock, and what she found inside would go on to change her life.
“Grandma!!” she ran and hugged Marlene, who was in bed. “Nothing will happen to you, grandma. Please don’t worry. God will not take you away from us because you are all that we have.”
Until a year ago, Linda lived with Marlene. She took good care of her and helped her a lot. She was even ready to turn down a life-changing scholarship but moved to the city to pursue her degree upon Marlene’s insistence.
Brian entered the room, coughing and grinning. “Damn…I’m allergic to dust! Grandma, didn’t you sweep and dust your room?”
He came closer and saw his grandma was sick and skinny. But he was least bothered and stood there, waiting to know why she had called them.
Marlene stared into Brian’s eyes as she clasped Linda’s shivering hands. The girl was pained to see her grandma so pale and her eyes lacking that once beautiful spark. They looked lifeless.
Marlene smiled, getting up gently, and took two envelopes from under her pillow. “Sweethearts, this is for you,” she said. “Please use it wisely. I called to give it to you.”
Brian and Linda opened the envelopes and found a wad of $5,000 in each.
Linda could not hold back her tears and ran out crying.
Meanwhile, Brian frowned. “Only this much? I thought you had more to spare. Fine, I have to go now.” He turned his back on Marlene and walked away without even thanking her.
The next day, Marlene was in for a surprise.
“Good morning, grandma!” Marlene heard Linda in her bedroom. She didn’t expect her to return.
She awakened as the girl undrew the curtains, shafts of beams lighting up the dark, dusty bedroom.
She was surprised to see Linda. She had thought the girl had left for the city where she studied and was a part-time librarian.
Linda walked over to Marlene with the envelope she had given her the previous day.
“I added the $4,000 I’d saved over the year. Grandma, remember you told me about your poor vision? I now have $9,000. We can now pay for your eye surgery.”
Marlene rose from her bed. She hugged Linda, tears streaking her face. “I knew you better, darling! But it’s too late for the surgery. I can sense my death nearing. I don’t want to waste this money when it can be used for something better.”
Linda wiped away Marlene’s tears and said she would live with her.
“I’ve taken a month off. I’m not going anywhere until I see that golden smile on your face, grandma.”
And Linda knew what she had to do to restore Marlene’s smile.
Having Linda around was of great help to Marlene. She didn’t have to worry about cooking for herself.
There were days when Marlene would eat stale bread for dinner when she never felt like making herself a nice meal. But after Linda came, she started feeling on her feet again. Marlene had never felt so relaxed and happy before.
One day, she heard strangers’ voices outside her bedroom and went out to check. She was surprised. Linda had spent the $9,000 on renovating the house and fixing the leakage.
“I knew you wanted to repair grandpa’s treasured house for a long time. Are you happy now, grandma?! I renovated it so that you see the beautiful house you once lived in with grandpa. Do you like it?”
Marlene was speechless. She walked to Linda as fast as her fragile legs could carry her and hugged her. Marlene had never cried like she wept on Linda’s shoulders that day.
Marlene often made a wish. “I want to die when I’m the happiest on earth!” A week later, her wish was fulfilled. Marlene died in her sleep, leaving Linda with more than a broken heart.
A couple of days after the funeral, Linda and Brian were called to the lawyer’s office regarding the late Marlene’s will they never knew about.
When they got there, they were told about another surprise inheritance.
“Mr. White, according to your grandma’s will, you’ll be getting her house. Here are the papers. Please sign them.”
Linda was startled. She was not jealous of her older brother, but it worried her because she had renovated the house, and Brian got it when he least deserved it.
“And Miss Linda, this is yours,” the lawyer said, pushing forward a box toward Linda.
“What is this?” she exclaimed and opened the box. She found five old vintage clocks inside. Brian burst into laughter and began mocking her.
“That’s hella insane and cheap!! Grandma left her house to me. She knew who deserved the best. You can decorate your rented apartment with these rusty clocks and cry over it, sis. Luck does not favor everyone!”
Distraught, Linda left for the city, taking the clocks with her. She never bothered to check them thoroughly until one day when she noticed an engraving on one of them.
“OPEN IT!” was etched in a beautiful cursive font on the metal.
Curious, Linda opened the clock, and what she found inside would go on to change her life.
“A note?” she exclaimed and picked a little scroll from the clock’s interior. She unfolded it and sat back, stunned.
“Never underestimate these rusty, old watches! They are 100-year-old classic timepieces that belonged to my grandfather. And they are crafted from rare, exquisite metal! Each piece is worth $40,000, my dear!” began the note.
Linda’s eyes filled with tears of joy as she read further.
“Everyone gets what they truly deserve, Linda! I’m glad you got only the best. With Love, Granny Marlene.”
Linda burst into tears as she held the vintage clocks close to her heart. They still functioned, and she could hear them tick close to her heartbeat. It felt as though her granny had not gone anywhere.
Linda chose not to disclose this to her brother.
“He is blinded by greed and thinks he got the best from grandma. Let him live with that assumption. Granny knew who deserved the best and I needn’t prove it to him!” she thought and kept the rare timepieces locked in her drawer.
What can we learn from the story?
Everyone gets what they truly deserve. Brian mocked Linda when she inherited only five old clocks from their grandmother. Little did he know that she had actually gotten what she truly deserved because each piece was worth over $40,000.
Love and accept your elders for who they are. You will be loved back a hundredfold. Linda loved her grandma unconditionally and cared for her without expecting anything in return. Ultimately, she inherited a surprise $200K worth of legacy after her granny’s death.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
My MIL ‘Kindly’ Threw a Surprise Dinner Party on Having Our Newborn – What She Did at the End Made Me Go Pale
My MIL ‘Kindly’ Threw a Surprise Dinner Party on Having Our Newborn – What She Did at the End Made Me Go Pale
When Karen threw a lavish birthday bash, she never expected her own extravagant celebration to backfire. But when her son and daughter-in-law turned the tables, the party’s final twist revealed more than just the evening’s costs, exposing long-hidden family tensions.
Woman with her baby | Source: Pexels
I gave birth to our first baby, a beautiful little girl named Emma. It was a tough labor, but the joy of holding my daughter for the first time made everything worth it. On the day of discharge, my mother-in-law, Karen, met us with her hands full of gifts. She said she prepared a surprise for us at home.
Although I was exhausted from the complicated labor, I agreed. I didn’t want to neglect her efforts. We came home and saw a fancy party with food from an expensive catering service and luxurious decorations.
A party | Source: Pexels
My jaw dropped. I was pleasantly shocked, wondering how much money she spent. We thought the meals and supplies were kind gestures because my in-laws are loaded with money, and we never asked for anything.
As the evening wound down, Karen approached us with a smirk. “I hope you enjoyed the party,” she began. “Now, let’s talk about settling the bill. I’ve tallied everything up, and it comes to $4,000. You can transfer the money to my account by the end of the week.”
Elderly lady | Source: Pexels
I was speechless. My husband, Jake, was equally stunned. He managed to ask, “What are you talking about? We thought this was a gift.”
Karen’s smile never wavered. “Oh, it was. A gift of my time and effort. You didn’t expect all this for free, did you? My sister threw a similar party for her granddaughter, and I can’t look bad in front of the family. So, it’s only fair you cover the costs.”
Shocked woman with green eyes | Source: Pexels
Jake looked at me, and I could see the anger in his eyes. “This is insane, Mom. We just had a baby. We don’t have that kind of money lying around.”
Karen shrugged. “Well, that’s not my problem. You two are adults now. It’s time to take responsibility.”
Jake clenched his fists. “You know what, Mom? This isn’t fair. We never asked for this party. We never agreed to pay for it.”
Angry frustrated man | Source: Pexels
Karen sighed, her smile fading. “I thought you’d be more grateful. But fine, if that’s how you feel. Just know that everyone in the family is expecting you to step up.”
I squeezed Jake’s hand, trying to calm him down. “Let’s just talk about this later,” I said softly. “We’re too tired to deal with this right now.”
Elderly lady smirks | Source: Pexels
Karen raised an eyebrow. “Don’t think you can just ignore this. I want that money by the end of the week.”
We nodded, and she left, leaving us in the middle of the extravagant decorations. I looked around, feeling the weight of the situation sink in. “What are we going to do?” I whispered.
Couple in front of the window | Source: Pexels
Jake shook his head. “We’ll figure something out. But first, let’s get some rest. We need to think clearly.”
That night, as we lay in bed, we talked about Karen’s outrageous demand. “She’s always been like this,” Jake said. “Always trying to control everything. But this is too much.”
Couple in bed | Source: Pexels
I nodded. “We need to set boundaries. This isn’t just about us anymore. It’s about Emma too.”
Jake agreed. “We can’t let her walk all over us. But we need to be smart about it. We can’t afford a fight right now.”
I thought for a moment. “Maybe there’s a way to teach her a lesson. Something that will make her realize she can’t manipulate us like this.”
Woman in bed looks at the camera | Source: Pexels
Jake looked at me curiously. “What do you have in mind?”
I smiled. “Let’s just say, she won’t see it coming.”
Jake grinned. “I’m in. Whatever it takes.”
Man looks to the side while a woman sleeps next to him | Source: Pexels
As we drifted off to sleep, I felt a sense of determination. Karen might think she can control us, but she has another thing coming. We’re going to show her that we’re not pushovers.
Our lives had changed with Emma’s arrival, and it was time for a new beginning. One where we stood up for ourselves and our family. And Karen was about to learn that the hard way.
Woman and her baby on the beach | Source: Pexels
A few months later, Karen organized a grand birthday party for herself. She loved to show off her wealth and status. She spared no expense, hiring a top-tier event planner, booking a fancy venue, and inviting everyone she knew. It was the perfect opportunity for our revenge.
The party was in full swing, and Karen was basking in the attention. My husband and I mingled with the guests, making sure everyone was having a good time. Then, as the evening was winding down, we decided it was time to strike.
Man toasting | Source: Pexels
My husband stood up and clinked his glass, drawing everyone’s attention. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, “I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate my mother’s birthday. It’s been a wonderful evening, and I’m sure we all appreciate the effort she’s put into making this event so special.”
Karen beamed, soaking up the applause.
Stylish elderly lady | Source: Pexels
“And to show our gratitude,” my husband continued, “we’ve decided to do something special for her. Given how much effort and money she spent organizing such a grand event, we thought it would be appropriate for everyone to contribute to the costs. After all, it’s only fair we share the burden of such an elaborate celebration.”
Karen’s smile froze, and a murmur of confusion spread through the crowd. “What are you talking about?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Shocked elderly woman | Source: Pexels
I stood up beside my husband. “Well, Mom, you taught us the importance of sharing the costs for special events. Just like the party you threw for us when our daughter was born, we believe it’s only fair that everyone pitches in.”
We handed out envelopes to the guests, each containing a suggested contribution amount based on the estimated costs we had gathered. The guests, though initially bewildered, started to nod in agreement, some even laughing at the irony of the situation.
Money envelope | Source: Pexels
Karen was livid but couldn’t say anything without exposing her own hypocrisy. She was trapped. If she refused the contributions, she would have to explain why she demanded money from us in the first place. If she accepted, her reputation would take a hit.
One guest, Mr. Thompson, chuckled. “Well, Karen, you did set the standard with that lovely party for your granddaughter. It’s only fair we help out.”
Crown toasting | Source: Pexels
Another guest, Mrs. Davis, smiled. “Yes, Karen. We wouldn’t want you to bear all the costs alone. It’s the least we can do.”
Karen forced a smile, her eyes narrowing. “I appreciate the sentiment, but really, it’s not necessary.”
Jake shook his head. “No, Mom. It’s only right. We wouldn’t want you to feel unappreciated.”
Angry elderly woman | Source: Pexels
Karen looked around, realizing she was cornered. “Very well,” she said through gritted teeth. “If everyone insists.”
We watched as the guests began to place their contributions in the envelopes, chatting and laughing. Karen’s face was a mask of barely contained rage. She was livid but couldn’t say anything without looking bad.
Angry Karen with a cake | Source: Midjourney
After the party, we gathered our things. Karen approached us, her voice low and angry. “I can’t believe you did this to me,” she hissed.
Jake smiled. “Mom, you taught us well. It’s only fair, remember?”
Karen glared at us but said nothing more. We left the party, feeling a sense of satisfaction. It was a small victory, but it felt good.
Happy couple | Source: Unsplash
Karen never dared to pull a stunt like that again, and the family finally saw her true colors. The rest of the family started treating us with more respect, realizing we weren’t going to be pushed around.
As we drove home, Jake squeezed my hand. “I think we did the right thing,” he said.
I nodded. “Definitely. We stood up for ourselves and for Emma. That’s what matters.”
Happy family in a field | Source: Pexels
Jake smiled. “Here’s to more victories.”
“Here’s to us,” I replied, feeling hopeful for the future.
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