A cunning grandmother promised her five grandchildren an inheritance of $2 million each, but a twist in her will left them stunned.
Lesley, mostly alone after her husband George’s death, rarely saw her family of five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. They seldom visited her, even during holidays, and often declined her invitations.
Reflecting on her isolation, Lesley mused, “George and I raised our children with love, only to be ignored by our grandchildren. They only think of me when it comes to the inheritance. It’s time they learned a lesson.” With a plan in mind, she decided to visit her granddaughter Susan the next day.
Susan, a single mother working three jobs to support her two children, was surprised to see her grandmother at her doorstep on a Sunday morning. “Gran? What brings you here so early?”
“Oh, darling!” Lesley smiled. “I just wanted to see my grandchildren and discuss something important. If it weren’t the weekend, I wouldn’t have troubled you. May I come in?”
“Gran, I’m about to leave for work. Could you come another day?” Susan hesitated.
“Oh! I didn’t realize you’d be so busy. I wanted to talk about the will, but it’s fine. I can come later,” Lesley said, turning to leave.
“The will?” Susan asked, intrigued.
“It’s not a big deal,” Lesley replied, slowly turning back. “At my age, I told Mr. Clark I’d prefer to settle things sooner, as God could call me anytime.”
“Gran, you should have said that earlier! Come in,” Susan said, ushering her in. “I’m sure my boss won’t mind if I’m a bit late.”
Lesley entered Susan’s run-down home, noticing the poor condition and her grandchildren sleeping on an old mattress. Over tea, Lesley made her proposal. “I need a little help from you. It’s been a long time since anyone visited me after George passed. I know you’re busy, but a quick check on your grandmother shouldn’t be too difficult, right? In exchange, you’ll be the sole heir to my $2 million estate. But there’s one condition.”
Susan, already inclined to help her grandmother, agreed quickly. Lesley’s condition was that Susan visit her every Sunday and keep it secret from her siblings to avoid unnecessary jealousy.
From then on, Susan visited her grandmother every weekend, despite the strain on her schedule and finances. She took care of Lesley’s needs, from cleaning and cooking to shopping and arranging health check-ups.
Meanwhile, Lesley offered the same deal to her grandsons, who also agreed, hoping for the inheritance. Thus, Lesley enjoyed regular visits from her grandchildren, who, driven by the promise of money, cared for her one day each week.
Lesley’s neighbor, Mrs. Carter, noticed the frequent visits and asked, “How did you manage to get them to visit? Kids these days just don’t care about their elders.”
Lesley smiled. “I set a trap, and they walked right into it. They thought they’d inherit everything easily, but I had to teach them a lesson.”
“But Lesley, isn’t that a bit harsh?”
“I did the right thing, Edith. My grandsons never cared for me. They only contacted my lawyer about their inheritance. My granddaughter, although motivated by money, did much more. In the end, they’ll get what they deserve.”
Lesley’s will contained specific clauses unknown to her grandchildren until her death six years later. At the lawyer’s office after the funeral, Susan and her brothers were shocked to learn the details.
“That old hag deceived us,” Sam, the eldest, fumed. “She gave her home to charity!”
“And the money isn’t ours!” Harry, the youngest, raged. “She outsmarted us!”
“Your grandmother left her money to your children, to be divided when they turn 18,” explained Mr. Clark, the lawyer. “The total sum of $2 million will be split into eleven parts.”
Disappointed, Susan returned home, only to discover a surprise hidden in a flower vase Lesley had given her. Inside were bundles of cash totaling $300,000, along with a note: “One day, everyone gets what they deserve. I hope this helps with the house repairs. With love, Grandma Lesley.”