Brian and Linda were summoned by their 90-year-old grandmother, Marlene, to visit her urgently. Upon arriving, Brian, the older of the two siblings at 26, greeted his younger sister, Linda, in a mocking tone. “Oh, so grandma called you as well?! I thought you’d be busy in the library… like a good little bookworm!” he said, dismissing Linda’s concern.
Linda, only 19, was clearly anxious. As she stepped out of the taxi, her heart was heavy with worry, but she still held onto the hope that her grandmother, despite being 90 and frail, would be fine. Two days earlier, their grandmother had made a painful phone call, saying, “Sweethearts, I wish to see you one last time. I might not get another chance again.”
Linda immediately sensed something was wrong when she walked into Marlene’s room. The air was musty, the floors dusty, and the ceiling had visible mold. It was clear that Marlene, unable to care for herself due to age and illness, hadn’t been able to keep up with the house’s maintenance. Linda, who had once lived with her grandmother, rushed to her side, offering reassurance, “Nothing will happen to you, grandma. Please don’t worry.”
Marlene’s Final Gift
Though Marlene was frail, she managed to sit up and pull two envelopes from under her pillow. “Sweethearts, this is for you,” she said softly, offering each of them an envelope. Inside was $5,000 for each of them.
Linda, deeply moved by her grandmother’s gesture, quickly left the room, tears streaming down her face. She was overwhelmed, knowing how much her grandmother had always sacrificed for her. Meanwhile, Brian, unimpressed by the amount, scoffed at the money. “Only this much?” he said, “I thought you had more to spare.” Without even thanking Marlene, he turned to leave.
The next day, Linda surprised Marlene with an unexpected gesture. She returned, holding the envelope with a new addition—$4,000 she had saved over the year. “Grandma, remember how you mentioned your poor vision? I now have $9,000. We can pay for your eye surgery.”
Marlene, touched and emotional, embraced her granddaughter, but with a resigned smile, she whispered, “It’s too late for the surgery, darling. I can sense my time is near. I don’t want to waste the money on something I can’t use.” Linda, determined not to let her grandmother feel alone, promised, “I’m taking a month off. I’m not going anywhere until I see that golden smile on your face, grandma.”
A Renovation That Restored More Than a Home
Linda’s decision to stay with Marlene was a turning point. With her presence, the home was filled with love and care. Marlene, once isolated and eating stale bread, now had someone to help with meals and day-to-day tasks. The house, which had fallen into disrepair, was beginning to feel alive again.
Linda decided to use the money she had saved and the $9,000 to renovate the house. “I knew you wanted to repair grandpa’s treasured house,” Linda said, proudly showing her grandmother the results of the renovation. “Now, it’s beautiful again, just as it was when you and Grandpa lived here.”
Marlene, overwhelmed with emotion, walked over to Linda as fast as her fragile legs could carry her. She hugged Linda tightly, tears streaming down her face. This act of love from her granddaughter brought more joy to her heart than anything else. Marlene’s wish to die “happy” was closer to being fulfilled than ever. One week later, Marlene peacefully passed away in her sleep.
An Unexpected Inheritance
After the funeral, Brian and Linda were called to the lawyer’s office to read Marlene’s will. They learned that Brian was to inherit the house. “Mr. White, according to your grandmother’s will, you will receive the house. Here are the papers. Please sign them,” the lawyer explained.
Brian, smug and self-assured, signed the papers without hesitation. “Of course, I knew I’d get the house. It was meant for me.” He couldn’t resist showing off his newfound “wealth.”
But when Linda received her inheritance, it was much less glamorous. The lawyer slid a plain wooden box across the table toward her. “And Miss Linda, this is yours,” he said.
Inside the box were five old, rusty clocks. Linda, though surprised and somewhat confused, took the clocks. Brian, unable to hide his amusement, burst out laughing. “That’s hella insane and cheap! Grandma left me the house, and you got these old, rusty things. Well, enjoy decorating your rented apartment with them, sis!”
Despite the mockery, Linda left the lawyer’s office quietly, determined to keep the clocks with her but not to dwell on Brian’s selfish attitude.
The Hidden Value of the Clocks
Once back in the city, Linda didn’t immediately pay much attention to the clocks. But one day, while dusting one of them, she noticed something strange—a delicate engraving on the side: “OPEN IT!”
Curious, Linda opened the clock and discovered a hidden note inside. As she unfurled it, her hands trembled. The note read: “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!”
As Linda continued reading, the tears started flowing. “Everyone gets what they truly deserve, Linda! I’m glad you got only the best. With love, Granny Marlene.”
Overcome with emotion, Linda held the clocks close to her chest. They ticked gently in her hands, and for a moment, it felt as though her grandmother was still with her, whispering love and wisdom from beyond.
Linda chose not to tell Brian the truth about the clocks. She felt no need to prove anything to him. “He is blinded by greed and thinks he got the best from grandma,” she thought. “Let him live with that assumption. Granny knew exactly who deserved the best.”
Linda kept the rare clocks locked in her drawer, knowing that her grandmother’s love and her own integrity were worth more than any inheritance could ever be.
