Brian’s laugh echoed through the room as Linda stepped out of the taxi, her heart racing with a mix of hope and dread. She had been so sure everything would be fine, that her grandmother, Marlene, would live forever. But now, standing outside the old house, the walls felt heavier, the air thicker.
“Sweetheart, I thought you’d be buried in your books!” Brian sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. He was 26, already feeling the weight of his entitled attitude, while Linda, just 19, still held on to the innocence of childhood hope. She swallowed hard, trying to push the pit of worry in her stomach aside. Grandma would be fine. She had to be.
Two days ago, Marlene had called them both urgently. Her voice had trembled with a sorrow Linda could not ignore. “Sweethearts, I wish to see you one last time. I might not get another chance again…” The words still haunted Linda. She had rushed to the house, ignoring her studies, everything. This was her grandmother, the woman who had raised her when the rest of the world had been too busy.
Inside, the house seemed suffocated by dust. The air smelled stale. Marlene was too old to keep things in order, and it broke Linda’s heart. She had left this house to pursue her dreams, but what had been left behind was not what it once was.
As Linda walked into Marlene’s bedroom, she felt the cold chill of the room seep into her bones. Marlene was lying in bed, frail and weak. Her once vibrant eyes were dim, and Linda could see the sharpness of time in every wrinkle. She ran to her grandmother’s side, holding her frail hands with desperation. “Grandma!! Nothing will happen to you, I promise. Please don’t worry. You’re everything we have. We need you.”
Linda’s heart was heavy, and her throat tight. A year ago, she had been living with Marlene, taking care of her every need. It had been hard to leave for school, but she had followed Marlene’s wish and left for the city to pursue her education, even turning down a scholarship just to make her grandmother proud.
Brian walked in just then, his face wrinkling in disgust as he coughed into his hand. “Damn… I’m allergic to dust! Grandma, did you ever bother cleaning this room?”
He barely glanced at their grandmother, his eyes already searching for the reason he had been called there. His indifference to Marlene’s suffering stung Linda deeply. She could hardly stand to look at him.
Marlene, though weak, managed to look at Brian. She squeezed Linda’s hand gently, a flicker of the old warmth in her eyes. “Sweethearts,” she whispered, her voice raspy. “This is for you.” She took two envelopes from under her pillow, handing one to each of them.
Brian tore open his envelope, his face lighting up at the sight of $5,000. Linda’s tears welled up as she opened hers, seeing the same amount.
Marlene’s smile was faint but real, even as she lay weakly in her bed. “Please, use it wisely,” she said.
Brian barely acknowledged her, his face contorting in disappointment. “Only this much? I thought you had more stashed away. Whatever, I’m out of here,” he muttered, turning his back and leaving the room.
Linda, unable to hold back her emotions, ran out of the room, tears streaking down her face. She couldn’t understand how her brother could be so cold. But all she could think about was her grandmother.
The next morning, Linda was back at Marlene’s side. The faint morning light flooded the room as Linda opened the curtains. She had come to visit, knowing Marlene’s time was short, but determined to make it count.
She approached Marlene with the envelope she had received the day before. “Grandma, remember how you said your vision was getting worse? I added my own savings to this. We can finally get you that eye surgery you’ve needed.”
Marlene looked up at her with tears in her eyes. “I knew you would do this,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “But it’s too late. I can feel my time is near. I don’t want to waste this money on surgery. There’s something better for it.”
Linda wiped her tears away and promised, “I’ll stay with you, Grandma. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve taken a month off. I’ll be here until I see you smile again.”
It was clear Marlene’s health was slipping, but with Linda there, Marlene seemed to gain a bit of strength. They spent time together, talking and laughing. Linda helped her with meals, cleaning, and most importantly, bringing joy back to the house that had seen so much heartache over the years.
One day, Linda was outside when she heard a group of strangers talking. She rushed inside and found a crew working on the house. “I knew you always wanted to fix this place up, Grandma,” Linda said, her eyes bright. “I used the money to fix everything—there won’t be any more leaks, no more mold. The house is beautiful again, just like it used to be with Grandpa.”
Marlene stood, her frail legs carrying her faster than they had in weeks. She hugged Linda, her tears flowing freely. “You did this for me? Oh, darling… you’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever been.”
A week later, Marlene passed away peacefully in her sleep. Linda was heartbroken, but she knew she had given her grandmother the happiness she deserved. She had restored the house, just as she had restored the warmth in Marlene’s heart.
A few days after the funeral, Linda and Brian were called to the lawyer’s office to read the will. Neither of them had expected what came next.
The lawyer handed Brian the papers. “Mr. White, according to your grandmother’s will, you are the beneficiary of her house. Please sign here.”
Linda’s heart sank. She hadn’t expected to inherit the house, but it felt wrong—she had worked so hard to bring it back to life. Brian didn’t deserve it, not after the way he had treated Marlene.
“Miss Linda, this is for you.” The lawyer pushed a small box toward her.
Linda opened it, and inside were five old, vintage clocks, their metal surfaces tarnished with age. Brian snickered loudly. “What the hell is this? Five old clocks? Grandma really thought you’d want this junk? You can decorate your little apartment with them and cry over them, sis. I got the house. Looks like I got the better deal.”
Linda didn’t say a word. She left the lawyer’s office, taking the clocks with her. She didn’t open them immediately—she had more important things to focus on. But one day, curiosity got the better of her. She noticed a delicate engraving on one of the clocks: “OPEN IT!”
She hesitated, her heart racing with anticipation. She opened the clock carefully, and inside, tucked away in a hidden compartment, was a small scroll. Linda unfolded it, her hands shaking as she read the note.
“Never underestimate these rusty, old watches! They are 100-year-old classic timepieces that belonged to my grandfather. Crafted from rare, exquisite metal, each one is worth $40,000. With love, Granny Marlene.”
Linda’s breath caught in her throat. She read the note again, her eyes welling up with tears. Each clock was worth $40,000. Her grandmother had known all along. The clocks, the ones Brian had mocked, were worth more than he could ever understand.
Linda smiled softly to herself. “Granny knew,” she whispered, holding the clocks close to her heart. “She knew who deserved the best all along.”
She didn’t need to prove anything to Brian. She had inherited her grandmother’s true legacy: love, care, and the wisdom to understand what really mattered.
And as she looked at the five clocks, ticking steadily, Linda realized that the true gift wasn’t money—it was the love that had been passed down through generations, a love that could never be measured in dollars.
The lesson?
Everyone gets what they truly deserve. Brian had mocked Linda for inheriting the old clocks, but he hadn’t known the real value of what they contained. In the end, Linda’s unwavering love and devotion to her grandmother had brought her an inheritance worth far more than money: it was priceless.
