For seven years, I cared for Mrs. Patterson, an elderly woman abandoned by her own family. They only showed up when they needed money, vanishing again as soon as they got what they wanted. Each time, she sat by the window, heartbroken, waiting for love that never came.
She had wealth but no warmth. Over time, she became my family. We cooked together, played games, and shared stories—she was my home in a way no place had ever been.
I had no family left, but with Mrs. Patterson, my life had meaning.
Then, she passed away. At her funeral, her relatives wept crocodile tears, their eyes gleaming with greed. I returned home, grieving… until a knock at my door changed everything.
Two officers stood there.
“Are you the caretaker of Mrs. Patterson?”
A chill ran down my spine.
“We need you to come with us.”
I followed them to her house, only to find her entire family waiting—angry, restless.
Then, her daughter, Victoria, pointed a shaking finger at me and screamed, “It’s her! She manipulated my mother! She planned this whole thing!”
My heart pounded. “I… I don’t understand.”
The lawyer cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the chaos.
“We are here to read Mrs. Patterson’s will. Her family insisted on handling it immediately so they could return to their lives. And you, Grace, were mentioned in the will, which is why your presence is required.”
He unfolded the document and began reading, his voice steady and unwavering.
“To my children, I leave my forgiveness, for they abandoned me long ago.”
Victoria’s face drained of color. Her brother, Mark, clenched his fists, his expression darkening.
“To my grandchildren, I leave my hope—that they may one day understand the true value of love and loyalty.”
They exchanged confused glances.
“And to Grace, who has been my caretaker, my friend, and my family… I leave everything—my house, my land, my wealth. All of it.”
The room erupted into chaos.
“This is a lie! She tricked my mother! She’s a gold-digger!” Victoria shrieked.
Mark lunged toward me, but security intervened, holding him back. “You manipulated her! This is fraud!”
I stood frozen, my heart hammering. “I… I didn’t know… I never asked for any of this…”
The lawyer raised a hand, silencing the uproar.
“Mrs. Patterson anticipated this reaction. She left proof—letters, photos, records of the years she spent with Grace. She wanted it to be known that this was her conscious, unwavering decision.”
He handed me a box filled with photographs—us baking pies, playing board games, laughing at silly jokes. Letters, written in her delicate script, recounting the bond we shared, the love she felt. My vision blurred with tears as I clutched the box.
This was why she always insisted on taking pictures. She had known exactly how her family would react.
And then the final instruction in her will made perfect sense:
“Ensure that my caretaker, Grace, has security present when my family learns of my decision. I do not trust them to handle this with grace.”
Victoria collapsed onto the couch, her face pale. “She… she left us nothing?”
The lawyer nodded. “She made it clear that you abandoned her. This was her final wish.”
With nothing left to say, the guards escorted the family out as they hurled protests, accusations, and threats. I watched them leave—hollow, furious, consumed by their own greed.
The lawyer turned to me.
“She loved you, Grace. She wanted you to have a home. A family.”
I sank to the floor, tears slipping down my cheeks. “I loved her too.”
He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Then honor her memory by living in the home she cherished.”
After signing the necessary papers, the notary handed me the key. Then, they left, taking the officers with them.
I stood in the middle of the house, overwhelmed, unprepared, and completely shaken.
Mrs. Patterson had given me more than a house. She had given me a family—even beyond death.
And as I held the box of memories close, I knew she would always be with me. My friend. My grandmother. My home.
Her so-called family? They were left with nothing… except their own regrets.