When Chris was hospitalized, his daughter asked her son, Peter, to look after him and prepare his home for his return. However, Peter and his wife had ulterior motives. When Chris finally came back, he found his home in a state of disrepair and was shocked by what his grandson revealed.
Chris, an 87-year-old man, called his daughter Angelina from the hospital after experiencing a heart episode and being admitted for further tests. Concerned, he asked her to come from Miami to his home in Austin, Texas, to assist him. However, Angelina explained that she couldn’t visit due to a lack of paid time off (PTO) at work but assured him she would figure something out.
Despite Angelina’s reassurance, she was unable to help. Chris, lying in his hospital bed, tried to downplay the situation, saying, “Okay, darling. I think the doctors are just worried about my health at my age, and they’ll tell me more soon enough,” as he held his cellphone to his ear.
After Chris agreed to stay in the hospital for a few days for further tests, his daughter, Angelina, turned to her son, Peter, for help.
“You need to go to Austin and check on your grandfather. He’s all alone,” she insisted over the phone.
Initially hesitant, Peter expressed doubt, but Angelina persisted. “Peter, your grandfather needs you. Who knows how long he has left, especially with his heart issues? You’re his only grandson, and he always said you’d inherit his house and belongings. This is your chance to bond with him and assess the house for any repairs he might need.”
After a pause, Peter reluctantly agreed, saying, “Ok, ok. I’ll go. Hannah will come with me. I think I can take some time off since I haven’t used my vacation days.”
Angelina felt relieved when Peter agreed to help, expressing her gratitude. “Good. Thank you, son. My work wouldn’t budge, but I trust you to help your grandpa as best you can. I love you, dear,” she said.
“I love you too, Mom. Bye,” Peter replied. However, Angelina had no idea what was truly on her son’s mind.
After a few days, the doctors discharged Chris with several prescribed medications. They advised him to be cautious and avoid any strain, emphasizing the importance of taking care of his health even as he recovered.
Chris nodded absentmindedly as the doctors explained his treatment plan, but his mind was elsewhere. He was anxious because Angelina hadn’t called the day before, and she had told him Peter would be staying with him. Without Peter’s phone number, Chris could only hope to find him at home.
Taking a cab from the hospital, Chris arrived at his house to a shocking sight—some of his furniture was on the front lawn, and he recognized it as his own. To make matters worse, his front door was ajar, even though he distinctly remembered the paramedics shutting it completely when they took him to the hospital.
The real shock came when he stepped inside. The house was completely empty. His paintings, military memorabilia, credenza, kitchen table, chairs—everything not outside was missing. Plastic sheets were spread across parts of the house, suggesting someone was painting or doing construction work. But why? And who was responsible?
Chris called out into the empty house, his voice echoing through the barren space. Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming from the hallway where the bedrooms were.
“Grandpa?” Peter appeared, looking surprised.
Relieved, Chris let out a sigh. “Peter! Oh, thank God! I thought someone had broken in and taken everything I owned. What is happening here, my dear boy?” He moved forward and gave Peter a firm, heartfelt hug.
Peter hesitated but returned the hug awkwardly, mumbling, “Oh, well. Yes. No one broke in.”
Chris pulled back, noticing Peter’s strange demeanor. “What’s going on then?”
Peter hesitated, fidgeting. “I… well, we actually wanted to surprise you,” he began.
“We?” Chris questioned, narrowing his eyes.
“Yes, Hannah and I. She’s here,” Peter admitted, turning toward the hallway. “Honey!”
A woman’s voice responded, “What?” A moment later, Hannah appeared, her expression shifting to shock when she saw Chris. “Hmm, Mr. Harvey. Hello there,” she greeted, trying to mask her surprise.
Chris beamed at Hannah and greeted her warmly, kissing her cheek. “Hello, dear! It’s so nice to see you. I haven’t seen you since the wedding,” he said with a smile. “So, tell me, what’s going on with my house?”
Peter and Hannah exchanged a quick, uneasy glance before Peter spoke up. “We wanted to remodel it before you got out of the hospital. It really needed some TLC, and we thought it might cheer you up. But… you got discharged earlier than we expected.”
Chris’s smile grew even wider. “That’s wonderful! How thoughtful of you two. Although I hope you’re not spending too much money on this.”
“Oh no, no,” Hannah quickly assured him, her hands sliding into her pockets as she forced a grin. “Don’t worry. I know a guy.”
Chris, oblivious to her awkwardness, nodded eagerly. “Cool. And my stuff? Where is it?”
Peter hesitated before replying, “They’re in… uh… storage. Except for a few things we thought needed replacing—those are outside waiting for the garbage pickup. We had to clear them out for the remodel. But don’t worry, the bedrooms still have everything. We’ll sleep comfortably at night.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much, my boy. You two are amazing!” Chris exclaimed, pulling them both into a joyful hug. He felt overwhelmed with gratitude, appreciating the care they seemed to have shown.
“Now, listen,” Chris added cheerfully, “I need to get some prescriptions filled, but I’ll be back soon.”
Chris returned from the pharmacy after a quick walk, carrying his prescriptions and feeling content about his thoughtful grandchildren. However, when he stepped into the house, Peter and Hannah were nowhere to be seen in the living room.
Hearing their voices coming from Angelina’s old bedroom, Chris headed that way, planning to ask what they’d like for dinner. But as he approached, something Hannah said froze him in place.
“What are we going to do, you idiot?” she snapped sharply, her tone harsh and biting. Chris was startled—he had never heard her speak to Peter like that before.
“Hannah, calm down,” Peter replied, trying to sound reassuring. “It’s fine. It just messes with our plans for a bit.”
Plans? Chris thought, his brow furrowing in confusion. Quietly, he stood outside the door, waiting to hear more.
“A bit? A BIT?” Hannah’s voice rose in anger. “You told me he was dying, and this was going to be our house. That’s why we’re spending all this money on it. You think I was going to dip into my money to fix someone else’s house when we still live on rent?” Her tone was almost mocking as she spoke.
Chris’s eyes widened in shock. His hand instinctively flew to his mouth, trying to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape. He stood frozen, unable to believe what he was hearing, but desperate to listen to the rest of the conversation.
“Hannah, it’s fine,” Peter said, trying to reassure her, though frustration was creeping into his voice. “The house will be mine one way or another, and he’s got tons of money saved up. Just think of it as an investment.”
But Hannah wasn’t calmed. She was outright angry. “NO!” she snapped. “We are not going to spend another dime, and I don’t care about him! Tomorrow, we’re getting on a plane and going home! This was a waste of time!”
Chris stood there, stunned and horrified, as the conversation unfolded. He could hardly believe what he was hearing.
“We can’t leave this house like this!” Hannah shouted in frustration.
“YES WE CAN AND WE WILL! That’s final!” she screamed at Peter, and Chris couldn’t take it anymore. He turned and quietly walked back to the front door, pretending he had just returned from the pharmacy.
“I wanted to thank them for all the work they’ve done on my house… because I’m going to enjoy it for the rest of my life,” Chris called out, his voice steady but carrying a hidden weight.
Peter and Hannah immediately shifted their behavior, acting as though nothing was wrong. They casually discussed what to make for dinner, their tone pleasant and calm around Chris. But inside, Chris now knew the truth. It was time to teach them a lesson they wouldn’t forget.
They were eating spaghetti and meatballs, one of Peter’s favorite meals, sitting on the empty living room floor, when Chris cleared his throat. The moment had come.
“Peter, I wanted to talk to you about something important,” Chris began, noting how Peter and Hannah perked up, their attention fully on him. “I’ve been thinking about moving into a nursing home permanently. I don’t want another emergency to happen while I’m alone here. I think it’s the right choice, and I think you two should have the house.”
Peter and Hannah’s jaws dropped in shock, but then they exchanged looks of delight. “Are you serious?” Peter asked, clearly thrilled by the idea.
“Yes, I’m serious,” Chris confirmed, watching their reactions closely.
“Thank you, Grandpa! This is an honor! We’re going to get this house looking so good!” Peter exclaimed, and Hannah echoed his gratitude.
Over the next few weeks, Peter and Hannah worked on remodeling the house, doing the best they could with the resources available. They had saved a few of Chris’s belongings in storage but had disposed of some older things, and Chris pretended that it was fine. However, he wasn’t truly content with their choices, knowing their true intentions.
Finally, the house was “done,” and Chris suggested throwing a housewarming party. He reminded Peter and Hannah that he would soon be moving into the nursing home, and they should start preparing to make the house their permanent home.
They were excited, having invited a few friends who flew in from Miami to Texas. The party started off wonderfully—everyone chatting, eating, and enjoying the merriment. Chris, however, had been quietly pretending all along, waiting for the right moment.
Eventually, he stood up from the table, signaling for everyone’s attention.
“I would like to make a toast…to my grandson and his lovely wife,” Chris began. The room quickly erupted in cheers, and the couple embraced, looking fondly at Chris.
“I wanted to thank them for all the work they’ve done on my house… because I’m going to enjoy it for the rest of my life.”
The guests, under the impression that Chris was moving out, were caught off guard by his words. Peter and Hannah, too, were stunned, confusion spreading across their faces.
Chris then continued, his voice calm but cutting. “Did you know they came here under the impression that I was going to die soon? They remodeled the entire house, gave away some of my things, and started working on it thinking it was already their own. And when I returned from the hospital, which they didn’t expect, they were planning to just up and leave me here with a half-remodeled, empty house.”
The room fell silent as the guests slowly began to realize how awkward and uncomfortable the situation had become.
“Grandpa, why don’t we speak privately for a second?” Peter suggested, but Chris shook his head.
“No need. I heard you two speaking that day. So you came here, telling your mother you were going to take care of me, but instead, you decided to take this house as your own. Well, that’s NEVER going to happen, Peter. I’ve already revised my will. This house is going to charity when I’m gone,” Chris revealed, shocking everyone in the room.
Hannah’s face turned red with embarrassment, and although she wanted to cause a scene, she held back, not wanting to make the situation worse.
Chris then raised his voice, calling everyone’s attention once again. “Now…,” he cleared his throat, “EVERYONE GET OUT OF MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW BEFORE I CALL THE POLICE!”
Peter and Hannah’s friends didn’t hesitate. They scrambled to leave, while Peter continued to yell at Chris, trying to explain himself. But Chris wasn’t having it. “GET OUT!” he demanded, and after a tense moment, Peter and his wife left.
The next day, Chris called his daughter, Angelina, and told her exactly what Peter and Hannah had done and what their intentions had been. He had kept quiet until now, knowing it would break her heart, but he felt she needed to know the truth now that it was all out in the open.
Angelina was deeply ashamed of her son but also conflicted by how Chris had handled the situation. “You’re right, Dad. It’s your house. But are you comfortable severing your relationship with Peter just like that?” she asked, trying to understand both sides.
“Honey, he severed it the day he decided to kill me prematurely and claim my house,” Chris replied bluntly. “Watch out, because who knows what they might do with you,” he warned, his voice filled with caution. The conversation ended on that note.
Chris lived for 11 more years, and as he had planned, his lawyer sold the house after his death. The proceeds, along with the rest of Chris’s estate, were donated to a charity for senior citizens, fulfilling his final wish to use his assets for a greater good.
Absolutely. No one should feel entitled to someone else’s property, and it’s disheartening when people act with such disregard for others’ well-being, as Peter did with his grandfather. Sometimes, severing ties with toxic family members is necessary for your own peace of mind and security. Chris’s decision to sever ties with his grandson was a powerful reminder that family should never take advantage of one another.
This story is a clear example of standing up for what’s right, no matter the cost. It’s a good lesson in recognizing when to let go of harmful relationships and choosing what’s best for your well-being. Thank you for sharing this insightful story!
If you’re looking for another compelling tale, the one about the older man seeing his wife with another man at a café sounds like it could be a real emotional rollercoaster.
