My Grandpa Left Me His $250M Company, Then My Stepdad Took Control

“Because it’s not your decision anymore, Kelly. The company belongs to Lauren now. She’s the one who will decide its future and manage its finances.”

The room went silent. I could feel the tension hanging in the air.

After Grandma’s words, I saw a wave of emotions cross Mom’s face: first shock, then anger, and finally something calculating. Suddenly, her whole attitude shifted.

“Lauren, sweetheart,”

she said, her voice dripping with fake kindness.

“I’ve missed you so much. Why don’t you come live with us?”

I blinked, caught off guard by this sudden change. Mom stepped closer, reaching out like she wanted to touch my arm.

Instinctively, I stepped back.

“We’ve settled so nicely in the new city. We have a beautiful house, and there’s a room just for you.”

“We could set up a desk and get you a new computer for your studies and work.”

“No, Mom,”

I said firmly.

“I’m happy here. I have my friends, my school, and Grandma needs me.”

Mom’s smile wavered for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

“Well, if that’s the issue, we could always move back here. We could live in our old house just like before. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

I shook my head.

“It’s not about the house, Mom. It’s about everything.”

I could see the anger building in her eyes, barely contained. Before she could say anything, I decided to ask the question that had been burning inside me for months.

“Mom, why did you really divorce Dad?”

She froze, taken aback.

“Well, your father—he cheated on me multiple times. I got tired of it. He left us for his mistress and didn’t even pay alimony.”

“That’s not true,”

I said quietly.

“I said Dad told me everything. It only happened once, and it was because of how you treated him.”

“He didn’t abandon us. You kicked him out, and he’s been paying alimony regularly.”

Mom’s face twisted with anger.

“How dare you, you ungrateful little brat! You have no right to interfere in my personal life.”

“Everything here is mine, and I decide who lives where!”

Grandma, who had been quietly watching, finally stepped forward. Her voice was calm but firm, stronger than I had ever heard before.

“That’s enough, Kelly,”

she said.

“You seem to have forgotten a few things. This house, the company—they belong to me, not you.”

“I gave the company to Lauren because I trust her judgment more than yours right now. I think it’s time for you to leave.”

I watched with mixed emotions as Grandma firmly escorted Mom and Paul out of the house. The door clicked shut behind them, and I felt a strange mix of sadness and relief.

I had lost something today—the last bit of hope I had about my mother. But I gained something too: a clear sense of my future and the comfort of knowing I wasn’t alone.

“What now?”

I asked, my voice muffled against Grandma’s shoulder.

She pulled back and gave me a small smile.

“Now we get back to celebrating your college acceptance. And tomorrow we start planning for your real future, not the one your mother tried to force on you.”

The Investigation and the Con Man

The next morning, after the confrontation with Mom and Paul, I woke up to the sound of voices downstairs.

Curious, I crept down the stairs and peeked into the living room. To my surprise, Dad was sitting on the couch, deep in conversation with Grandma.

I sat down next to them, and Grandma explained why she had called Dad over.

“I’ve been thinking about Olivia,”

she said.

“Your mother—well, I’m not sure she’s in the best position to care for her right now. I’ve suggested your father seek custody of Olivia.”

I felt a surge of hope.

“Really, Dad? Are you going to do it?”

He ran his hand through his hair, looking both nervous and determined.

“Yeah, I am. It won’t be easy, but Olivia deserves better than what she’s getting now.”

I couldn’t help it; I threw my arms around him.

“Thank you, Dad.”

As we pulled apart, Grandma cleared her throat.

“There’s more,”

she said.

“I’ve hired a private investigator to look into your mother and Paul’s affairs.”

Over the next few weeks, life settled into a strange new rhythm. I started my college classes, diving into my studies with a focus I had never felt before.

Dad started coming over regularly, and we worked on fixing our relationship. It felt good to have him back in my life.

Then, about 2 weeks after that conversation, Grandma called us both over. Her face was serious as we sat down.

“The investigator’s report came in,”

she said, getting straight to the point.

“And it’s worse than we thought.”

She laid out the facts, each one hitting me like a punch. Mom had been cheating on Dad for years, long before the divorce.

Her affair with Paul had started while she was still married to Dad. There were hotel receipts, records of expensive gifts—all of it painting a clear picture.

But that wasn’t even the worst part.

“Paul is a con man,”

Grandma said, her voice firm.

“He’s done this before. He charms wealthy women, convinces them to move their money, and then runs off with it.”

I felt sick.

“So when they wanted to move the company’s money—”

Grandma nodded.

“Exactly. He was planning to steal it and disappear.”