My Parents Gave Their Favorite Daughter a $5M Inheritance, Then My Grandpa Stepped In
“I didn’t realize you were still on the line. It’s nothing serious, just a minor health issue. He’s already recovering.”
“I’m coming home.”
I said immediately, already calculating the fastest way to get there.
“I can be there by tomorrow morning.”
“No, no, don’t be ridiculous.”
Mom said sharply.
“You need to focus on your studies. Helen is helping them out. Everything’s under control.”
Something about her tone felt off, but I tried to convince myself I was overthinking. Still, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling, so I called Grandma right after.
“Oh yes, dear.”
Grandma said, her voice strangely distant.
“Helen’s been such a help. She comes by often to check on your grandfather.”
Helen? The same sister who always said visiting our grandparents was boring?
Something didn’t add up. Two weeks later, I stood at my grandparents’ familiar front door, my heart pounding.
Instead of Grandma’s warm welcome, I found Helen blocking the doorway.
“What are you doing here?”
She asked, her face a mask of fake surprise.
“I came to see Grandpa and Grandma. How is he?”
“No one’s home.”
She said quickly, too quickly.
“They’re out.”
“Grandpa’s sick. Where would they go?”
“I don’t know, Sharon. Just go away.”
She snapped, starting to close the door.
“Wait!”
I stuck my foot in the doorway.
“Let me come in and wait for them.”
“No one’s home!”
She shouted, shoving the door hard against my foot.
“God, you’re so annoying. Just leave.”
Confused and hurt, I backed away. I tried calling Grandma, but the call went straight to voicemail.
That wasn’t like her at all. Something was very wrong, and I was determined to find out what.
Grandma always kept her phone on for me. Always.
So when I couldn’t reach her that day, I didn’t know where else to go but my parents’ house. Maybe they had answers.
When I walked into the kitchen, they both turned to look at me, startled. Dad didn’t even try to hide his annoyance.
“What are you doing home?”
He asked, his voice clipped.
“I came to see Grandpa and Grandma.”
I said, trying to steady my voice.
“But they’re not home. Helen wouldn’t let me in.”
“Oh honey.”
Mom interrupted, exchanging a glance with Dad.
Her tone was light, but I could sense something beneath it.
“We were going to tell you. Your grandparents are in a nursing home.”
The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
“What?”
I stammered.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“It was a quick decision.”
Dad said smoothly, not missing a beat.
“They needed specialized care. It’s better this way.”
“Which nursing home?”
I demanded, my voice rising.
“I want to visit them.”
“They’re under quarantine right now.”
Mom said quickly, her words spilling out too fast.
“No visitors allowed. Maybe next time.”
I wanted to press further, to demand an explanation, but something about their calm, practiced responses made me feel like I’d hit a wall. Eventually, I went back to university, but my mind refused to let go of that afternoon.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Helen’s hostile face, my parents’ unnervingly smooth answers, and the door I wasn’t allowed to step through. Then came the call.
It was a Tuesday morning, and I was in the middle of an experiment. The hum of the fluorescent lights above me seemed louder than usual as my phone lit up with M’s number.
My heart started racing. Something about the timing of the call felt wrong.
“Sharon.”
Mom said, her voice flat, almost emotionless.
“Your grandfather passed away last night.”
The test tube I was holding slipped from my fingers, shattering on the floor. The sound echoed through the lab like a gunshot.
“What?”
My voice came out as a whisper, barely audible.
“No. When’s the funeral?”
“Thursday at 2 p.m.”
She replied.
The way she said it felt strange, almost rehearsed.
“Don’t be late.”
I didn’t bother cleaning up the broken glass. I rushed out of the lab, my mind spinning with grief and confusion.
