My Sister Got a Plane, I Got an Old Car. Then I Found a Letter That Changed Everything

The Grandfather’s Final Will

My name is Karen and I’m a 25-year-old employee. My grandfather who raised me passed away 6 months ago. Today is the day when the lawyer will open my grandfather’s will, which is why I was visiting my grandfather’s house with my sister Susan.

Susan is four years older than me and is my only family. Our parents passed away in an accident 20 years ago and since then we were raised by our grandparents. Sadly my grandmother also passed away from an illness a few years ago and my grandfather’s health has been declining ever since.

Out of concern I decided to live in an apartment near my grandfather’s house and often went back to check on him. “You’re a grown woman; it’s unbecoming to keep coming back home,” my grandfather would say, but he always said it cheerfully.

Then one day as I went to visit like I usually did I found my grandfather lying in pain at the entrance. In a panic I called an ambulance but my grandfather passed away suddenly. “Hey, what are you daydreaming for? At least prepare some tea,” my sister’s voice brought me back to reality.

“Right, the lawyer will be here soon,” I responded and headed to the kitchen. Glancing at my sister who was stretching out her legs on the mat and yawning I could still smell her strong perfume even from a distance.

I made a face. “She’s the same as always,” I murmured under my breath as I placed the kettle on the stove.

My sister has always been the type to only care about herself. In her teens she started dying her hair as if it were natural and hung out with delinquents. She was always out and about demanding money without working even when she caused trouble and our grandparents had to apologize on her behalf she was unperturbed.

I being the quiet one often had to deal with the fallout. It didn’t seem like she had changed much even after becoming an adult with no stable job and just drifting around while working part-time. I knew she had been asking our grandfather for money whenever I wasn’t around which made me believe that she found this all too troublesome if it weren’t for the inheritance.

“Ah, you must be the lawyer! Thanks for coming today,” I heard my sister’s high-pitched formal voice indicating that the lawyer had arrived.

I hurriedly placed tea leaves into the teapot and headed towards the entrance. “Thank you for coming today,” I had met the lawyer at the funeral. His eyes were as kind as my grandfather’s.

A lawyer’s badge shown brightly on his chest. After offering incense in front of my grandfather’s portrait he took a sip of the tea I served and then took out my grandfather’s will. It was entrusted to him by my grandfather while he was still alive.

The content was as follows: my elder sister Susan was to inherit $20 million in cash and I the young daughter was to inherit this house and the land it sits on. Upon hearing this my sister burst out laughing. “20 million in cash for the elder daughter and only an old house for the younger one! How hilarious! It’s just right for someone as plain as you!”

“It’s not just the house; there’s also the land,” I retorted, to which my sister laughed snidely.

“Ha! The value of this land in such a godforsaken place is hardly surprising. Ah, I would have preferred cash. I guess Grandpa must have had a soft spot for me after all.”

A Heartbreaking Betrayal

I can’t deny that I am a bit shocked. I suppose my grandfather wanted me to protect his beloved house and land where he spent his life with my grandmother. “Ha! A house and land that’s pretty awesome, isn’t it, Brian?” my boyfriend exclaimed in surprise after hearing my story.

I shook my head implying that it’s not as great as it sounds. “Not really; my sister inherited 20 million in cash. That’s more impressive,” I said, feeling a sense of emptiness as I verbalized it.

Even though I was trying to be modest, wow, beautiful and having money now she’s the more the better victory. Brian remarked insensitively. I shot him a side glance for his comment and realizing his mistake he joked.

“Your comfort means more to me than money, Karen.” Brian has been my boyfriend since I started working. We met at a social event and being of the same age we clicked well.

I introduced him to my grandfather and my sister. While he hasn’t proposed yet I have been considering marriage. Today was our first date in the wild and I ended up telling Brian about my inheritance.

I suppose it was because I thought he would become my husband someday. I had no idea I would come to regret this. A few days later I was visiting the family home I had inherited from my grandfather.

I had intended to clean and sort out my grandfather’s belongings. The property was large but the house was modest. I figured I could manage it on my own and looked around the house pondering if I should move here.

“Living here leisurely with a cat doesn’t sound too bad,” there would be no rent to pay and while there might be maintenance costs for deterioration I have been working hard and saving so it shouldn’t be a problem. “Maybe someday with Brian…” feeling embarrassed at the thought I shook my head vigorously and rolled up my sleeves to begin cleaning.

Just then I received a call and my sister’s name appeared on my smartphone screen. “Sis, what’s up?” “Hey, Karen! Having fun all by yourself in that old house?” my sister slurred, clearly intoxicated.

She always had a unique way of extending her words but today it was particularly bad. “Since you’re drinking, aren’t you? It’s still afternoon,” I pointed out with a sigh, to which she exaggeratedly sighed back.

“Oh, you’re such a Miss Goody Two Shoes!” “I was thinking about moving here eventually,” I answered my sister’s question hoping to end the conversation quickly.

“Really? I’m enjoying a sweet in a luxury hotel right now!” my sister raised her voice sounding somewhat exaggerated.

“Guess who I’m with right now?” “I have no idea,” I replied, finding the situation rather boring.

“It’s that kind of attitude that’ll make Brian dislike you,” my sister quipped. “What?” “I’m sorry, Karen,” I was flabbergasted when Brian’s voice suddenly took over the line.

The sudden intervention of Brian threw me off balance and dizzying question marks popped up in my head. But I resented my imagination at this point. A disgusting imagination had been completed in my head.

“Surprised, huh?” my sister’s mean-spirited voice chimed in. Ever since you introduced him to me I thought Brian was quite a catch.

She went on to boast about how she had been attracted to Brian since I introduced him. How she knew where he worked because of me and how she had approached him as soon as he left work. He came along readily when she asked telling her that she was hundreds of times more attractive than me.

I listened in stunned silence unable to utter a word. “Karen, I’m really sorry,” Brian’s voice came again. “Tell me it’s a mistake!” I tried to speak but the words wouldn’t come.

“As a man I had to take this opportunity. What? I do feel bad about it but come on! It’s impossible to resist a beautiful woman who has $20 million, right?” The way he spoke as if asking me to understand drained my emotions away. I felt a cold sensation like my blood was being drained from me.

“You know what? I don’t need a man like you!” I finally said, and I could hear my sister laughing uproariously in the background. The voice on the phone changed back to my sister.

“Well, that’s how it is and from now on let’s not consider ourselves sisters, okay? I wouldn’t want you turning to me just because you’re broke!” she added, before abruptly ending the call.