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

The Secret in the Painting

Overwhelmed by emotions that had lied behind all I could do was cry out. It had been 5 years since that fateful call. As I sat with a cat in my lap dozing off in front of my laptop the cat also purred contentedly in its sleep.

It was my day off but there was still some work left from where I brought home. “Oh no, this won’t get the work done,” I thought to myself feeling guilty but I had to gently move the cat off my lap.

Just as I reached out to my laptop my phone started to ring. An unfamiliar number was displayed on my smartphone. Thinking it could be work related I answered the call without any suspicion.

“Hello?” “Karen, long time no see!” I instantly knew who it was and froze.

The distinctive way of speaking was unmistakably my sister’s. “It’s you, Karen, isn’t it? I can tell just from your initial hello; after all I’m your big sister!” 5 years had passed which should make Susan 34 years old.

A smirk formed at the corner of my mouth at her unchanging way of talking. “You’re just the same.” “By the way I came home and there’s a hotel standing! Did you sell the house?” “That’s none of your business.”

“Oh, come on! It’s quite a grand hotel, huh? You must have made a good chunk of change, huh?” Getting fed up I was about to end the call when she started to chatter about her current situation. According to Susan she had blown through the inheritance in about 2 years and now she even had a considerable amount of debt.

Even Brian who she’s still hanging around seemed to be drowning in debt. I was speechless. Honestly I couldn’t care less.

“So lend me some money!” Susan requested, yelling, but I answered calmly.

“I’ve always wondered why Grandpa distributed his estate that way but on the day you took Brian from me and cut ties I understood.” I started talking slowly reminiscing about 5 years ago when Brian broke up with me leaving me crushed. After crying my heart out I sat dazed in my room staring into space.

“I’m such a fool,” I murmured and large tears began to spill again. My gaze fell on a painting I had made as a child and had gifted to my grandfather.

He had framed it and kept it hanging lovingly. Rising unsteadily I picked up the painting. “Grandpa…” as I continued my emotions swelled and I started to cry.

I recalled the notes my grandfather and I used to exchange on the back of that painting like a family Journal. Knowing that I was to inherit the house he probably figured I’d find this note. “I’m glad I noticed,” I said, shuddering at the thought that I might have left it unnoticed.

I reached for a sheet of note paper that had fallen from the back of the frame with the note addressed to me. The date on the letter was just before my grandfather passed. “I knew you’d definitely notice this letter. Right now you’re probably wondering why I distributed my estate in such a manner,” I read aloud.

“Cash to your sister and an old house and land for you. It may seem like I favored Susan but that’s not the case.” The letter revealed finally answering the question that had been bothering me. Despite any claims of favoritism I wanted to leave most of my estate to you who cared for me till the end.

I finally understood what had been bothering me and I continued to read the letter. “But Susan would not be satisfied with a regular division. This child even as her grandfather I must admit she’s terribly greedy.” “Exactly, Grandpa,” I whispered in agreement though he couldn’t hear me.

“She even took my boyfriend from me. That’s what I want to tell him in my heart.” “That’s why I arranged it this way. While Susan may appear to have received the better deal at first glance she won’t pay attention to your share.” According to grandfather’s letter the value of this land in our area is continuously increasing due to ongoing Urban Development.

“As of the time I’m writing this it’s not worth Susan’s 20 million yet but the value of this land will surely increase in the future.” When I read this far my eyes widened in surprise. “You can live here if you’re attached to it or you can sell it when its value rises enough to make a good profit. All I want is for you to be happy,” grandfather’s letter had said.

The Worth of a Life

When I finished conveying the content of the letter Susan clicked her tongue. “Hag!” I lived in that house for a while but when my marriage was settled I decided to sell the house just like grandfather’s letter said.

The land value had risen enough anyway. “I’m never lending you money, Susan,” I declared. But as if she had a good idea she added.

“Right, if you want I can give Brian back to you so help your sister! It’s a good deal, right?” At this moment something inside me snapped. Enough was enough.

“You’ve been taken care of by Grandpa and yet you haven’t shown a hint of gratitude! I despise you for that and you’re not my sister anymore! Besides I’m already married! I don’t need Brian and I don’t even want to see his face! Stay out of my life for good!” I said what I needed to say and hung up.

I quickly set up call blocking and my cat on my lap was cowering on the bed. I quickly picked up my cat. “I’m sorry.”

After that it seems Susan contacted Brian and they both stormed into our old house. Did they try to return Brian to me? There’s a respectable inn there now but they must have misunderstood something and were shouting that they were my relatives even though I just sold the land and had nothing to do with it.

It’s simple for those two: I sold the land and an inn was built equals I must be the owner of the inn. Of course the staff reported to the police. The two of them were arrested because they had destroyed several items in the inn.

Furthermore it was discovered that they had been committing marriage fraud for money in the past. It seems they’ll be sent to prison together. I was also questioned by the police but I was able to prove that I had no involvement quickly as we were estranged and I was released.

As my husband who came to pick me up and I were walking through the station we heard screaming and turned our gaze. There were Susan and Brian who looked completely different. Fortunately they didn’t notice us.

Both of them had messy hair worn out clothes and looked nothing like the two people I remember. Especially Susan who never skipped her makeup and fashion looked even more different. They were probably being moved to a different location.

As I watched the two of them filled with a sense of melancholy my husband and I locked eyes. I grabbed the hand he extended and we left the police station. “Are you okay?” my husband always concerned looked at me with gentle eyes.

“I’m okay. I have you and this little one.” I touched my fairly noticeable belly and smiled back. In my belly a new member of our family is growing.

Money is important but there’s something even more valuable. That’s what I want to teach our child with my husband by my side.