“And what about Paul? Do you think he truly loves you?” I probed gently. “Grandma, what kind of question is that?
Of course Paul loves me—he proposed, didn’t he?” she responded with a chuckle. “I know, sweetheart, I just worry. I’m afraid Paul might be marrying you for the money,” I confessed.
“That’s nonsense. Paul does not care that my family has money,” Abby insisted. “All right then, I’m glad to hear it,” I murmured, and she smiled warmly.
When Abby got ready to leave, she helped me tidy up. She had always been so kind and thoughtful. “Is Paul picking you up?” I asked as she put on her coat.
“Yes, he should be here any minute,” she answered, though I noticed a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. “Grandma, do you remember when I was little and you told me you’d gift me one of the restaurants for my wedding? Is that still true?” she asked tentatively.
“Yes, of course. You know I always keep my promises,” I reassured her. “I just wanted to make sure,” Abby said softly.
Right then, the doorbell rang. “Oh, that must be Paul,” she added and opened the door. Paul stood at the entrance, smiling.
“Good evening,” he greeted me politely, then turned to Abby. “Ready to go?”
Abby nodded, and the two of them walked out. I left the door slightly ajar—I could not help but be curious about how they spoke to each other.
“Can you give me money for those shoes I sent you?” Abby asked. “I do not think they’re exactly a necessity,” Paul replied. “No, but I really want them,” she pressed.
“Abby, you have more money than I do. If you want to buy pointless stuff, go ahead and do it yourself,” Paul answered. I shut the door all the way.
I did not want to hear any more. Greed. I had never liked greedy people, and at that moment, a plan began forming in my mind—a way to truly see what kind of man Paul was.
Several days passed since the idea had taken root in my head. I had found out when Abby and Paul planned to visit the restaurant and positioned myself nearby to meet them. But I was not plain old Megan.
No—I had transformed. I dressed in filthy, oversized clothes, pulled a large hat over my face to hide my features, and smeared dirt on my hands. I looked like a bum.
That was the plan. I wanted to test Paul—to see if he would give even a little something to a stranger in need, or if he really was as stingy as I feared. I held a plain paper cup in my hands.
A few kind people even tossed in spare change, though I had not asked them to. I just waited patiently for Abby and Paul to appear. And at last, they did.
Hand in hand, they strolled toward the restaurant, talking about the upcoming wedding. As they passed me, I extended the cup and pleaded in a pitiful voice, “Please help, anything you can spare, kind souls.”
They stopped. I braced myself for what might happen.
I was ready for anything—except what actually occurred. Paul reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. He leaned forward to place it in my cup, but Abby grabbed his arm and snatched the money away.
“What are you doing?” Abby demanded. Paul tried to retrieve the cash, but she held on tightly. “Abby, not everyone’s as lucky as we are.
We should help when we can,” he explained. “You always say you do not have money, and now you’re giving it to some bum?!” she exclaimed, clearly annoyed. “I will survive without twenty dollars, but for someone else, it could mean everything,” Paul answered calmly.
“No, it’s her fault she’s in that situation. You should not encourage people like her,” Abby snapped. “I thought you were raised to be kind,” Paul replied, visibly disappointed.
“This is all an act for Grandma—to make sure she leaves me her restaurants. She thinks everyone should value every penny and try to make the world a better place. But I didn’t grow up like that.
The world’s already mine—I’m not giving my money to some beggar,” Abby declared coldly. She then took Paul by the hand and pulled him toward the restaurant. I stood there, completely frozen in shock.
Everything I thought I knew about my granddaughter had been a lie. It was not Paul I should have doubted—it was her. But about a minute later, Paul ran back outside.
He dropped a fifty-dollar bill into my cup. “I’m sorry you had to hear all that. She was wrong,” he said softly before heading back inside.
I could not believe it. Abby had not been raised to become the kind of person she had become. I had been blind all along.
I rushed to my car, changed clothes, and drove straight to see my son. He was in one of the restaurants, going over the monthly expenses. I walked in and sat at the table.
“Did you know Abby’s completely spoiled?!” I burst out angrily. “Mom, maybe she’s not like you or me, but she’s not a bad person. She just grew up differently,” Jonathan replied.
“No, son, she is a bad person! How did you even raise her like this?!” I cried. “I did the best I could.
But she never heard the word ‘no,’ so this is what we’ve got,” Jonathan admitted. “This is what we’ve got?! She pretended to be some angel just to get my restaurants!” I snapped.
“What? Mom, what are you talking about?” Jonathan looked bewildered. “I always believed Abby was kind, compassionate, helpful—because that’s how she acted around me.
But it was all a lie, an act,” I said bitterly. “Mom, I don’t understand what you’re saying,” Jonathan frowned. “She admitted it herself.
She did not know I was listening, so she told the truth,” I explained. “Just leave her alone. I’m sure you misunderstood something,” Jonathan insisted.
“Oh no, sweetheart. I’m not letting this go,” I vowed. I was going to teach Abby a lesson—that nothing in life comes for free.
I was going to do it on her wedding day. I spent a whole month pretending everything was fine, that I still believed in her little game of being a good person. But then the day arrived.
The wedding was beautiful. Abby looked radiant, Paul seemed genuinely happy—but it was all about to end. When the reception began, and it was my turn to give a toast, I proudly walked to the center of the hall.
Abby watched me expectantly. I saw it in her eyes—she was waiting for the big moment when I would announce I was giving her a restaurant. But my toast was about something else entirely.
“Abby, sweetheart, I’ve been with you from the very first day of your life. I’ve watched you grow from a little girl into a young woman. I believed you had become a good person, and that’s why I wanted to do everything for you.
But it turns out that was not true,” I began, and Abby’s smile faded. “You showed your true colors when you thought I was not around. Do you remember that homeless woman outside the restaurant?
That was me.”
I saw the fear on her face. “Grandma, you misunderstood, I—”
“Shush, I’m not finished,” I interrupted. “I want you to understand how hard I worked for everything I have.
I never wanted my son or my grandchildren to go through what I did. But you opened my eyes. I will not be giving you a restaurant.
However, you’re welcome to start as a waitress and work your way up to owning one.”
“Are you kidding me?!” Abby screamed, leaping from her seat. “I’m completely serious,” I replied calmly. “You can’t take the restaurant away from me!” she shouted.
“It was never yours,” I said firmly. “Do you even realize this whole wedding was just to get that restaurant?!” she yelled, and the guests gasped. “Abby, what are you talking about?” Paul asked, his expression darkening.
“Oh, please. Do you really think I would marry a broke guy like you out of love? You were just part of the act for Grandma,” she sneered.
Then she turned to me. “So I could get that restaurant!”
“Abby, but I love you,” Paul whispered. “Oh, shut up,” she snapped at him.
“You’ve truly disappointed me,” I said coldly. “You don’t deserve a restaurant.” I turned and walked away. Abby ran after me.
“Grandma, stop! I’m still your granddaughter—your Abby,” she begged. “The Abby I knew never existed.
It was all fake,” I told her as I left. Leaving Abby behind was painful, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Someone had to finally teach that spoiled girl a lesson.
And all I could hope for was that she would finally pull herself together and start to change. Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
Source: amomama
