When Brian, the greedy older brother, inherited the family home, he taunted his younger sister Linda, who only received five old rusty watches from their late grandmother.
Neither of them realized the incredible secret hidden inside this clock.
“Well, did your grandmother call you too? I thought you’d be buried in books in the library as usual,” Brian, 26, teased his 19-year-old sister Linda.
Linda had just gotten out of the taxi, her heart heavy with worry even as she tried to convince herself that everything was going to be okay. “She’s strong. She has many years left,” she assured them when they arrived at their 90-year-old grandmother Marlene’s house, where they had been asked to pay her an urgent visit.
“I’m not sure how much time I have left, my dears,” Marlene told them two days ago. “I wanted to see you both one last time.
When Linda entered her grandmother’s dusty bedroom, she was taken aback by the neglected state of the room – mold on the ceiling, and unkempt floors. It was clear that Marlene, too sick and old to care for herself, was unable to maintain a home.
Linda opened one of the old clocks only to find something inside that would change her life forever.
Linda rushed to her grandmother and hugged her. “Grandma, don’t worry. You will be fine We need you and I’m sure you have more time with us.”
Linda lived with Marlene until a year ago and almost gave up her life-changing scholarship to stay and care for her. But Marlene convinced her to go to the city to study.
Brian entered the room and coughed dramatically. “Ugh, grandma, didn’t you clean here? It’s terrible!”
Brian ignored his grandmother’s condition and didn’t seem to care much for her well-being, just waiting for the reason she called them.
Marlene weakly handed each of them an envelope. “This is for you, my love. Please use it wisely.”
Inside each envelope was $5,000. Overcome with emotion, Linda ran out of the room. Meanwhile, Brian frowned at the small amount. “Is that all she left us? I thought there would be more,” he mumbled before leaving without a word of thanks.
The next morning, Linda returned to her grandmother’s room and drew the curtains to let in the light.
“Good morning, Grandma!” Linda greeted her cheerfully, surprising Marlene who had expected Linda to be busy with school and work in town.
“I saved $4,000 this year,” Linda said, holding out the envelope. “Remember when you mentioned your vision problems, Grandma? Now I have $9000. We can use it to pay for your eye surgery.”
Marlene, tearful, hugged Linda. “Honey, you are so thoughtful. But it’s too late. I feel that my time is near. This money should be used for something else.”
Linda wiped away Marlene’s tears, determined to help her smile again. “I’ll stay with you, Grandma. I’m not going anywhere until I see you happy again.”
With Linda’s help, Marlene’s life improved. She no longer had to cook for herself and the house became a brighter and happier place. One day, Linda surprised her grandmother by fixing the house’s leaks and renovating it with a savings of $9,000.
“I knew you always wanted to restore this house, Grandma. How do you like the renovation?” Linda asked.
Marlene was overcome with emotion and hugged Linda tightly, unable to speak through her tears.
“I just want to be happy when I leave this world,” Marlene whispered. A week later, her wish came true when she died peacefully in her sleep.
After the funeral, Linda and Brian went to the lawyer’s office to hear their grandmother’s will read.
“Brian White,” said the lawyer, “you’re going to inherit your grandmother’s house. Please sign these papers.” Surprised and a little upset that she had put so much work into renovating the house, Linda felt no bitterness, even though she thought Brian didn’t deserve it.
“And now, Miss Linda,” continued the lawyer, handing her a small box. “This is for you.
Linda’s eyes widened as she opened the box. “What is it?” Inside were five old clocks she had inherited. Brian laughed and mocked her, but little did they know that this clock held a secret that would change Linda’s life forever.
Holding the five old clocks in her hands, Linda couldn’t help but feel a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Brian’s laughter sounded in the background, but she was no longer paying attention to him. Her grandmother had left her this clock for some reason, and Linda was determined to uncover the mystery behind it.
After returning home, Linda began to look more carefully at the clock. When she took it apart, she found that it was no ordinary watch. Hidden inside were small compartments, each containing a different precious item—gold coins, precious jewelry, and an old, intricately designed key. It was clear that her grandmother had spent years hiding her wealth in these hours, a secret that had been passed down in the family for generations.
Linda’s heart skipped a beat when she realized the wealth she had just inherited. This windfall was a far cry from the meager inheritance she originally received, all thanks to the watch her brother scoffed at. She knew her grandmother had always been kind and wise, and this secret inheritance was her last way of making sure Linda was taken care of.
With the money and newfound wealth, Linda was able to pay off her student loans, start her own business, and ensure that Marlene’s house stayed in the family. She also used some of the wealth to honor her grandmother’s legacy, donating to causes that were important to her, knowing that Marlene always valued helping others.
As for Brian, he continued to enjoy the family home, but little did he know that the real treasure was never in the house. Linda’s quiet determination and love for her grandmother led her to uncover hidden wealth, and it was her hard work, not Brian’s greed, that ultimately created a better future for her family.