Gregory had always been a man who cared about one thing above all else—money. He worked tirelessly to build his wealth, but even after his son Alex grew up, he couldn’t stop thinking about how to get even richer. When it came time for Alex to choose a wife, Gregory had already picked out the perfect match for him: Allison, the daughter of his business partner, William. It was a perfect deal in Gregory’s mind—love and business combined into a beautiful, prosperous future.
Luckily, for Gregory, Alex and Allison were drawn to each other, and their feelings grew. The marriage plans were a go, but there was one small hitch: William, who was happy about the match, made one request. He asked Gregory to provide a spacious, comfortable house for the young couple to start their new life together.
Gregory was not about to buy a house. He was far too greedy for that. Instead, he thought of his mother, Lucy, who lived alone in an old but beautiful Victorian house. “I could just send mom to a nursing home and take her house,” he thought. “That way, I won’t have to spend a single penny on a new house.”
So, without a second thought, Gregory visited his mother. He told her, “Mom, you’re going to move to a nursing home. You need people to take care of you. And your dog won’t be much help if anything happens to you.” He smiled, trying to sound caring, but the truth was, he just wanted her out of the way so he could get his hands on her property.
Lucy, though reluctant, agreed. The only thing she asked for was that Gregory and Alex visit her once in a while. But Gregory wasn’t about to keep that promise. He nodded and lied, “Of course, Mom, we’ll come visit. Don’t worry.”
Months went by, and Lucy settled into the nursing home, taking her loyal dog Walter with her. She spent those days in a quiet, lonely room, hoping that her son would keep his word. But Gregory never came, and neither did Alex. It was clear they had both forgotten her.
One day, Gregory called Alex. “Mom passed away,” he said flatly. “She died in the nursing home, but she left her house to you. You and Allison can move in right away. I’ve already had it cleaned.”
Alex was shocked. “What? She’s gone?” he asked, his voice cracking.
“Yes,” Gregory replied. “She’s already been buried. Don’t worry about anything. Just come pick up your things and settle into your new house.”
But Alex couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. He asked, “Dad, what about her funeral? When was it?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Gregory said, brushing him off. “She’s been taken care of. You’ll find out the details when you come. Now, move in when you’re ready.”
A few days later, Alex and Allison finally moved into the Victorian house. It was beautiful, but Alex couldn’t ignore the strange feeling that lingered in the air. For the first few nights, a dog kept barking outside their new home, disturbing their sleep.
Allison, equally tired of the noise, turned to Alex. “Please, Alex, go figure out what that dog wants. It’s been barking every night.”
Alex reluctantly went outside. As he approached the dog, he could see how tired and hungry it looked. Unlike his father, Alex was kind-hearted. He gently knelt down to pet the dog. “What’s wrong, buddy?” he asked softly. “Why do you keep coming here every night?”
When he looked closer, Alex saw something hanging from the dog’s collar—a locket. He opened it and was stunned to find a picture of his grandmother, Lucy, inside. Beneath the photo was a note with an address scribbled on it. The dog’s eyes seemed to plead with him to follow.
Without a second thought, the dog bolted, and Alex instinctively followed, running after him. The dog led him a few blocks away, stopping at an old barn in the middle of a field. It was the same address on the note.
Alex stared at the barn, puzzled. “What’s in there, buddy? Why did you bring me here?” he muttered.
Then, Alex’s heart skipped a beat. Inside the barn, lying on a pile of hay, was Grandma Lucy. She looked frail and weak, her face pale and sunken. “Grandma?” Alex gasped, rushing to her side. “You’re alive? What happened? Dad told me you had died. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Lucy looked up, her eyes filled with exhaustion. “I’m not okay, Alex,” she whispered. “I’ve been left here. Your father… he left me here to die.”
Alex’s heart broke. “But why? What happened?”
Lucy struggled to speak. “He said he couldn’t afford to pay for the nursing home anymore. He told me he would bring me supplies, but he never came back. I’ve been alone here, with only Walter to keep me company. I never thought my own son could do this to me.”
Tears filled Alex’s eyes. He couldn’t believe it. “He told me you died. I’m so sorry, Grandma. I didn’t know. I thought you were gone.”
Lucy smiled weakly, then continued, “It’s thanks to Walter here that I’m still alive. I wrote the address on that note. I was hoping someone would find me. I didn’t want to die here, alone.”
Alex was furious. His heart boiled with anger. How could his father do something so cruel to his own mother? His blood was boiling as he helped Lucy to her feet, promising to make things right.
“I’m going to get you out of here, Grandma,” Alex said, calling for a cab. As soon as it arrived, he took her back to the house, where he and Allison listened in disbelief as Alex explained everything that had happened.
The next day, Allison, heartbroken for Lucy, told her father, William, the entire story. William was furious. “How could Gregory do that? That’s unforgivable!” he shouted. Furious, William cut all ties with Gregory and pulled out his shares from the business. It didn’t take long for everyone to realize that William had been the one holding the business together. Without his support, Gregory’s empire crumbled.
Months later, Gregory was bankrupt, and his wealth was gone. But Alex had learned an important lesson. He cut all ties with his father, who had only ever thought about himself. Alex promised to take care of Grandma Lucy, and they moved in together, with Allison, Walter, and Lucy’s great-grandchildren, in the beautiful Victorian house.
The truth, as they say, always comes out. Gregory thought he could fool everyone, but his greed and cruelty were his downfall. The loyal dog Walter had saved the day, finding Alex and revealing the truth. Gregory’s actions taught everyone an important lesson: Respect your elders, because the truth has a way of coming out. And when you betray those who love you, karma will always catch up with you.
