I thought I was just going to be a caregiver for Mrs. Blackwood, a sharp-tongued, secretive old woman. But when she decided to rewrite her will in my favor, cutting out her grandchildren, I found myself trapped in a whirlwind of family secrets, unexpected mysteries, and a plan more daring than anything I had ever imagined.
I was young, jobless, and filled with doubts. Holding a nursing diploma in my hands felt useless when rejection after rejection came my way. The city, with all its towering buildings and endless streets, seemed to mock me. Weeks passed, my savings shrank, and my future felt as empty as my pockets.
Then, one morning, I saw it—
“Nanny needed for an elderly woman who cannot walk. Live-in position.”
The words stood out like a lifeline in the sea of job listings. I didn’t hesitate. I dialed the number, set up an interview, and found myself standing in front of a grand yet slightly weathered house a few days later.
The door swung open, and a young man, probably in his early twenties, greeted me with a polite smile.
“You must be here for the nanny job,” he said. “I’m Edward.”
Before I could respond, a young woman appeared beside him, her expression neutral but watchful.
“And I’m Emily,” she added. “Grandma’s expecting you.”
Their politeness felt practiced, almost forced, like they were obligated to be welcoming rather than genuinely interested in my presence.
“Grandma’s upstairs,” Edward continued, gesturing toward the staircase. “We’ll let her take it from here.”
They disappeared down the hall, leaving me standing in the grand but eerily quiet house. Something about them felt… distant, as if they were strangers under the same roof rather than devoted grandchildren.
Mrs. Blackwood was nothing like I expected. Sitting in her lavish bedroom, dressed in an elegant nightgown, she radiated confidence. Her silver hair was perfectly styled, her nails polished a deep red, and her eyes—sharp, knowing—studied me with an intensity that made my stomach flip.
“Ah, you must be Mia,” she said with a warm but commanding voice. “Come in, dear. Sit.”
I hesitated. She didn’t look frail or helpless. In fact, she looked like a queen surveying her kingdom.
“Don’t just stand there,” she teased, patting the edge of the bed. “Sit! Have a doughnut. No one should face the world hungry.”
I picked one from the plate on her nightstand, unsure whether to be amused or cautious.
“So, tell me,” she leaned back slightly, “why do you want this job?”
I kept my answer simple. “I need it. And I believe I can help you.”
She nodded approvingly. “Honesty. That’s rare these days.” Then, with a small smirk, she said, “Well, Mia, welcome aboard.”
The first few days were quiet. I followed her routine, listened to her stories, and thought maybe, just maybe, this job would be easy.
But then, strange things began happening.
One morning, I noticed a book on her bedside table had moved. I was sure I hadn’t touched it.
“Did you read this last night, Mrs. Blackwood?” I asked.
She chuckled. “I don’t sleepwalk, dear.”
Then there was the curtain. I always left it open, yet when I returned, it was drawn. The flowers in her room? Freshly watered, though I hadn’t done it.
“Do Edward and Emily check on you at night?” I asked casually.
“Oh no,” she said with a small laugh. “They’ve lived here since their parents passed, but they rarely bother to say goodnight.”
“But someone’s moving things,” I pressed.
She only smiled. “They’ll come when the will is read.”
Her words clung to the air like an unsolved riddle. Something was off, and I was determined to find out what.
To shake up the dreary routine of the house, I introduced some changes.
Instead of letting Mrs. Blackwood eat alone in her room, I set up the dining table.
“There’s something special about a proper dinner table,” I said as I laid out the silverware. “It feels more… lively.”
She raised an eyebrow but smiled. “You’re full of ideas, aren’t you, Mia?”
Edward and Emily weren’t pleased. The first night, they walked in looking puzzled.
“What’s all this?” Emily frowned.
“Dinner,” I said. “Nice to eat together, don’t you think?”
Edward hesitated. “But Grandma always eats in her room.”
“Well, not anymore,” I replied, pulling out a chair. “She deserves company.”
They sat reluctantly, exchanging awkward glances.
Later, I suggested reading nights.
“Each of us takes turns reading aloud,” I explained. “Then we discuss the story. It’ll be fun!”
Mrs. Blackwood loved it. Her laughter filled the house. But within weeks, Edward and Emily started skipping. Soon, it was just the two of us.
Then came the night everything changed.
“We’ve been thinking,” Edward began cautiously. “Maybe it’s best if Emily and I move out.”
Emily jumped in. “We found a place, but we’ll need some help with rent.”
Mrs. Blackwood smiled slowly, eyes gleaming. “Oh, how convenient. Since we’re sharing news, I have some too.”
Edward tensed. “What news?”
“My lawyer is coming next week. I’m rewriting my will,” she said lightly. “Mia will inherit everything.”
Emily’s fork clattered onto her plate. “You’re joking!”
“Oh, I’m quite serious,” she said. “Mia has shown me real care and respect—something I haven’t seen from either of you in years.”
Edward’s face turned red. “But we’re your grandchildren!”
“Then start acting like it,” she said coolly.
The next day, the act began.
Edward arranged flowers. “Tulips, Grandma! Your favorite.”
Mrs. Blackwood barely glanced at them. “I prefer orchids.”
Emily made tea. “Breakfast in the living room today!”
Mrs. Blackwood sipped, unimpressed. “Shame you didn’t think of this sooner.”
Their fake kindness didn’t work.
Then, one evening, Edward approached me.
“We’ve decided your services are no longer needed.”
I sighed. “Alright. I’ll pack.”
Before I left, Mrs. Blackwood pulled me aside and handed me an envelope of cash.
“Rent a car. Be in the garden at midnight. Wait for my signal.”
My stomach twisted. “But—”
She winked. “Trust me.”
That night, I waited in the shadows. Then, the house went dark.
The back door creaked open. A cloaked figure stepped out.
“Mrs. Blackwood?” I gasped.
“Come,” she whispered.
We hurried to the car. She slid into the driver’s seat with ease.
“You can drive?” I stammered.
She smirked. “Did you think I sat in bed for fun?”
As we drove away, she explained. The strange movements, the misplaced objects—it was all part of her plan.
“My grandchildren waited for a fortune they didn’t earn. You, Mia, showed me real kindness.”
True to her word, she rewrote the will. Edward and Emily had to make their own way. Surprisingly, they did.
And me? I started over, with an extraordinary friendship and a lesson in self-worth I would never forget.
