A man named Gregory had always been focused on one thing: money. He was greedy and wanted to grow his wealth at any cost. As his son, Alex, grew older, Gregory didn’t just want him to marry anyone—he wanted Alex to marry for money, too. The woman Gregory had in mind was Allison, the daughter of his long-time business partner, William. Luckily for Gregory, Alex and Allison fell in love, making it the perfect match for everyone.
But there was one thing William asked for before agreeing to the marriage: Gregory needed to provide a comfortable, spacious house for the newlyweds. Gregory wasn’t thrilled about the expense. He thought long and hard, and then an idea struck him. His mother, Lucy, lived in a beautiful, old Victorian house, and Gregory didn’t want to waste money buying a new house for his son. So, he came up with a plan.
“Maybe I can send Mom to a nursing home,” Gregory thought, “and then I can have her house for Alex and Allison. No need to spend money on a new place.”
Without wasting another moment, Gregory visited his mother. “Mom, you need to move to a nursing home,” he said coldly. “It’s for the best. You’ll be looked after there, and your dog won’t be able to help you if anything happens.”
“But Gregory, I’m fine here. I don’t need a nursing home,” Lucy replied, confused and worried.
Gregory pushed her gently, saying, “Don’t be silly, Mom. You’ll be much safer there. I’ll take care of everything.”
Reluctantly, Lucy agreed, asking only that Gregory and Alex visit her sometimes. Gregory promised he would, though in truth, he had no intention of keeping that promise.
Months passed, and Lucy lived in the nursing home, accompanied by her loyal dog, Walter. Meanwhile, Gregory focused on preparing the house for Alex and Allison. One day, Gregory made a phone call to Alex. “Mom passed away while in the nursing home,” he said, his voice cold and businesslike. “She left you her house. I’ve already had it cleaned up, so you and Allison can move in whenever you’re ready.”
Alex was stunned. “But… what about Grandma’s funeral?” he asked, his voice trembling.
Gregory didn’t hesitate. “Don’t worry about that. She’s already been buried. Just come and move into the house when you can.”
Alex and Allison settled into Lucy’s beautiful Victorian house, but something strange began happening. Every night, a dog kept barking outside their new home. Alex couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m going to check on that dog,” he told Allison, who was also frustrated.
The moment Alex stepped outside, he saw a dog he didn’t recognize. It wasn’t just any dog, though—this one seemed strangely familiar. It had a locket hanging from its collar. Alex gently reached down and noticed a photo inside. To his shock, it was a picture of his late grandmother, Lucy.
Inside the locket was also a note with an address. “What is this? Where is this place?” Alex whispered to the dog.
Before Alex could process what was happening, the dog suddenly bolted, running toward the address on the note. Alex, puzzled but intrigued, followed the dog. A few blocks away, the dog stopped in front of an old barn in the middle of a field.
“Is this it, buddy?” Alex asked the dog. “Why did you bring me here?”
As he stepped inside the barn, Alex’s heart nearly stopped. There, lying on a haystack, was his grandmother. She was thin, weak, and shivering from the cold. “Grandma?” Alex gasped. “What are you doing here? You’re alive! Dad told me you died!”
Lucy’s eyes fluttered open, and she weakly smiled at Alex. “I never died, Alex. Your father left me here. He said he couldn’t afford to pay for the nursing home anymore and just… left me. He promised he would bring me supplies, but he never came back.”
Alex’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry, Grandma. I had no idea. Dad told me you were gone, and I didn’t question him.”
“I could have died here if it wasn’t for Walter,” Lucy said, her voice shaking. “He found a piece of paper and a pencil, and I wrote down the address hoping someone would find me.” She reached up, her trembling hands brushing Walter’s fur. “He’s been my only friend.”
Alex was furious. “How could Dad do this to you? How could he leave you here, to die alone?” he cried.
Alex called a cab to take them back to the house. He carried his grandmother, and once they arrived, he told Allison everything. The next day, heartbroken, Allison went to her father, William, and told him the story. William was furious. “Gregory did this?” he shouted. “How could he betray his own mother like that?”
William immediately severed all ties with Gregory and withdrew his shares from their business. Over time, it became clear that William was the backbone of their business, and without him, Gregory couldn’t keep it afloat. The business crumbled, and Gregory was forced to file for bankruptcy. Worse, Alex finally saw his father for what he truly was—a selfish, greedy man.
Alex made a decision. “I can’t be a part of this anymore,” he said to Allison. “I’m cutting ties with him for good.”
From that moment on, Alex promised to take care of Grandma Lucy. Together, they moved back into her beautiful Victorian home, and they all lived happily. Allison, her dog Walter, and Lucy’s great-grandchildren brought warmth and love back to the house.
Gregory’s greed and cruelty had led him to lose everything. His selfishness had cost him not only his business but also the relationship with his son. And in the end, it was his mother’s loyal dog who saved the day, bringing Alex to the truth.
What can we learn from this story?
The truth always has a way of coming out. Gregory thought he could deceive everyone, including his own mother, but in the end, his lies were exposed. His greed and selfishness cost him everything, while Alex found the love and respect he needed to build a new, better life with his grandmother. The story reminds us to always respect our elders, for their wisdom and love are priceless.