Quando Luke reclamou da herança para a avó, Elizabeth, ela o excluiu do testamento e o deixou com um baú velho e empoeirado. Ele o guardou no sótão por anos, até que sua filha curiosa, Meredith, o encontrou enquanto bisbilhotava. Luke finalmente o abriu e não conseguia acreditar no que havia dentro.
Quando Elizabeth completou 80 anos, decidiu redigir um testamento e dividir seus bens entre os três netos: Tom, Aidan e Luke. Então, convidou-os para um chá em sua casa em Milford, Connecticut, e contou-lhes o que cada um receberia. Elizabeth achou que o mais velho, Tom, deveria ficar com sua cobertura à beira-mar em Miami, avaliada em milhões de dólares.
O neto do meio, Aidan, herdaria sua casa atual em Milford, que valia aproximadamente o mesmo que a propriedade em Miami. “Finalmente, Luke receberá o dinheiro em todas as minhas contas”, revelou Elizabeth enquanto terminava seu chá. Tom e Aiden ficaram satisfeitos com a decisão dela, mas Luke ficou chateado.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Pexels
“Vovó! Não acredito que você está deixando o melhor para os meus irmãos! Isso não é justo! Todo mundo sabe que você não tem tanto dinheiro assim na conta!” Luke berrou. Elizabeth franziu a testa para Luke, e seus irmãos não conseguiam acreditar que ele explodiria daquele jeito.
“Luke, senta aí! Você não pode gritar com a vovó desse jeito. Você parece muito arrogante agora, sabia? Ela não precisa te dar nada”, rosnou Tom.
“Claro! Vocês dois estão felizes porque estão recebendo milhões de dólares em propriedades. Mas eu terei sorte se conseguir alguns milhares de dólares”, respondeu Luke ao irmão mais velho. Aidan também disse que ele estava agindo como um pirralho, então saiu furioso da reunião.
Os irmãos mais velhos agradeceram à avó pela generosidade e prometeram falar com Luke para manter a paz entre eles. Afinal, eles não tinham mais nenhum parente. A mãe deles, filha de Elizabeth, morreu em um acidente de barco com o marido quando Luke completou 18 anos. Os três já haviam herdado uma fortuna dos pais.
Mas, apesar das garantias de Tom e Aidan, Elizabeth começou a refletir. Ela conversou com seus advogados novamente e decidiu que Luke precisava aprender uma grande lição. Quando ela morreu, dois anos depois, os irmãos se reuniram para a leitura do testamento. No final, Tom e Aiden receberam exatamente o que Elizabeth havia prometido.
Mas Luke não recebeu as contas dela. “Elizabeth alterou o testamento depois que concluímos a primeira versão. Luke, ela te amava mais do que a qualquer pessoa… Então você receberá este baú antigo, que ela tanto prezava”, explicou seu advogado. Isso fez Luke explodir e gritar com todos na sala. Tom tentou acalmá-lo, mas Aidan não queria mais tolerar as explosões de raiva do irmão.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Pexels
“Luke, este provavelmente é o castigo dela por você ter gritado com ela anos atrás. Nossa avó se foi! Ela era a única parente que nos restava! Você é tão ingrato e arrogante! Pegue o baú e pense em como você parece arrogante e horrível agora!” Aidan gritou para o irmão. Luke parou, olhou para todos com raiva e saiu da sala.
O baú chegou à porta de Luke alguns dias depois, mas ele o escondeu no armário imediatamente, sem nem olhar lá dentro. Então, ele se separou dos irmãos e seguiu com sua vida.
Por fim, ele conheceu Lídia, uma mulher maravilhosa que não se importava com dinheiro e tinha uma família grande. Alguns anos após o casamento, eles tiveram uma filha, Meredith. Ela o lembrava da avó.
“Eu estava bravo com ela por causa do testamento, mas agora tenho vergonha do meu comportamento naquela época. Acho que ser o caçula de três meninos me tornou um perdedor ciumento”, revelou Luke à esposa certa noite, enquanto ambos tentavam fazer Meredith dormir. A esposa o confortou e disse que tudo ficaria bem, porque ele não era mais aquele tipo de homem.
Os anos se passaram, e Meredith era a luz da sua vida. Ela era engraçada e adorava ler sobre mistérios. Talvez fosse por isso que adorava brincar no sótão e fuçar nas caixas velhas deles.
Um dia, enquanto Lídia estava comprando mantimentos, Meredith, de 10 anos, trouxe para ele o baú da avó. “Pai! O que tem aqui dentro? Esta caixa é tão misteriosa! Será que ela contém um tesouro enorme?”, perguntou ela, entusiasmada.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Pexels
Luke estava lendo no sofá, mas ergueu os olhos para ver o que a filha estava falando. “Ah, querida. Isso não é uma caixa. É um baú. Onde você conseguiu isso? Faz anos que não vejo”, respondeu Luke, tirando os óculos e pegando o baú.
“Estava no sótão! Posso ficar com ele?”, Meredith insistiu.
Luke não fazia ideia de como o baú foi parar no sótão, mas imaginou que isso devia ter acontecido quando se mudaram para aquela casa, depois do casamento dele com Lídia. “Sim, querida. Pode ficar com ele. Era o baú da sua avó. Ela me deu anos atrás. Mas sabe de uma coisa? Eu nunca o abri. Quer fazer isso comigo agora mesmo?”, perguntou ele, animado.
Meredith comemorou enquanto Luke tentava abrir a trava. Estava um pouco presa por anos sem uso, mas ele conseguiu. “Meu Deus…” Luke suspirou ao olhar tudo lá dentro. Sua filha estava certa; continha uma quantidade considerável de tesouro. Havia várias barras de ouro, e Luke encontrou um certificado que declarava que ele era o dono.
“Pai, essas barras são de ouro de verdade, né? Sua avó te deu?”, perguntou-se Meredith, tocando uma das barras. “Por que está escrito 100 gr?”
“Isso significa que pesa 100 gramas, Meredith”, respondeu Luke, mas ainda estava perplexo. Havia 10 barras de ouro dentro do baú. Sua filha ficou maravilhada com elas e as tocou.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Unsplash
“Olha, pai! Tem uma carta aqui dentro!”, exclamou ela, entregando-a a Luke. Mas era um envelope do Banco Milford, e havia uma chave dentro. “O que a chave abre?”
“Bem, esta deve ser a chave de um cofre no banco”, respondeu Luke.
Quando Lídia chegou em casa, vinda da loja, ele explicou tudo. Ela o encorajou a ir ao banco e perguntar por aí. O gerente do banco, Sr. Paxton, ficou encantado ao ver a chave e o documento de identidade de Luke.
“Ah! Você deve ser neto da Elizabeth! Pensei que nunca viria nos visitar”, disse ele, ansioso, pedindo-lhe que o acompanhasse enquanto continuava falando. “Sua avó era a melhor cliente do nosso banco. Eu arrumei este cofre anos atrás. Que bom que você está aqui.”
Ele abriu e descobriu pelo menos mais 50 barras de ouro lá dentro, mas cada uma pesava um quilo. “Sua avó não confiava na era digital. Ela preferia guardar seu dinheiro em bens materiais. Há também alguns diamantes e pedras preciosas aqui. Precisa sacar alguma coisa hoje?”, perguntou o gerente com um sorriso.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Pexels
“Não, hoje não. Eu só queria verificar”, respondeu Luke, sem fôlego. Voltou para casa e contou tudo para Lidia. Naquela noite, ligou para os dois irmãos e se desculpou por tudo. Contou a eles o que a avó tinha feito, e eles riram.
“Eu sabia que a vovó queria dividir tudo igualmente! Mas a sua atitude a fez esconder isso de você! Isso é incrível”, riu Aiden ao telefone. No final, Luke também riu, porque seu irmão mais velho estava certo.
Logo, ele se reconciliou com os irmãos e ficou feliz em dar à família tudo o que eles quisessem. Mas Luke jamais esqueceria como ele agiu naquela época e se arrependeria para sempre.
O que podemos aprender com essa história?
- Não aja como um pirralho arrogante. Você não tem direito ao dinheiro de ninguém, mesmo que seus parentes sejam ricos. Luke aprendeu uma dura lição.
- Abra sempre baús misteriosos. Nunca deixe nada sem abrir. Você pode estar perdendo milhões.
Compartilhe esta história com seus amigos. Ela pode alegrar o dia deles e inspirá-los.
My Husband Went to Live with His Best Friend Because Our Newborn Was “Too Loud” – I Made Sure He Regretted It
Alice can’t believe her husband Jake has left her and their newborn Lily because he claims their baby is “too loud.” Alone and overwhelmed, Alice turns to his mother for help, determined to show Jake the consequences of his selfishness. With Barbara’s support, Alice plans to make him regret his decision. What is she and Barbara going to do?
I held Lily close, her warm breath a gentle caress against my chest. The living room was shrouded in silence, save for the rhythmic creak of my rocking chair.
A mother rocking her baby to sleep | Source: Midjourney
My mind raced with all the tasks still waiting for me. I was exhausted from washing dishes, yet I cherished these quiet moments with my baby girl. I knew I had to make time to rock her to sleep.
Lily had been with us for just a few weeks. Those weeks were a blur of beautiful chaos and relentless fatigue.
A mother with her baby | Source: Pexels
My days revolved around caring for Lily — feeding her, changing diapers, and trying to keep our home in order. Sleep was a rare luxury, yet every moment with her filled me with gratitude.
At the same time, Jake seemed distant, almost like a shadow in his own home. Even when he was physically present, his mind seemed elsewhere, struggling with the new realities of fatherhood.
A man busy working while his wife looks after their newborn | Source: Pexels
As I held Lily closer, I noticed Jake at the bedroom door, hurriedly packing his clothes into a bag.
“Jake, what are you doing?” I asked, confused.
A man packing his luggage | Source: Midjourney
“I’m going to stay at Mike’s place for a few weeks,” he replied without looking up.
A knot formed in my stomach. “What? Why?”
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
Jake zipped up his bag and finally looked at me. “The baby is too loud. I need time to relax from this mess, Alice! When I come back, you better figure out how to make this place livable again!”
His words felt like a punch. “Jake, you can’t just leave. We have a baby! We need you here!” I said.
A couple arguing at home | Source: Pexels
He shrugged, slinging the backpack over his shoulder. “I can’t handle this right now, Alice. I just need some space.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as a plea escaped my lips. “Jake, please, don’t leave us. We need to face this as a family.”
But he shook his head, his expression void of any remorse. “I’ll be back in a few weeks. Just… figure it out,” he said coldly, leaving me shattered by his indifference.
A stern man showing no remorse | Source: Pexels
I looked down at Lily, her tiny face peaceful and unaware of what was happening.
A tear rolled down my cheek as I held her closer, feeling both sad and angry. I knew I had to be strong for her, but at that moment, I felt so alone.
A worried woman with a baby | Source: Freepik
Jake’s departure left me in shock. How could he just walk away like that? His help had always been minimal, but this abandonment was crushing.
In desperation, I reached for the phone. Help was essential, and there was only one person I could think to call: Jake’s mother, Barbara. We had initially wanted privacy after Lily’s birth, but now, more than ever, I needed support.
A senior woman | Source: Midjourney
My hands shook as I dialed her number.
Barbara answered after a few rings, her voice cheerful as always. “Hello, Alice! How are you and my sweet granddaughter?”
“Hi, Barbara,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’m sorry to call you out of the blue, but I really need your help.”
A serious woman with short hair on a call | Source: Midjourney
Barbara’s tone instantly changed, becoming more serious. “What’s wrong, dear?”
“Jake just left. He said he needs time away and won’t be back for a few weeks. I’m overwhelmed with everything. Can you please come over?”
A deeply upset woman on a phone call | Source: Midjourney
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Of course, Alice. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Thank you, Barbara. I don’t know what else to do!” I replied desperately.
“Hang in there, Alice. We’ll figure this out together,” she consoled me.
A senior woman dressed smartly and talking on a phone | Source: Pexels
I hung up the phone, feeling a small glimmer of hope. Help was on the way. I looked down at Lily, still peacefully sleeping in my arms.
I kissed her tiny forehead and whispered, “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. We’ll get through this.”
A woman kissing her baby’s forehead | Source: Pexels
I walked over to the couch and sank down, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart. As I waited, anxiety gnawed at me.
The thought of asking Barbara to stay felt overwhelming — how could I impose that on her? Yet, the daunting question lingered: how would I manage everything on my own? These worries swirled through my mind as I awaited her arrival.
A worried woman | Source: Pexels
I didn’t have any friends who could lend me a hand.
I needed to make a plan and find a way to manage everything on my own if I had to. But at least for tonight, I wouldn’t be alone. Barbara would be here soon, and together, we would figure out what to do next, I reasoned.
The sound of the doorbell broke my thoughts. I stood up, taking a deep breath before opening the door. There stood Barbara.
A young woman and senior woman looking into the mirror | Source: Pexels
I felt a rush of relief as I welcomed her in, knowing that I had made the right call.
“Alice, dear, how are you doing?” she asked, wrapping me in a tight hug.
The floodgates burst open, and I couldn’t control my tears any longer. “Oh, Barbara, it’s been incredibly tough,” I sobbed. “Jake has felt so distant, and now he’s simply walked out on us. He said he needed space and has gone to stay at Mike’s place.”
A sad woman | Source: Midjourney
Barbara listened, her face growing more serious with every word. I told her about the sleepless nights, the endless chores, and the hurtful words Jake had thrown at me.
She didn’t interrupt; just let me pour out all the pain and frustration I’d been holding in.
A woman in tears | Source: Midjourney
When I finally finished, Barbara’s expression was stern. “Where did he say he was going again?”
“Mike’s house,” I replied, wiping my tears.
A serious-looking older woman | Source: Midjourney
Without a moment’s hesitation, Barbara whipped out her phone. “This is completely unacceptable. He needs to be here, supporting you,” she said, her voice firm with resolve.
I watched, holding my breath, as she quickly dialed Jake’s number. It didn’t take long for him to pick up.
A senior woman on call | Source: Pexels
“Jake, this is your mother! I did not raise a man who acts like this! If you treat your family like strangers, I will do the same to you in my will! Get back home and take responsibility!” she said firmly.
I couldn’t hear Jake’s response, but Barbara’s words were enough. She was furious and determined to teach him a lesson.
As she hung up, she turned back to me, her face softening.
A smiling elderly woman | Source: Pexels
“Alice, you’re not alone in this. I’ll stay with you tonight and help with Lily. We’ll make a plan in the morning. If that loser doesn’t come home, I will make sure he regrets walking out on his beautiful family for the rest of his goddamn life!”
I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. “Thank you, Barbara. I didn’t know what else to do.”
A close up shot of a young woman | Source: Midjourney
She smiled gently. “We’ll get through this together, Alice. You’re doing a great job. Don’t let Jake’s actions make you think otherwise.”
We spent the rest of the evening taking care of Lily and Barbara also fixed a nice dinner for me. She also took care of the dishes, ensuring I got to rest.
Meal on a table with a person standing nearby | Source: Pexels
The next morning, I sat in the living room with her, feeling both anxious and determined. Lily was in my arms, cooing softly, her tiny hands reaching for my face. I smiled down at her, feeling a bit of comfort in her innocent gaze.
Barbara reached over and stroked Lily’s cheek. “She’s beautiful, Alice. You’re doing a great job.”
A mother holding her baby | Source: Pexels
“Thank you,” I replied, my voice a little shaky. “I just hope Jake comes back today.”
Barbara gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll face whatever comes together.”
Two people holding each other’s hands | Source: Unsplash
The minutes ticked by slowly. I glanced at the clock repeatedly, my stomach twisting with nerves. Would Jake actually come back? Or would he just leave us hanging again?
The uncertainty was eating at me.
Just when I was about to lose hope, the front door creaked open.
A person opening a door | Source: Pexels
I held my breath as Jake walked in, looking tired and disheveled. It was clear he hadn’t slept well the night before. He glanced at me, then at Barbara, who nodded silently.
I took a deep breath, bracing myself. “Jake, we need to talk,” I said.
A sad young woman | Source: Midjourney
He remained silent, his gaze fixed on me. I gathered my courage, my voice trembling slightly as I pressed on. “You can’t just walk away when things get challenging, Jake! We have a baby now! Lily needs both of her parents!”
Jake nodded slowly, his silence heavy in the air. Barbara stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “We’re here to support you, Alice,” she said. “Remember, this is a team effort.”
A happy MIL and DIL | Source: Freepik
I looked at Barbara, a flicker of hope igniting within me. “Thank you, Barbara. Your help means so much to me,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude.
Jake finally broke his silence, his voice low and hesitant. “I know I need to do better.”
I met his gaze, firm and resolute. “This isn’t just about saying the right words, Jake,” I continued. “It’s about showing up every day and being present for your family. We need more than promises now.”
A worried-looking young woman | Source: Midjourney
Barbara rose, her eyes locking onto Jake’s with a fierce intensity. “Actions speak louder than words, Jake. Remember that,” she said.
I knew this was just the beginning. Whether Jake would truly step up remained to be seen, but one thing was clear: I wasn’t alone anymore. With Barbara’s unwavering support, I felt stronger.
Cradling Lily gently, I leaned in close and whispered to her, “We’re going to be okay, sweetheart. One day at a time.”
A sleeping newborn baby | Source: Pexels
What would you have done?
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