Grandfather Outsmarts Greedy Grandson Who Thought He Was Dying
“Dad, don’t worry. I’ll figure things out. But I can’t come see you—I don’t have any more PTO at work,” Angelina reassured her father, 87-year-old Chris Harvey, when he called from the hospital.
Chris had dialed 911 after experiencing a heart attack, fearing it was serious. While doctors said he needed further tests before being discharged, he reached out to his daughter in Miami, asking her to come to Austin, Texas, to help him.
But she couldn’t.
“Alright, sweetheart,” Chris replied softly, holding the phone close to his ear from his hospital bed. “I think the doctors are just being cautious because of my age. They’ll tell me more soon enough.”
After they hung up, doctors advised Chris to stay a few more days while they finalized his treatment plan.
A Mother’s Plea to Her Son
“You should go to Austin and check on your grandfather—he’s all alone,” Angelina insisted to her son, Peter.
“I don’t know if I can, Mom,” Peter hesitated over the phone.
“Peter, this might be his last chance,” she urged. “He always said you’d inherit his house and belongings when he passed. Go see him, check on the house, and make sure it’s in good shape. It’s also a great chance to bond with him.”
There was a pause, and Angelina worried he had hung up. Then, Peter answered in a strange tone, “Fine, fine. I’ll go. Hannah and I will travel together. I suppose I could use some time off work anyway.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. I trust you to take care of Grandpa since I can’t be there. Love you.”
“Love you too, Mom. Bye.”
Little did Angelina know, Peter had something else in mind.
A Shocking Discovery
A few days later, doctors prescribed Chris several medications and discharged him, advising him to take it easy while recovering. Though he nodded in agreement, his mind was elsewhere—Angelina hadn’t called, and she’d said Peter was coming.
Without his grandson’s number, Chris could only hope to find him at home. He took a cab from the hospital, but what he saw upon arrival left him stunned.
Furniture was scattered across the front lawn—his furniture. Even more alarming, his front door was slightly open. He distinctly remembered the paramedics closing it before taking him to the hospital.
Something wasn’t right.
Stepping inside, Chris was met with an even bigger shock—his house was nearly empty. The artwork, military memorabilia, and even his dining table were gone. Plastic coverings were scattered across the space, as if someone had been painting or doing renovations.
“Hello?” he called out, his voice echoing in the vacant house.
Footsteps sounded from the hallway.
“Grandpa?” Peter’s voice rang out, surprised.
Relief washed over Chris. “Peter! Thank God! I thought someone had broken in and stolen everything! What’s happening here, my boy?”
Peter hesitated before answering. “Uh… well, we wanted to surprise you.”
“We?”
“Yes, Hannah and I.” Peter turned toward the hallway and called out, “Honey!”
Hannah appeared, her eyes widening when she spotted Chris. “Oh! Mr. Harvey… hi.”
“Sweetheart, it’s so good to see you! I haven’t seen you since the wedding,” Chris greeted warmly, kissing her cheek. “Now tell me, what’s going on with my house?”
Peter and Hannah exchanged a quick, uneasy glance before Peter spoke. “We wanted to fix it up for you before you got home. The place needed some work, and we thought it would make you feel better. But you got discharged earlier than we expected.”
Chris beamed, touched by their kindness. “That’s wonderful! I just hope you didn’t spend too much.”
“Oh, no, don’t worry,” Hannah replied, hands in her pockets. Her smile seemed off, but Chris didn’t notice.
“Where are my things?”
“They’re in storage, except for a few pieces we thought needed replacing,” Peter explained. “Some of the old stuff is outside waiting for trash pickup. But your bedroom is still set up—you’ll be comfortable.”
Chris hugged them both, overjoyed. “Thank you, my dear boy. You’re amazing!”
After some small talk, Chris mentioned he needed to pick up his prescriptions and would be back shortly.
“Of course!” Peter and Hannah said in unison, laughing nervously.
Chris gave them a lingering look but brushed off their odd behavior. He left for the pharmacy, but when he returned, he overheard a shocking conversation.
A Sinister Plan Revealed
As he walked toward the bedrooms, he heard Hannah’s voice, furious.
“What are we supposed to do now, you idiot?” she snapped at Peter.
“Calm down, Hannah. It just messes up our plans for a bit,” Peter reassured her.
“Plans?” Chris froze, listening intently.
“A bit?! You told me he was dying! This was supposed to be our home. That’s why we spent all this money! You think I wanted to fix up someone else’s house while we’re still paying rent?” Hannah seethed.
Chris’s heart pounded as he clapped a hand over his mouth.
“Hannah, it’s fine. The house will be mine eventually, and he has plenty of money saved up. Think of it as an investment,” Peter reasoned.
Hannah wasn’t convinced. “No! I don’t care about him! We’re leaving tomorrow. This was a waste of time!”
“We can’t just leave the house like this—”
“We absolutely can!” she snapped.
Chris had heard enough. He stepped back to the front door and slammed it shut loudly, pretending he had just arrived.
“Peter, Hannah!” he called out cheerfully. “I just wanted to thank you both for all the work you’ve done on my house… because I’ll be enjoying it for a long time.”
The Ultimate Revenge
During dinner, Chris made an announcement.
“Peter, I’ve been thinking. I’m considering moving into a nursing home. I don’t want to risk another emergency while I’m alone. So, I’ve decided—you and Hannah should have the house.”
Peter and Hannah’s faces lit up. “Are you serious, Grandpa?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“Thank you! We’ll make this place perfect!” Peter exclaimed.
Over the next few weeks, they continued remodeling, believing they were preparing their future home. Chris played along, watching them eagerly invest their money.
Then, just before his supposed move, Chris suggested a housewarming party. Friends flew in from Miami to celebrate.
At the height of the party, Chris stood up with a glass in hand. “A toast to my grandson and his lovely wife,” he announced, smiling as guests applauded.
Peter and Hannah grinned.
“I wanted to thank them for all the work they put into my house… because I’ll be living in it forever.”
The room fell silent.
Peter and Hannah’s smiles vanished.
“I overheard their little scheme,” Chris continued, addressing the stunned crowd. “They expected me to die soon. They spent money fixing the place, assuming it was already theirs. And when I didn’t, they were ready to abandon me in an empty, half-finished home.”
Guests gasped in disbelief.
“Grandpa, let’s talk privately,” Peter pleaded.
“No need. I already changed my will. This house is going to charity when I pass.”
Peter and Hannah’s faces turned red with embarrassment.
Chris turned to the guests. “Now, everyone, get out of my house before I call the police!”
The party ended abruptly. Peter and Hannah’s friends scattered. Peter tried to protest, but Chris cut him off. “OUT!”
The next day, Chris told Angelina the truth. She was ashamed of her son but saddened by how things had unfolded.
“Are you sure you want to end things with Peter like this?” she asked.
Chris sighed. “Honey, he ended it the moment he planned to outlive me for my house.”
Chris lived for 11 more years. Upon his passing, the house was sold, and every penny went to charity—just as he intended.
Lessons to Take Away
No one is entitled to another person’s property.
Sometimes, cutting ties with family is necessary for peace.