“This is manipulation,” Nash added. “You can’t just do that to people.”
Colt just sat there, looking betrayed. Reese stared between her brothers and me, confused.
I raised my hand. “Quiet, please. There’s one more lie I told you. See, there is no money. I don’t have a penny to leave to any of you.”
You could’ve heard a pin drop. Everyone just stared at me like I’d grown a second head. Then the anger started again.
“You conniving old woman!” Nash burst from his chair and headed for the door. “I’m done with these mind games, and I’m done with you!”
“What a waste of time,” Colt muttered, following his brother.
“Unbelievable,” Kade added.
I called out as they paraded toward the door. “I’m sorry for lying! I was lonely… nobody ever visited me anymore.”
They ignored me. Soon, all my grandsons were gone. All except Reese. She just sat there, watching her brothers leave, watching me sit alone in the middle of all that chaos.
When the house fell silent again, Reese walked over, wrapped her arms around me, and pulled me close. “Bette, are you okay? Do you need financial help?”
That was the moment everything became crystal clear.
“Oh, Reese! I’m sorry, but I lied about the money. I do have $2 million, but I needed to know who would still care if it disappeared. Since you’re the only one left, you’ll get all of it.”
Reese shook her head. “Bette, I don’t need your money. I just got a promotion at work. We’re finally doing okay. The kids have what they need. We’re going to be fine.”
“If you want,” she continued, “put it in a trust for the kids. Let them have it for college or whatever they need when they grow up. But I never came for the money, Bette. I came for you.”
So, I changed my will so everything would go into a trust for Reese’s children after I left this world. Reese still comes by every Monday. Not because she has to anymore, but because she wants to, because she loves me.
