Every day, a dog barked relentlessly in front of Gregory’s house. It started to drive him crazy, so one day, he decided to figure out why the dog kept coming around. When he saw the dog up close, he was shocked. Tied to its collar was a small locket, and inside was a picture of his late grandmother, Lucy.
Gregory’s heart skipped a beat. What could this mean? Without a second thought, he followed the dog, which darted away as soon as it saw him. Gregory was intrigued and curious about where this was leading.
Gregory wasn’t just an ordinary man. He was driven by greed and ambition. All he wanted in life was more money. He had a plan to make his son, Alex, marry a wealthy woman, and the perfect match was Allison—the daughter of Gregory’s long-time business partner, William.
What made it even better was that Alex and Allison had fallen in love. Gregory was pleased because this was a win-win situation: he could secure his son’s future, and the marriage would help his business.
But there was one catch. William made it clear: if Gregory wanted the marriage to happen, his son and Allison needed a big, comfortable house to live in. Gregory’s mind immediately went into overdrive. How could I manage this without spending a fortune? he thought. Then, it hit him—his mother’s Victorian house, which was old but beautiful, could be the perfect solution.
Gregory didn’t even hesitate. He knew his mother, Lucy, was getting older and had no other family nearby. Why not send her to a nursing home and take her house? he thought. It’s a win-win for me.
So, he went to Lucy and told her that it was time for her to move to a nursing home. “But why, Gregory?” Lucy asked, confused. “I’m perfectly fine here on my own. Why would I go to a nursing home?”
Gregory, with a cold and calculating tone, replied, “Don’t be silly, mom. You need to be somewhere where people can take care of you. Your dog can’t help you if anything happens to you.” He wanted her out of the house, and he was willing to say whatever it took to make it happen.
Lucy, hesitant but trusting her son, agreed, but only if Gregory promised that he and Alex would visit her often. “I will, Mom. I’ll visit whenever I can,” Gregory lied, knowing full well he had no intention of ever going back.
After a few months, Gregory, without hesitation, told Alex that his grandmother had passed away in the nursing home. “She left her house to you, Alex,” Gregory said. “You and Allison can move in right away. I’ve had it cleaned up.”
Alex was deeply troubled. He had loved his grandmother and couldn’t believe the news. But the worst part was yet to come. “What about Grandma’s funeral? When will it be?” Alex asked, his voice filled with concern.
Gregory, trying to cover his tracks, simply replied, “She’s already been buried. Don’t worry about it. Just come to the house and settle in with Allison whenever you’re ready.”
Once Alex and Allison moved into Lucy’s old home, something strange started to happen. Every night, a dog barked outside the house, disturbing their sleep. Alex couldn’t stand it any longer. “Allison, I’m going to find out why this dog is barking every night. It’s driving me crazy,” he said one evening.
Being a kind-hearted man, Alex didn’t just yell at the dog. He bent down and gently petted it. “What’s wrong, buddy? Why do you keep barking at us every night?” he asked, curious.
That’s when he noticed the locket hanging from the dog’s collar. Inside, to his shock, was a picture of his grandmother, Lucy, and a small note with an address on it. “What is this?” Alex muttered to himself. The dog, almost as if it understood, suddenly bolted away. Without thinking, Alex jumped to his feet and chased after the dog.
A few blocks away, the dog stopped in front of an old barn in the middle of a field. Alex was confused but followed the dog. “What are we doing here, buddy?” he asked, his heart racing. He looked around and saw something that took his breath away. There, lying on a haystack, was his grandmother, looking frail, sick, and exhausted.
“Grandma?” Alex called out in disbelief. “You’re alive? What happened? Dad told me you died. I’m so glad you’re okay!”
Lucy, barely able to lift her head, whispered, “I’ve been here, alone, for days… Gregory left me here. He told me he couldn’t afford the nursing home anymore, and he abandoned me.” She broke down in tears. “He promised he would bring me food and supplies, but he never came back.”
Alex’s heart shattered. “Grandma, I’m so sorry! Dad told me you died in the nursing home. I didn’t know. I had no idea…” His voice cracked with guilt.
Lucy’s loyal dog, Walter, had stayed by her side, keeping her company through the dark days. “If it weren’t for Walter finding you, I don’t know how I would have survived,” Lucy said softly. “I wrote down the address on a piece of paper the other day and hoped someone would come.”
Alex, furious beyond belief, knew he had to get her out of there. He called a cab to take them back to the house. “We’re going home, Grandma. We’ll fix this,” he said with determination.
Back at the house, Alex and Allison were in shock. They had just learned the horrifying truth about Gregory’s betrayal. The next day, Alex’s wife, Allison, was so heartbroken that she went straight to her father, William. She told him everything.
William was livid. “I can’t believe Gregory would do something so cruel,” he said, shaking his head in anger. “That’s it. I’m cutting ties with him.”
He not only severed his relationship with Gregory, but he also withdrew all of his business shares. Without William’s support, Gregory’s business began to crumble. Within months, it became clear that William was the backbone of their business. Gregory, without his partner, was unable to keep the company afloat and was forced to file for bankruptcy.
Alex, filled with both sadness and anger, decided he could no longer have any contact with his father. He realized that Gregory only cared about himself, and he was done letting his father’s greed control his life.
With his conscience clear, Alex promised his grandmother that he would always take care of her. The family settled into Lucy’s beautiful Victorian home, with Allison, Walter the dog, and Lucy’s great-grandchildren filling the house with warmth and love. For the first time in a long time, Lucy felt safe and cherished.
What can we learn from this story?
The truth has a way of coming out, no matter how much someone tries to hide it. Gregory thought he could deceive his own mother for his own selfish gain, but in the end, his lies were exposed. It was Lucy’s loyal dog, Walter, who brought the truth to light, saving her from a tragic fate.
This story also teaches us the importance of respecting our elders. Gregory saw his mother as a burden, but his actions only led to his downfall. In the end, his greed and disregard for family values caused him to lose everything.
