A Lesson in Love and Wealth
Once upon a time, a girl named Eddy wanted to marry a nice young man named Will. But her parents, Marta and Farlow, didn’t approve of him because they thought he was poor. Little did they know, Will’s father, Sam Sutton, was actually a millionaire!
Sam had discovered a way to create an unbreakable sealant for engines, and this invention had made him a lot of money. It helped the family move into a beautiful house and get a shiny new car.
Sadly, life took a turn when Sam lost his beloved wife, Rain. As a single dad, he was determined to raise Will well, showering him with love and everything he could afford. Will was kind and generous, and because of this, he quickly became popular in high school. But not for the right reasons! It wasn’t his kindness or looks that attracted the girls; it was his father’s wealth.
“Dad, the girl I like doesn’t care about me at all,” Will confessed one day, tears in his eyes. “She only wants to fly on our private jet to Aspen and the Bahamas!” Sam comforted his son and said, “You deserve someone who loves you for who you are, not for your money.” Will felt lonely for the rest of his senior year, but he had a clever idea.
“Dad,” Will said with determination, “I have a plan!” Sam smiled, curious. “What’s your plan?” Will grinned back. “I’m going to Yale in the fall, but I want everyone to think I’m a scholarship student.” Sam was shocked. “A scholarship student? Why would you want that?”
Will explained, “If I dress like I’m poor, people will only want to be my friends if they really like me. Girls won’t be interested in my dad’s money.” “That’s a brilliant plan!” Sam exclaimed. They got to work, buying all Will’s clothes and supplies from second-hand stores. Will looked scruffy and poor, but it worked! He made true friends and even met a girl he genuinely liked.
By his third year at Yale, Will was madly in love with Eddy. He decided he wanted to marry her. Sam was a bit worried that Will was too young, but he himself had been happy marrying young. When Will proposed, Eddy said yes, and they began planning their future together.
Then came Thanksgiving, and Eddy wanted Will to meet her wealthy parents. Sam and Will took a Greyhound bus from their home in New Hampshire to Eddy’s family’s beach house in Narragansett. When they arrived, Farlow looked at Sam from head to toe and frowned. Sam, dressed in clothes from Goodwill, didn’t just look poor—he looked almost homeless!
As they drove to the big house, Farlow bragged, “I’ve worked hard for my family. We live in luxury. Not everyone understands that, so I hope you and Will can fit in. Christmas is very important to us.” Sam replied, “It’s important to us too.” But for Marta and Farlow, Christmas meant flaunting their wealth with piles of expensive gifts.
The days that followed were a nightmare for Sam. Marta and Farlow constantly made snide remarks, trying to belittle him. “Eddy is a wealthy young woman, Sam,” Marta said. “Her husband needs to provide her with the same lifestyle. I know you haven’t done as well for Will…” Eddy noticed her parents’ attempts to humiliate Sam and was furious. She stood up to them.
“I’m going to marry Will,” she declared firmly. “And Sam is going to be family, so you better get used to it!” Marta gasped, “But darling, he looks like a derelict! He’s an embarrassment!” Eddy shot back, “Believe me, Mom, you are a much bigger embarrassment than Sam could ever be!” Unbeknownst to Eddy, Sam was listening, and a smile crept onto his face. She truly loved Will!
On Christmas Eve, as the family gathered around the tree to exchange gifts, Marta said with a smirk, “Don’t feel bad, Sam. We know you’re struggling!” Then, they handed Will a box containing a car key. “It’s an early wedding present,” Farlow announced. “We thought you could use a better car since your old clunker is twenty years old!”
Will smiled and thanked them, then they all went outside to admire the shiny Porsche with a big red bow on it. Farlow shot Sam a smug look, as if to say he had won.
Then, Sam pulled out an envelope. “Eddy,” he said, “I know you and Will plan to move to New York after graduation.” “That’s right, Sam!” she replied excitedly. “Will has an offer from a New York research facility, and I have an internship at the Met…” Sam handed her the envelope, and Farlow sneered, “What’s that? A list of homeless shelters?”
Eddy opened the envelope and gasped. “Sam! Is this for real?” She showed Will the papers inside, and he rushed to hug his dad. Farlow and Marta looked stunned. Eddy turned to her parents, declaring, “Sam has given Will and me the deed to a brownstone in Tribeca. He’s given us a home!”
Marta and Farlow’s jaws dropped. “But…but…but…” stammered Farlow. “You’re POOR…The way you dress…You took the bus…” Sam replied gently, “I want my son to be loved for who he is, not for the $570 million he will inherit from me.”
After that, there were no more objections to the wedding. Marta and Farlow became Will’s biggest fans and treated Sam with respect. The next summer, Will and Eddy got married and moved to New York. When they welcomed their little daughter, Rain, three years later, Sam bought a house next door to be close to them.
What can we learn from this story? Money can’t buy love or good health. Sam knew that if people realized he was wealthy, they would only care about his son for his money. Also, we should never judge people by their appearance; Farlow and Marta despised Sam for his shabby clothes and had no idea he was a millionaire.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!