Cashier Learns She Owns a $3.8M Business after Finding Will in Her Name — Story of the Day

An unusual letter provides the catalyst for one woman to uncover a secret kept from her for years, and receive unexpected wealth.

Gregory locked the door to the small corner shop where he’d worked as a cashier for the last twenty years. His coat was too old and thin to keep the chill from his bones as he walked home, but he smiled nonetheless. It had been another great day at work.

Gregory’s wife had never understood how he found satisfaction in what she called a low-level job. She’d left him because she felt he lacked ambition, but he still had his daughter.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Linda was standing in the foyer of the apartment block where she and Gregory lived when he entered the building. She had also recently started working as a cashier and still wore her uniform. In one hand, she held a letter.

“What have you got there, Linda?” Gregory asked as he approached her.

Linda looked up, startled. “You tell me, Dad. I’m too scared to open it.”

Gregory frowned and took the letter from his daughter. The name of a legal practice was printed on the envelope.

“Why would a lawyer be contacting me?”

Gregory shrugged. He tore the envelope open and studied the papers inside. His jaw dropped, and his fingers began shaking as he read.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

“It’s bad, isn’t it?”

“It’s… strange. According to this letter, somebody has left you a business comprising three restaurants, and it’s worth nearly four million dollars.”

“What!” Linda snatched the letter from Gregory’s hands. “It’s got to be a scam.”

“I did this to find out whether you’re a good person.”

“There’s an easy way to find out.” Gregory leaned over to indicate the lawyer’s phone number on the letterhead.

Linda called the lawyer and arranged a meeting for the next day. Gregory accompanied her.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

“This has got to be a mistake,” Linda told the lawyer when they entered his office.

“I don’t know anyone who would leave me a business.”

The lawyer shook his head. “There’s no mistake, Miss. My client, Matthew Markham, was very particular in his instructions.”

Gregory felt as though he’d been electrocuted. “Please, say that name again.”

“Matthew Markham.”

Gregory understood everything then. He hung his head and burst into tears.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

A few months earlier…

Matthew shivered with anxiety as he approached the cashier. He set down the packet of gum and stared at the man who rang it up. The nametag on his chest said ‘Gregory.’ He was the right man.

“Sir? Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Matthew realized he’d zoned out and handed the cashier a five-dollar bill. “But I do need to talk to you. It’s about Linda.”

The man looked up sharply at the customer who had just uttered his little daughter’s name. “Is she in some kind of trouble?”

Matthew shook his head. “Do you have a few minutes, please?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

Matthew and Gregory arranged to meet at a diner nearby during Gregory’s lunch break. While Matthew waited, he thought over the revelations that had brought him to this point.

A few days earlier, he’d been discussing his terminal illness with a close friend, Jeremy, and lamenting that he had no heirs to whom he could leave his restaurant business.

Then Jeremy dropped a bombshell on him: Matthew had a daughter he didn’t know about. His ex-girlfriend had died in childbirth, and the baby was placed up for adoption.

Matthew immediately hired a detective to track her down. Days later, he was finally sitting down with Gregory, the man who’d adopted his daughter.

Matthew explained to Gregory that he was Linda’s biological father and then asked the question that was foremost in his mind:

“Does Linda know she was adopted?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

“No, and you can’t tell her, sir.” Gregory looked at him pleadingly. “My wife left me a couple of months back, and I can’t lose Linda too. Please, don’t take her from me.”

Matthew was torn. He wanted to know his daughter but didn’t want to cause problems for the man who’d raised her. He also didn’t want to upset his daughter’s life by introducing himself when he only had a few months more to live.

“What is she like?” Matthew asked. “Is she a good person?”

Gregory smiled. “She’s an amazing person. She’s kind and treats everyone equally.”

Matthew nodded. He was starting to get an idea.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

The next day, Matthew disguised himself as a poor man and went to the store where Linda worked as a cashier. He took a few essential food items to her checkout and waited while she rang them up.

“I’m sorry, Miss,” he said once she told him the cost.

“I can’t afford all of that. I’ve only got ten dollars.”

“Don’t worry about it, sir.” Linda smiled at him. “I’ll cover the rest.”

Matthew left the store and returned a week later. This time, he wore his finest suit. He chose several of the most expensive items in the store and again went to Linda’s checkout.

“Get out of the way,” Matthew shouted as he pushed his way to the front of the queue. “I’m in a hurry and need to be served fast.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

He set his purchases down in front of Linda and waved his hands at her. “Hurry up, girl, I’ve got an important meeting to attend.”

“Then you’ll have to tell them you’re going to be delayed.” Linda pushed his purchases aside and gestured to the woman behind him. “You’re next, ma’am.”

“I need to be served first!” Matthew exclaimed.

“That’s too bad, sir. I don’t allow anyone to push to the front of the queue, no matter how important you think you are.”

Matthew grinned from ear to ear. “I’m glad you said that.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

He reached for a bouquet of yellow lilies and placed the cash to pay for them on the counter. “These are for you, Linda. My name is Matthew, and I did this to find out whether you’re a good person.”

“Do me one favor, please, and remember my name when you see these lilies.”

Present day…

“Matthew is the name of your biological father, Linda,” Gregory said. “You’re adopted.”

“Why did you never tell me?”

“I’m so sorry. I never wanted you to feel bad about it. Then your mother left, and I was afraid you’d leave me too if you knew I wasn’t your real father.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Linda hugged him. “I’d never do that, dad.”

The lawyer cleared his throat. “As I was saying, my client bequeathed his three restaurants to you, his sole heir, when he passed away a month ago. These restaurants are each worth over a million dollars.”

“Mr. Markham also had a special request. He wanted me to give you something.”

The lawyer left the room and soon returned with a bouquet of yellow lilies, which he presented to Linda.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

Linda cradled the flowers in her arms. “I understand now.” She turned to Gregory. “He came into my shop once and asked that I remember his name when I see yellow lilies.”

Gregory placed a hand on Linda’s shoulder. “I’m sure he was very proud of you, Linda, and will continue to be proud of you from heaven.”

What can we learn from this story?

Treat people equally, and you will be rewarded. Matthew was encouraged to leave his business to Linda when he saw that she was a good person.

One can find happiness in a simple life. Gregory and Linda were both happy to work as cashiers and earn an honest living.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who discovers the house she’s been cleaning for the past ten years belongs to her.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

Marido pede separação, mas exige que sua esposa se mude para o outro lado do país com ele – Ela revela seu segredo

Marido pede separação, mas exige que sua esposa se mude para o outro lado do país com ele – Ela revela seu segredo

Após 13 anos de casamento, o mundo de uma mulher vira de cabeça para baixo quando seu marido, em meio a planos para uma mudança drástica pelo país e uma demanda repentina por separação, abriga um segredo que pode mudar tudo. Enquanto ela descobre uma conexão oculta com um velho amigo, uma revelação a aguarda, deixando-a em uma encruzilhada surpreendente.

Em 3 de fevereiro de 2024, uma mulher anônima compartilhou uma história convincente sobre seu casamento de 13 anos tomando um rumo desconcertante. Seu marido, antes aparentemente contente, de repente expressou frustração com seu emprego atual e seus planos de se candidatar a uma vaga do outro lado do país.

Uma sugestão inesperada e dura logo seguiu esse anúncio. “Do nada, ele sugeriu uma separação”, lembrou o Original Poster (OP), “e começou a falar sobre o quão terrível eu sou”. Apesar de seu histórico de altos e baixos, ela achou essa explosão extrema e infundada.

Uma mulher chateada | Fonte: Getty Images

Nas semanas que se seguiram, OP descobriu a extensa comunicação de seu marido com uma velha amiga, uma mulher recentemente divorciada, que foi fundamental para ajudá-lo a garantir essa potencial oportunidade de emprego. A intensidade da interação deles era impressionante, chegando a mais de 500 mensagens de texto por dia, totalizando aproximadamente 24.000 em apenas um mês.

A história da OP recebeu uma resposta esmagadora online, com muitas pessoas a considerando “NTA” por suas ações e decisões diante da traição e dos planos de seu marido.

Mulher desconfiada observa o marido ler mensagem no celular | Fonte: Shutterstock

O plano do marido era claro: ele esperava realocar a família inteira, incluindo seus dois filhos em idade escolar, sua mãe e a própria OP. Essa decisão não foi tomada levianamente pela OP, que refletiu sobre seus sacrifícios passados, incluindo a mudança para a pós-graduação dele e seu emprego atual. Ela expressou sua consternação, dizendo: “Me mudar para longe da escola e dos amigos das crianças, assim como do meu trabalho e amigos, é inconcebível.”

Casal apaixonado se abraçando em sua minivan | Fonte: Shutterstock
A situação piorou quando o marido dela viajou para o local de trabalho em potencial para o que deveria ser uma entrevista de um dia, mas se transformou em uma viagem de quatro dias. Durante esse tempo, a OP encontrou evidências sugerindo que ele estava planejando se envolver em um relacionamento físico.

Ao retornar, quando confrontado, ele admitiu defensivamente que estava “infeliz há 15 anos”. Essa revelação deixou a OP questionando se ela era culpada por considerar o divórcio e buscar a custódia física dos filhos para permanecer no estado.\

Pai feliz abraçando sua filhinha na praia | Fonte: Shutterstock

O marido insistiu na importância de as crianças terem o pai por perto, citando sua própria experiência de crescer sem uma figura paterna, e argumentou que ela precisava estar lá pelo bem das crianças.

A história da OP recebeu uma resposta esmagadora online, com muitas pessoas a considerando “NTA” por suas ações e decisões diante da traição e dos planos de seu marido. A comunidade online se uniu em torno dela, oferecendo apoio e insights sobre a situação.

Casal infeliz sentado separado após uma discussão | Fonte: Shutterstock

Um comentarista escreveu: “Ele está bravo porque perdeu a vantagem quando você descobriu o que estava acontecendo e contratou um advogado. Parece que ele ia mudar vocês e então ancorar aquelas crianças em seu novo local. Então você ficou preso com as crianças. Ótimo trabalho! Você definitivamente é NTA [sic]!”

Enquanto isso, outro observou: “Nta. Ele não pode acabar com a vida de todo mundo porque está tendo um caso e não quer ser incomodado [sic].”

Uma terceira voz acrescentou: “NTA – de jeito nenhum eu me mudaria só para ele se divorciar de você quando você se mudar. Definitivamente, peça o divórcio agora, antes que ele deixe o emprego.”

O que você acha dessa história? O marido do OP está justificado em pedir a separação da esposa enquanto também a pressiona a se mudar para o outro lado do país para ele? Como você lidaria com a situação se estivesse no lugar do OP? Você aceitaria a decisão do marido ou se posicionaria contra ele?

Aqui está outra história que você pode gostar sobre uma mulher que se perguntou se ela estava errada por verificar as imagens da câmera do painel do carro do marido sem o consentimento dele.

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*