I’ve been looking after my husband’s grandfather for ten years. Back then, we were living with our children and his grandfather in a rented flat. My husband’s sister, Emily, was living in the grandfather’s own flat. Nobody else wanted to look after himnot my mother-in-law, nor the other grandchildren. My own life hasnt exactly gone as plannedI never finished university, I fell pregnant young, and I never managed to build a proper career.
Every day was much like the last: balancing caring for the old man and raising the children.
My husband didnt care for the constant tension at home and was often nowhere to be found. Still, other women werent interested in a man weighed down with children and no home of his own, so he always ended up back with me. I forgave him, even though I no longer loved himfor the sake of having his help financially for the children and the old man.
Emily barely visited. When she did, she came only to ask Grandad for his pension money or to bemoan her finances. To be honest, I wouldnt say her family was strugglingthey didnt pay rent, so they could even afford holidays abroad.
Five years ago, Grandad left me the flat in his will:
Youre dearer to me now than anyone else in my family. My grandson is fecklesshed hand the flat right over to his mother or his sister. Let your children live here, my great-grandchildren. Consider it a reward for your hard work. I dont want anyone blaming me later on for making life so hard for you.
But no one in the family had any idea about this. When Grandads health started failing, both his daughter and granddaughter suddenly began to visit more. They understood what was coming and pretended to show concern, but he knew exactly why they were really there.
When he passed away, the inheritance was split without delay. My mother-in-law and Emily convinced my husband to give up the flat, since Emily was already living there. He agreed, but none of them knew about the will.
The very next day, my husband started packing and told me he had another woman. Hed been living with me just so Id take care of his grandfather. He left and, honestly, it felt like a huge weight had lifted off me. Once the family found out about the will, they went into full attack mode, sending me all sorts of threats.
Listen here, you will never get that flat! I dont know how you looked after Grandad or tricked him into giving it to you, but you can forget it. Youre a fraud, and well prove it in court.
You know what I realised? I can tell the lot of you to get lost. So, Im telling you nowget out!
Their words didnt bother me in the slightest. I know Ill have a normal life nowIve found a job, my children and I have our home, and, most importantly, well have nothing more to do with that family.
What would you have done in this womans shoes?
