Why take out a mortgage when you can just wait for Grandma to pass and inherit her flat? That’s what my husband’s brother, Paul, decided. He has a wife and three kids, but instead of getting a loan, they’re counting down the days until Grandma dies so they can take over her home. Their greed sparked a family row that left the whole of Oakfield reeling.
Paul and his wife, Gemma, live with their children in Grandma Margaret’s flat. It’s cramped, to put it mildly—hardly enough room for all of them in a three-bed. But rather than finding their own place, they’re itching for the day Margaret leaves this world. They’re annoyed that, despite being 75, she’s full of life—healthy, tech-savvy, and even goes on dates now and then.
Margaret is a gem. She looks fantastic, never complains, mastered her smartphone, attends concerts, meets friends for tea, and occasionally enjoys a romantic dinner. She’s living her best life, which drives Paul and Gemma mad. Tired of waiting, they hatched a plan: convince her to sign the flat over to Paul and move into a care home. Margaret refused outright, sparking a rage in her grandson. Her defiance lit the fuse on the family feud.
Margaret had a dream—to visit Japan. When my husband and I found out about Paul’s scheme, we invited her to stay with us. We suggested renting out her flat to save up for the trip. She agreed. We helped her find tenants, but when Paul and Gemma found out, they erupted. They swore the flat was rightfully theirs and demanded Margaret hand over the rent money. Paul accused my husband, Andrew, of “putting ideas in her head” to steal the inheritance. Their nerve was unbelievable.
Gemma started dropping by unannounced—sometimes alone, sometimes with the kids—probing for updates on Margaret’s health, as if hoping for bad news. Paul clung to the belief that the flat would soon be his. But Margaret wasn’t giving in. She saved enough and finally flew to Japan. When she returned, she glowed, raving about Kyoto’s temples and cherry blossoms. We encouraged her to sell the flat, buy a cosy studio, travel more, then settle with us. After some thought, she took the leap.
She sold her spacious three-bed in central Oakfield and bought a snug one-bed flat. With the leftover money, she toured Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. In Switzerland, fate had a surprise in store: she met a Swiss man named Martin and married him. Andrew and I flew out for the wedding. Seeing a 75-year-old bride radiant with love was magical. Margaret deserved every bit of happiness—she’d spent her life supporting her family.
Paul still wouldn’t let it go. He demanded she give him the new flat—never mind how he’d fit five people in it. But by then, we’d stopped caring. We were just thrilled for Margaret, finally living for herself. Her story spread through Oakfield, inspiring some and fueling envy in others.
Now, Margaret and Martin split their time between Switzerland and Oakfield. She sends us postcards from her travels and laughs about how Paul was counting on her death. This whole mess showed how greed can rip families apart—but also proved that choosing happiness, no matter the pressure, is worth it. Margaret’s become a role model for us all: it’s never too late to chase joy, even when the world tries to stand in your way.
