My Grandmother Pretended To Be Deaf To Test Us Before Dividing Her Inheritance—The Results Were Astonishing


“Love is the greatest inheritance,” my late Grandma once said. It took her pretending to be deaf and a sh:ocking will reading for her greedy children to finally understand what she meant.

I’m Emily, and I’m about to share how my 89-year-old Grandma Rosalind taught me a priceless lesson that changed my life forever…

A week before Grandma’s 89th birthday, my dad came home looking very worried.

“Emily,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “Grandma’s in the hospital. The doctors… they said she’s lost her hearing.”

For illustration purpose only. (Pexels)

I was sh::ocked. How could this happen? Just yesterday, we were laughing over her childhood stories.

“But… but she was fine!” I cried, tears filling my eyes. “We were gardening and baking and…”

Dad hugged me. “I know, sweetheart. It happened suddenly. The doctors said it’s not uncommon at her age.”

For illustration purpose only. (Pexels)

Despite the diagnosis, we decided to throw Grandma a birthday party anyway. She deserved it, deaf or not.

“We’ll make it special,” Mom said lovingly. “Emily, why don’t you make a photo album? Grandma would love that.”

I smiled, wiping away my tears as I helped Mom set the table for dinner. “Yeah, I’ll do that. She always loved looking at old pictures.”

The party was in full swing, but something felt off. I sat next to Grandma, showing her pictures on my phone, when I overheard my Uncle Bill talking loudly.

“If the house doesn’t go to us, I’m gonna fight for it in court. Don’t you understand that she’s already old and stupid?” he hissed, glaring at Grandma.

I was sh:ocked. How could he say that about Grandma?

Aunt Sarah added, her voice full of disdain. “Oh yeah, brother! Her words can’t be trusted. I can’t wait to get that lovely farmhouse she owns in Boston.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. These were the same people who had just hugged Grandma.

“Hey!” I shouted, my face red with anger. “How can you talk about Grandma like that?”

Uncle Bill sneered at me. “Zip it up, you silly little girl. This is grown-up talk.”

Looking at Grandma, I expected to see hurt in her eyes. But instead, I saw a glimmer of something else. Was it… amusement?

For illustration purpose only. (Pexels)

I shook my head, dismissing the thought. The poor thing couldn’t hear them, and in a way, I was glad. Their cruel words would have broken her heart.

“You okay, Grandma?” I asked, forgetting for a moment that she couldn’t hear me.

She patted my hand and smiled.

Later that night, after everyone had gone home, I found Grandma sitting in her favorite armchair, staring out the window.

“Grandma?” I said softly, approaching her.

I was surprised when she turned to look at me. “Emily, dear. Come sit with me.”

I froze. “Grandma? You… you can hear me?”

She chuckled, that familiar twinkle in her eye. “Sweetie, I know everything. Who said I was completely deaf? I can hear faintly.”

My jaw dropped. “But… but at the party… Uncle Bill and Aunt Sarah…”

“I know what they said,” she sighed. “And I know they’re all waiting for me to die.”

I hugged her tightly, tears streaming down my face. “I’m so sorry, Grandma. They’re horrible!”

She wiped my tears away. “Don’t cry, my dear. We’re going to teach them a lesson they’ll never forget.”

Over the next few days, Grandma and I planned our strategy. I bought some small recorders, and we set about capturing the true nature of our relatives.

“Remember, Emily,” Grandma said as we worked. “This isn’t about revenge. It’s about revealing the truth.”

I nodded, though part of me couldn’t help but feel a little satisfaction at the thought of exposing their true colors.

We recorded more and more of my aunts’ and uncles’ cruel words, and my heart broke. Their voices, filled with greed and mockery, echoed from the recorders:

For illustration purpose only. (Pexels)

“I can’t wait for the old bat to kick the bucket already.”

“Maybe we should help her along, you know? It’s for her own good.”

“God, why won’t she just d:ie already? I’ve got plans for that beach house.”

Each word was like a kn:ife twisting in my gut.

I looked at Grandma, her weathered hands trembling slightly as she listened. Her eyes, once so bright and full of life, now glistened with unshed tears.

“How can they be so heartless?” I whispered. “Grandma, these are your children. How can they say such awful things?”

Grandma squeezed my hand, her touch as gentle as ever. “Oh, my sweet Emily,” she murmured, her voice shaking. “Sometimes, the people who should love us the most are the ones who hurt us the deepest.”

Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. How could they do this to the woman who had loved them, raised them, and given them everything? Now they were circling like vultures, eagerly awaiting her d:eath.

“Doesn’t it hurt you, Grandma?” I asked her.

She smiled sadly. “Of course it does, dear. But it also shows me who truly cares. And that’s worth more than any wealth. Remember… love is the greatest inheritance.”

A week later, Grandma pa$sed away peacefully in her sleep, leaving me devastated. The funeral was a sad event, with relatives shedding fake tears while eyeing Grandma’s possessions.

“Such a tragedy,” Aunt Sarah sniffled, her eyes darting around the room. “I’ll miss her so much.”

I bit my tongue, knowing what was coming.

The funeral ended. Three days later, we all gathered at the lawyer’s office for the reading of the will.

For illustration purpose only. (Pexels)

Our family lawyer, Mr. Thompson, cleared his throat. “Before we begin, I have a special request from Mrs. Rosalind.”

He placed seven small boxes and envelopes on the table, each labeled with a name. Everyone except me had one.

“Emily,” Mr. Thompson said, “your grandmother left something different for you.”

Each box contained a small recorder. My heart raced as I watched my relatives open their boxes.

Uncle Bill pressed play first. His own voice filled the room: “I can’t wait for the old bat to kick the bucket already.”

Aunt Sarah’s recorder was next: “God, why won’t she just die already? I’ve got plans for that beach house.”

One by one, each recorder played back the nasty things they’d said about Grandma. The color drained from their faces as they realized the truth.

Oh, you petty things! Grandma hadn’t been deaf at all.

“YOU!” Uncle Bill pointed at me, his face red with anger. “You did this!”

I stood my ground. “No, Uncle Bill. You did this to yourself. All of you did.”

As the last recording finished, I couldn’t help but smile. Grandma had outsmarted them all.

“Emily,” Mr. Thompson said, handing me an envelope. “This is for you.”

For illustration purpose only. (Pexels)

With shaking hands, I opened it. Inside was a letter in Grandma’s elegant handwriting:

“My dearest Emily,

You were the only one who saw me for who I was, not what I had. Your love was pure and unconditional. That’s why I’m leaving everything to you. Use it wisely, and always remember: love is the greatest inheritance of all.

Love,

Grandma”

I clutched the letter to my chest, my tears streaming down my face. I realized that Grandma had given me something far more valuable than money or property. She’d taught me the true meaning of love and family.

As for my relatives? They each received an envelope containing a single dollar and a note that read: “Hope this would be enough! Good luck!”

The aftermath was chaotic. Uncle Bill threatened to contest the will, but Mr. Thompson shut him down quickly.

“Mrs. Rosalind was of sound mind when she made this will,” he said firmly. “And given the evidence we’ve just heard, I’d say her decisions were well-founded.”

We left the office, and my Dad pulled me aside. “Emily, I’m so proud of you. And I’m sorry I didn’t see what was happening sooner.”

I hugged him tight. “It’s okay, Dad. Grandma knew you loved her. That’s what matters.”

Ten years passed. But I still miss my Grandma terribly. But her final lesson stays with me: love your family unconditionally because nothing in this world is permanent. Not money, not property. Just love.

And keep in mind, sometimes the quietest voices have the most to say. Listen closely… you never know what you might learn.


Like it? Share with your friends!

0 Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *