When Julia and Helga’s father passed away, Helga fought their mother, Mrs. Hanson, for the inheritance. She said some horrible things, and Julie and Mrs. Hanson came up with a shocking plan to teach her a huge lesson.
“HOW DARE YOU?” Helga screamed at her mother, Mrs. Hanson, over the phone. Julia heard the entire thing from the kitchen, even though her mother was using the telephone in the living room and it wasn’t on speakerphone. Julia’s sister was angry that her mother had decided her will.
She would leave Helga 30% of the estate, while Julia would receive everything else. It wasn’t an equal division, but Mrs. Hanson felt that Julia deserved the money more than Helga because they had a better relationship. Helga and her husband had always been greedy and selfish, visiting or calling them only when they wanted something.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
But the older woman was being generous. At first, Helga would not receive anything due to how she spoke to her mother. However, they recently had a set of twin babies at a relatively old age, as Helga was 47 and her husband was 51. Therefore, Mrs. Hanson decided to give her something. Unfortunately, Helga was not happy about it.
“Helga, please don’t yell,” Mrs. Hanson told her daughter on the phone and watched as Julia approached. She decided to put the call on speakerphone from then on.
“I knew you would see reason, Julia. Our mother was so obstinate.”
“MOTHER! You can’t just give everything to Julia! She doesn’t even have children. Don’t you care about the twins? They deserve their share of the money!” Helga exclaimed, not knowing that Julia was listening.
“Helga, it doesn’t matter whether Julia has kids or not. She sacrificed so much of her life to take care of your father and me, whereas you didn’t. Also, you’re married. You have a support system. On the other hand, this is my money, and I get to decide who receives it,” Mrs. Hanson reasoned. But this wasn’t the answer Helga wanted.
“I DON’T CARE WHAT JULIA HAS DONE! YOU KNOW WHAT? I CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO DIE, AND I’LL SUE FOR MY SHARE! GOODBYE!” Helga screamed spitefully and ended the call abruptly.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Mrs. Hanson placed her forehead on her hand and breathed deeply. Julia was finally angry, but she couldn’t show it. She couldn’t believe her sister would say something so horrible to their mother.
“Mom, she’s just angry. She didn’t mean that,” lied Julia to console her mother, but Mrs. Hanson knew the truth. Helga meant it and would fight tooth and nail for a more significant share in the will. Luckily, their lawyer in Washington D.C. told them that as long as Helga received something, she wouldn’t be able to contest it.
Over the next few months, Helga called several times to persuade Mrs. Hanson to change her will. These conversations always ended in huge fights that took a serious toll on the older woman, and Julia became even angrier at her sister.
Finally, their mother died, and Helga made a scene at the funeral, pretending to be in so much distress over her passing. Fortunately, most relatives knew her real character, although they didn’t know how awful she had been during the last few months of Mrs. Hanson’s life.
After the funeral, Helga started calling Julia about the money. They both received their share, but it seemed like her sister was now going to be nasty to Julia until she complied and gave her some more money.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Finally, Julia came up with a plan. During one phone call, she revealed her idea to Helga. “Ok, listen. I want to move to New York, so I’m going to sell Mom’s house for good. I’ll give you 50% of the sale, although the house is in my name. Does this seem fair?” she asked her sister.
“Oh, that’s fantastic, Julia! Thank you! I knew you would see reason. Our mother was so obstinate. You’re the best aunt to the twins ever. I swear this is all for their future,” Helga gushed over the phone. Julia didn’t know if she was genuinely planning on putting the money towards her children, but it didn’t matter because Julia was lying.
The sale of the house went quickly because it was located in a pretty great area of the capital, and there were tons of buyers. Helga was salivating at the idea of receiving half of the house sale. Julia thought she didn’t deserve it at all.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Ok, I’m going to place your part of the money in a bank account, and I’ll send you the details later. Is that alright?” Julia asked her sister when they had coffee right before she left for New York.
“Of course! Of course! Though, I’m going to miss you so much!” Helga said with a smile that Julia didn’t trust at all.
“Cool, well, goodbye,” Julia replied, standing up and giving her sister the most awkward hug in the world. But Helga placed all her acting chops on the embrace, pretending like she was indeed going to miss her sister.
A week after Julia left the state, she finally sent her sister the details to the safety deposit box.
“Your sister couldn’t just wire the money to our account?” Helga’s husband asked, thinking this procedure odd.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“She’s an idiot. You know that. I’ll go to the bank right now and check things out,” Helga responded, smiling cattily.
But at the bank, she was taken to the safety deposit box and saw three $1 bills inside it. “That’s all?” she asked aloud and finally noticed the note inside next to the bills. It read: “That’s all you deserve.”
Helga’s screams and cries were heard through the entire bank that day. But Julia had blocked her, and they never saw each other again.
What can we learn from this story?
- Greediness leads to nothing. Helga treated everyone horribly and only wanted money. She received nothing in the end.
- Follow your relative’s wishes. Although Helga pestered her terribly, Julia didn’t want to go against her mother’s desires.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
A Stranger’s Note on My Husband’s Car Made Me Call My Lawyer
A Stranger’s Note on My Husband’s Car Made Me Call My Lawyer
When Sierra is in mom-mode, trying to get her kids off to school, she finds a sticky note on her husband’s car that makes her question where he had been the entire weekend. Wanting answers, she phones the number on the note and slowly, secrets unravel with her marriage.
It was a typical Monday morning. I was in my mom zone, trying to get the kids off to school on time. That’s when a piece of pink paper changed everything.
A close-up of smiling children | Pexels
I had just put the kids into the car and was about to put their lunch bags and backpacks in with them when I saw the bright pink sticky note plastered on the trunk of my husband’s car.
I paused, my heart pounding, and walked over to read it.
A pink sticky note on a car | Source: Midjourney
“Sit tight,” I told the kids. “I’m coming now! I just want to see what’s on Dad’s car.”
“Okay, Mom,” Natasha shouted from the backseat.
Children sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney
Sorry, I scratched your car last night. You shouldn’t park on the street though! -Neighbor from 283. This is my number in case you need anything!
Confusion and nausea washed over me. We don’t live near a house with that number, and my husband, Thomas, always parked in our garage.
A woman reading a sticky note | Source: Midjourney
“What was it?” my daughter asked when I slid into the driver’s seat.
“Nothing, honey,” I said. “Just a piece of paper that got stuck on Dad’s car.”
A woman in the driver’s seat | Source: Unsplash
Tom had just returned from a business trip this morning, so his car should have been parked at the airport the entire weekend.
My mind raced, and a sinking feeling settled in my stomach.
I knew that something was about to change.
A man wearing a suit | Source: Unsplash
“Enjoy your day, babies!” I said as the kids got out of the car at drop-off.
“Don’t forget, we have to make cookies for school tomorrow,” Natasha reminded me. “We need like sixty cookies, Mom.”
I left the kids and drove to the grocery store, needing to get everything for the cookies that we needed to bake.
An aisle in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
“Can I help you, ma’am?” a young woman asked me as I walked up and down the baking aisle. She tied the grocery store’s apron tightly onto her.
“No, thank you,” I said absentmindedly. “I’m just browsing.”
A person tying an apron | Source: Pexels
But my mind just couldn’t stay focused at all. What was Thomas playing at?
I filled up the cart as I went up and down the aisle, getting enough ingredients for everything we needed and then paid.
Then, I decided to call Thomas and just check in.
A woman holding a phone and a card | Source: Pexels
“Hi, honey,” I said the moment he picked up.
“Hey, Sierra,” he said. “Are you okay? I’m just getting into a meeting now. I’ll speak to you later.”
And he cut the call.
A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels
“What on earth is going on?” I said aloud as I picked up gummy worms for Jake, my son.
Later, I picked up the kids and made toasted sandwiches while Natasha and I baked for her class.
A child holding a plate of toast | Source: Pexels
“Is everything okay, Mom?” Natasha asked, mixing in the chocolate chips. “You’re not helping Jake with homework.”
“Everything is fine,” I said, turning my focus back to my children.
Chocolate chips in a container | Source: Pexels
But still, my mind raced and I couldn’t shut it off. I was distracted and unable to stop the conspiracies that plagued my mind.
That evening, after tucking the kids into bed, I dialed the number on the note. The phone rang twice before a cheerful voice answered.
A little girl tucked in bed | Source: Pexels
“Hello, is this house 283?” I asked, nervously.
“Yes!” the woman said. “Who am I speaking to?”
“Sierra,” I said. “I’m sorry, but I found your note on my husband’s car this morning. Can you tell me more about the incident?”
A woman holding a phone | Source: Pexels
There was a brief pause.
“Oh, yes, I’m Jane. I’m really sorry about that. I accidentally scratched his car when I was parking last night. I live at 283 Elm Street. Are you new to the neighborhood?”
My heart pounded.
“No, no,” I said. “I’m sure Thomas was just visiting a friend. Don’t worry about the scratch, I saw the car. It’s all good!”
A parked car | Source: Pexels
“Oh, are you sure?” she asked. “I’m sure that the insurance will cover it.”
“I’m sure,” I said, turning to look out the window. “But can you tell me where exactly he was parked?”
There was silence for a moment.
When Jane spoke, her voice was softer.
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Pixabay
“He was parked right outside my house. There’s a small park across the street, and next to it, is a woman’s house. I’m sorry,” she said.
“Thank you, Jane,” I said.
I hung up, my mind reeling. Thomas had lied to me. He wasn’t on a business trip. He hadn’t even left the car at the airport.
A house with a garden | Source: Midjourney
Instead, he was at some woman’s house.
I didn’t want to confront my husband yet. I needed proof first. So, I got into bed beside him and forced myself to fall asleep.
A woman sleeping in bed | Source: Unsplash
The next morning, I gave the kids cereal for breakfast while trying to decide my next move.
After dropping them off at school, I drove to Elm Street. According to the GPS, it was about twenty minutes away from me. I looked for the park and the house next door.
Bowls of cereal | Source: Midjourney
Before doing anything else, I knocked on the door. A few moments later, a woman in her thirties opened the door.
“Hi, can I help you?” she asked.
“My name is Sierra,” I said. “I believe my husband, Thomas, was with you this weekend?”
Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand.
A white front door | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, my God. I had no idea he was married. Please, come in. I’m Mary.”
My heart ached, and my wedding ring seemed to get tighter around my finger.
“He didn’t mention us? His family?” I asked.
Mary shook her head.
A woman hiding her face | Source: Unsplash
“No, he told me he was single. We met at a local market, and we’ve been seeing each other for a few months now. But he did say that work has been hectic recently. So we haven’t seen each other very often.”
“Mary, I need your help. I need evidence of his infidelity for my divorce lawyer. I can’t stay married to a man like this, especially with my kids. Can you help me?”
People at a farmer’s market | Source: Unsplash
Mary looked at me with determination.
“Of course,” she said. “We need to catch him in the act.”
Later that evening, Mary was going to text Thomas and invite him over. She told him that she really wanted them to have dinner together at home.
“I’ll tell him that I cooked,” she told me as I left her home. “That usually gets him here.”
A homecooked meal | Source: Midjourney
I left the kids with my mother and drove to Mary’s house, ready to catch Thomas in the act. When he arrived, Mary kissed him at the door.
My stomach turned, but I snapped the picture anyway. Then, I stepped out of my hiding place.
“Thomas,” I demanded. “What the hell is this?”
His face turned pale.
A couple embracing | Source: Unsplash
“Sierra, what are you doing here?”
Mary crossed her arms, glaring at him.
“You lied to both of us, Thomas,” she said. “How could you? And you have children?”
He stammered, trying to find the right words, but there were none.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he finally managed to say.
“Save it,” I said, holding my camera. “I have all the proof I need. I’m ready to file for divorce.”
A close-up of a camera | Source: Unsplash
“Sierra, please,” he said, trying to follow me to the car.
I brushed him off and got in, ready to head home to my children.
In the following weeks, Mary and I became unlikely friends, bonded by our shared betrayal. The most surprising thing was how quickly my children got attached to her.
On the day that the papers were finally signed, I felt the biggest sense of relief and empowerment.
Two woman sitting together | Source: Unsplash
Sure, my heart was broken, and so was my home. But as I was trying to fix myself, my children stepped in, ready to fill my life with the joy that only children can.
As for Thomas? He moved back in with his parents. He didn’t even put up a fight to make things better.
Two smiling children | Source: Pexels
What would you have done?
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