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
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
“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
“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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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.
90-year-old Joan Collins stuns in sizzling swimsuit photo
Using any yardstick you use, Joan Collins is unquestionably a legend.
It’s safe to say that, as she approaches her 90s, her most glamorous and flamboyant days are behind her, but that doesn’t mean she’s stopped having fun and flaunting her physique to the world.
Joan Collins has many lessons to teach about grace, elegance, and proper behavior for even the most ‘new’ superstars. What an incredible life this woman has led and continues to lead!
The Paddington, London-born actress of English descent is primarily remembered for her role as Dynasty’s Alexis Carrington Colby.
Dynasty turned Joan into a global celebrity, and in 1984 it was the most watched television program in the US. She was making $15,000 every episode back then. Every week, about 21 million homes tuned in to see her, eager to see what her egotistical and vicious persona would come up with.
“She was the initial strong woman on television.” And for that, I took a lot of heat. She’s such a vixen, so spiteful, and such a ballbreaker! Joan said to CBS in 2019 that “you know, I was just standing up for myself as an independent woman!”
Amazingly, over 70 years after making her on-screen debut, Collins is still employed in the entertainment sector.
Wikipedia states that she starred in two film-related projects in 2022, Tomorrow Morning and The Gentle Sex, and that she is currently filming In Bed with the Duchess.
She uses social media quite frequently as well.
For most of the US, last month was unseasonably chilly; storms delivered exceptionally low temperatures to many locations. However, Joan Collins was all about the heat.
According to sources, the legendary actress thought that the holidays would be the perfect time to post a picture of herself and her 57-year-old husband, Percy Gibson, practically sizzling.
Many people anticipate that at Christmas, family would gather around the fireplace and exchange gifts while the chilly breeze from outside the window blows in.
However, Joan Collins discovered that she was deviating from the custom this Christmas.On December 26, she posted to her roughly 300k followers, saying, “Had a terrific #christmasday.”
“I had a great lunch at the Bricusses after swimming in 82F in Beverly Hills—thank you, Evie and Adam Bricusse!”
Reactions to Collins’ chic leopard print swimsuit were swift. Even though the actress is about to turn ninety, she looked simply lovely.
She was pictured next to her spouse Percy in another picture; the two of them have been together since 2002.
All told, Collins has been married five times. The first marriage lasted four years, to actor Maxwell Reed. The second marriage was to singer-songwriter Anthony Newley. After she wed billionaire Ronald S. Kass, Newley welcomed Swedish pop sensation Peter Holm into her family.
“I did that too many times and I regret several of my marriages. I made a mistake. I don’t regret my marriage to Tony [Newley], though, as I had two amazing kids, Tara and Alexander, and one gorgeous daughter, Kathy, from my marriage to Ron [Kass]. Joan stated last year, “I truly regret getting married to Peter Holm, a Swede.
Collins claims that she has formed the closest relationship with Percy. She disclosed details about their connection during the pandemic.
“I’ve realized how strong our relationship really is because of being in lockdown,” the woman remarked. “I used to like traveling, hosting parties at the villa, and interacting with people, but due to constraints, it’s now just Percy and I. The best aspect is that we are conspirators, partners in crime.
Whatever others may say, Joan Collins is a legend, an icon, and incredibly beautiful for her age!
If you’re a fan of Joan’s as well or have liked any of her earlier work, do share this post.
Leave a Reply