A wealthy man on his deathbed is trying to decide where to leave his money so he tests his grandson by giving him $1 million in fake cash.
Alex Carstairs was a wealthy man, but no amount of money in the world could buy him health. He was coming to the end of his life and he knew it.
Alex’s son, David, was already running the family business and doing it well, and the bulk of the estate would go to him. However, Alex wanted to leave his grandson, Arthur, some of his money.
The boy was now twenty-one, in college, and doing well, but Alex was still worried. He’d seen many of his wealthy friends’ children and grandchildren ruined by too much money too soon, and he didn’t want that to happen to Arthur. That was when Alex had a brilliant idea. He’d give the boy one million dollars in cash and see what he did with it.
Nothing is more important than the lives of those we love.
What Arthur wouldn’t know was that the money was fake… Of course, everyone in the city knew that Arthur was Alex’s grandson and that he’d make good on any debts the boy ran up.
Alex called Arthur and asked him to come and visit him. At first, Arthur tried to beg off visiting his grandfather, telling him he had a lot of work to do, but when Alex hinted at a gift, he agreed to see him immediately.
When Arthur arrived at Alex’s house, he was led into his grandfather’s room. Alex was lying on his bed, surrounded by beeping machines and looking very pale and weak.
“Arthur,” he said. “My boy, I’m so glad to see you! I’ve missed you.”
“Hi Grandpa,” Arthur said, looking uncomfortable. “I’ve been so busy, cramming for exams…”
“Of course,” Alex said gently. “I asked you to come because I have something to tell you. As you know, I’m very ill and I’m putting my affairs in order. I want you to be independent, Arthur, so I’m giving you one million.”
Arthur’s chin dropped. “ONE MILLION?” he gasped. “You mean dollars?”
Alex gave Arthur a case with $1 million. | Source: Pexels
“Of course I mean dollars,” Alex said. “It’s right there in that case at the foot of my bed.”
Arthur jumped forward immediately and opened the case with trembling hands. He stared at the neat bundles of money as if hypnotized. “It’s really mine?” he asked, awed.
“All yours, Arthur,” Alex said. “To use as you see fit. But I hope that you will always do as I have done and remember those less fortunate than yourself.”
Alex lay back on his bed after Arthur left and wondered what his grandson was thinking, and what he would do. He prayed he would not be disappointed, but he had seen a flash of greed in Arthur’s eyes…
Two days later, Alex put the second part of his plan into action and called Arthur. “Arthur,” he said excitedly. “I’ve just had wonderful news. There is a doctor in Switzerland who is doing experimental surgery on cases like mine.
“He says he can operate on me, but I have to leave tonight on the jet and I need $1 million. It takes days to get that amount of cash out of the bank so I was wondering if you’d lend me your money!”
There was a long silence on the other side, then Arthur replied, “I’m so sorry, Grandpa! I wish you’d called earlier! I left the money as an anonymous donation at a worthy charity — for homeless teens. I thought about what you said about the less fortunate…I wish I’d known about the operation!”
“It’s okay, Arthur,” Alex said. “I’ll call your father and maybe he can help me get the cash quickly..”
Arthur told Alex he donated the money to charity. | Source: Pexels
Three days later, Alex invited David and Arthur to his house. Arthur exclaimed: “Grandpa, I thought you were going in for emergency surgery!”
“What surgery?” David asked, surprised.
“It’s alright, David,” Arthur said. “There is no surgery, but there are some things we need to talk about. Please sit down… A few days ago, I asked your son to come over and I gave him a case with $1 million. Then I phoned him and asked for the money back for emergency surgery, but he told me he’d given the money to charity.”
David was stunned. “You gave Arthur $1 million in cash and he gave it away?”
Alex got a phone call from the Maserati dealership. | Source: Unsplash
“Indeed!” said Alex, with the faintest hint of irony in his voice. I was very proud of him for a whole two hours until I got a call from the Maserati dealership.
“The manager told me Arthur was there, wanting to buy his most expensive car with a case of fake money…I told him to pretend to accept it and schedule the delivery of the car for tomorrow.”
Arthur jumped to his feet with his face red as a beet. “Grandpa, it’s not what you think…”
“Actually, Arthur,” Alex said sadly. “It’s EXACTLY what I think. You don’t deserve the money, so I’m donating the $2 million that would have gone to you to charity.
“As for you David, I’m making a provision in my will that the money and the company will only pass to Arthur after your death if he proves himself worthy.”
Arthur was horrified and realized he’d spoiled his own chances with his greed and dishonesty.
What can we learn from this story?
- Do not lie to those who love and trust you. Arthur lied to his grandfather and then went off to buy a sports car, never dreaming he’d be found out and exposed as a greedy liar.
- Nothing is more important than the lives of those we love. Arthur showed Alex how little he valued his life with his lies.
This piece is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only.
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