I Won $333 Million in the Lottery and Told No One! Only My grandson Helped When I Faked Being Broke…
«Second, I’ve restructured my entire estate. Jake is now my sole heir.» Ashley made a sound like a wounded animal.
«And third,» I continued, enjoying their horror, «I’ve decided to have a little fun with my newfound wealth. Derek, Ashley, you’re both going to experience firsthand what it feels like to lose everything.»
«What do you mean?» Ashley asked, though I could see she already suspected. «Your creditors received some very interesting phone calls this morning.»
The color drained from both my children’s faces so quickly I thought they might faint.
«Mom, what did you do?»
«I paid off all your debts,» I said simply. «Derek’s motorcycle loan, Ashley’s credit cards, both of your car loans—all of it.»
Ashley grabbed Derek’s arm. «Wait, that’s good news, right? Mom, thank you, I…»
«Oh, I didn’t pay them off as gifts, dear.» I leaned back in my chair, feeling more powerful than I had in years. «I bought all your debts from your creditors, every single one.»
Derek was doing rapid calculations in his head. «You can’t do this. There are laws about predatory lending, family exploitation…»
«Actually, there aren’t any laws against purchasing legally held debt, even from family members. I’d done my research thoroughly. My lawyers assure me this is completely legal. Unusual, perhaps, but legal.»
Jake was staring at me with a mixture of admiration and concern. «Grandma, what does this mean?»
«It means, sweetheart, that your mother and uncle now owe me instead of their various creditors. And unlike banks and credit card companies, I have very specific feelings about borrowers who consider their lender a burden.»
Ashley’s voice was barely a whisper. «How much do we owe you?»
«Derek, your total debt that I purchased comes to $47,000. Ashley, yours is $52,000.» I consulted my paperwork. «Plus, the $63,000 you both borrowed from me over the years that was never repaid. Grand total, Derek owes me $78,000. Ashley, you owe $89,000.»
Derek sat down hard on my sofa. «Almost $80,000? That’s impossible.»
«Plus the new terms I’ve implemented as your creditor: 24% annual interest, compounded monthly. No minimum payments. Full balance due in 30 days. Or I begin legal collection proceedings.»
«We don’t have that kind of money,» Ashley said, tears streaming down her face.
«I know. Derek’s savings account has $1,200. Ashley’s has about $800. I’d done my homework. Which brings us to your options.»
«What options?» Derek asked desperately.
«You can liquidate your assets. Derek, sell the motorcycle. That should bring about $15,000 if you’re lucky. Ashley, sell your car and buy something cheaper—maybe save you $10,000. Both of you can pick up second jobs.» I was ticking items off on my fingers. «That might cover maybe a third of what you owe.»
«There has to be another way,» Ashley pleaded.
«Actually, there is.» I smiled sweetly. «You can ask family for help. After all, family supports each other, right? That’s what you told me I should rely on.»
The irony wasn’t lost on anyone in the room.
«Mom, please.» Derek’s voice broke. «I know we messed up. I know we treated you badly. But we’re your children. We can make this right.»
«Can you? Because I’ve been waiting years for you to make things right, and instead, you’ve just taken more.»
Ashley suddenly had an idea. «Mom, what if we worked for you? We could be your assistants. Help manage your finances. Take care of the house.»
I almost felt sorry for her. Almost. «Ashley, sweetheart, you want to work for me?» I kept my voice gentle, as if I were explaining something to a child. «The same daughter who told me my health problems weren’t her concern wants to suddenly become my caretaker?»
Derek was frantically making phone calls, trying to reach someone who might lend them money. I watched him with detached interest, like observing a science experiment.
«Derek, who are you calling?» I asked during a pause between his unsuccessful attempts.
«Anyone who might help us. Our friends, extended family, people from work.»
«And what are you telling them?»
He paused, realizing the trap. «I’m telling them we need financial help.»
«Just like I needed help with my medication.» I nodded thoughtfully. «I wonder how many of them will tell you to figure it out yourselves.»
Jake had been quiet through this entire exchange, but now he spoke up. «Mom, Uncle Derek, why don’t you just apologize? Really apologize, not just say sorry because you got caught.»
Derek stopped dialing and looked at his nephew. «I am sorry, Jake. We both are.»
«Sorry for what, specifically?» I asked. «I want to hear you say it.»
«We’re sorry for… for not helping you when you asked,» Derek’s words came out slowly, as if he were pulling teeth.
«And?»
«And for taking your money without paying it back over the years.» Ashley jumped in.
«And?»
«And for saying mean things about you behind your back,» she added.
«Getting warmer. What else?»
Derek’s shoulders sagged. «For planning to have you declared incompetent so we could control your money.»
«And?»
«For discussing how much easier our lives would be if you died,» the words came out in a rush, like he was ripping off a bandage.
I nodded approvingly. «Very good. Now, was that so hard?»
«Does this mean you’ll help us?» Ashley asked hopefully.
«Help you what? Pay debts you legitimately owe? Why would I do that?» I tilted my head. «Ashley, when I needed help with my medication, what did you tell me?»
Her face crumpled. «I told you to figure it out.»
«Exactly. So now I’m telling you both the same thing. Figure it out.»
Derek’s phone rang, and he answered it desperately. «Hello? Yes, this is Derek Williams.» A pause. «No, we’re not asking for money for drugs or gambling. We need help with legitimate debts.» Another pause, longer this time. «What do you mean? What have I done to deserve help? I’m family.» I could hear the voice on the other end getting louder. Derek held the phone away from his ear.
«They hung up,» he said in disbelief.
«How strange,» I commented. «Family refusing to help family in need. Who would do such a thing?» But I wasn’t finished with my lesson yet. The best part was still coming.
«Derek, Ashley, I have a confession to make.» I stood up and walked to my kitchen, returning with a bottle of champagne that had been chilling in my refrigerator. «I’ve been planning this moment for three weeks, and I think it calls for a celebration.»
Jake watched me pop the cork with practiced ease. «Grandma, what are you celebrating?»
«The fact that your mother and uncle are about to learn the most expensive lesson of their lives.» I poured myself a glass and raised it in a toast. «To family loyalty. May it be treasured by those wise enough to value it.»
«Mom, what are you talking about?» Ashley asked.
«Sit down, both of you. I want to tell you about the rest of my plans.» I settled back into my chair with my champagne. «You see, buying your debts was just the beginning.»
Derek gripped Ashley’s hand. «What do you mean, ‘the beginning’?»
«Well, Derek, remember your friend Mike from the bank? The one you’ve been telling about my supposed dementia?» I sipped my champagne slowly. «Turns out Mike did some research into my finances when he heard you might need help with guardianship proceedings.»
Derek went very still. «What kind of research?»
«The kind that involves public records, lottery winner databases, and financial filings. Mike discovered something very interesting.» I paused for effect. «He found out about my lottery win.»
«No,» Ashley whispered.
«Oh, yes. And Mike, being the upstanding citizen he is, contacted several people at the bank to share this fascinating information.» I was thoroughly enjoying their horror. «By now, everyone in your professional circles knows that Derek and Ashley Williams’ mother won $300 million, and they were trying to have her declared incompetent to steal it.»
