Steve was a greedy grandson who only thought about money. He had always kept a close eye on his grandmother, seeing her not as the loving matriarch of their family, but as a source of potential wealth. So when he heard she was planning to sell her house and move in with him, he saw a golden opportunity.

“Of course, Grandma,” Steve had said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You can live with me. We’ll be one big happy family.”

His grandmother, Mrs. Groenfeld, had been touched by his apparent generosity. She sold her beloved house, and with a heavy heart, handed Steve the proceeds. But as soon as the money was in his hands, Steve’s demeanor changed. He started to make excuses about why she couldn’t move in just yet.
“Just a few renovations to make the place more comfortable for you, Grandma,” he lied smoothly.
Instead, Steve took his grandmother to a nursing home. She protested, her eyes filling with tears, but he assured her it was only temporary. Deep down, she knew he had betrayed her, but what could she do? She had no other family to turn to.

Months passed. Steve squandered the money on luxuries, vacations, and new cars, completely forgetting about his grandmother languishing in the nursing home. Then one day, he received a call from a lawyer that would change everything.

“Hello, Mr. Steve Groenfeld? My name is Mr. Harris. I’m calling on behalf of a German firm handling the estate of a Mr. Franz Groenfeld.”

“Groenfeld…” Steve mused. “Oh! That’s my grandmother’s maiden name! Must be some old relative from the old country! So what did he leave her? Family photos?”

Mr. Harris cleared his throat. “I believe your grandmother inherited real estate in Bavaria valued at approximately $2 million, or thereabout.”

Steve nearly dropped his phone. “Two… two million?” he stammered, his mind racing with possibilities.

“Yes, Mr. Groenfeld. But we need your grandmother’s address to proceed with the documentation.”

Steve’s heart pounded in his chest. “I, uh, I have her address somewhere. Can you hold on a moment?” He fumbled through his drawer, pulling out the nursing home’s contact information. “Here it is,” he said, reading it off to the lawyer.

“Thank you, Mr. Groenfeld. We’ll be in touch regarding the next steps.”

Steve hung up and stared at the wall, a grin spreading across his face. He could already see himself living a life of luxury, perhaps even moving to Europe. But then a thought struck him: he needed his grandmother to get the inheritance. Without her, he wouldn’t see a dime of that $2 million.

He drove to the nursing home the next day, a fake smile plastered on his face. “Grandma! How are you?”

Mrs. Groenfeld looked up at him with weary eyes. “What do you want, Steve?”

“Grandma, I have some great news! We’ve just found out that you’ve inherited a fortune from a distant relative in Germany. We need to sign some documents, and then we’ll be rich!”

She eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you telling me this now, Steve? After months of leaving me here?”

Steve’s smile faltered. “I’m sorry, Grandma. I’ve been busy… but this could change everything for us!”

Mrs. Groenfeld sighed. “I trusted you once, and you broke that trust. Why should I believe you now?”

“Because this is real, Grandma! Two million dollars! Think of the life we could have!”

She shook her head. “I’m tired, Steve. I don’t need money. I need family. I need love.”

Steve felt a pang of guilt but quickly pushed it aside. “We can be a family again, Grandma. I promise. Just sign the papers.”

Reluctantly, she agreed, and they went through the legal processes. Soon, the funds were transferred, but Steve’s greed got the better of him once more. He had his grandmother sign over the power of attorney to him, ensuring he had full control over the money.

The moment the money was in his account, Steve disappeared, leaving his grandmother in the nursing home. He bought a mansion, expensive cars, and lived a life of opulence. But as the months turned into years, he found himself increasingly lonely and paranoid. He had no real friends, only people who were after his money.

One day, he received another call from Mr. Harris. “Mr. Groenfeld, I regret to inform you that your grandmother has passed away.”

Steve felt a hollow pang in his chest. He had abandoned the one person who had loved him unconditionally. The wealth he had so desperately chased felt like a curse, and he realized too late that no amount of money could replace the warmth and love of family.

In the end, Steve lived a life of solitude, haunted by his choices and the betrayal of his grandmother’s trust. The wealth that once promised happiness had only brought him misery, a constant reminder of his greed and the price he paid for it.