My Mom Excluded Me from Her Will and Left Her Inheritance to Her Elderly Neighbor – Story of the Day

My mother left everything to her elderly neighbor instead of me because I married a girl she disapproved of. You must think her egoistic and self-centered for what she did, but I can't thank her enough for her decision.

When we get the "right" to make our choices, we often make rash decisions, dismissing red flags, which are clearly evident to the experienced eyes. Funnily enough, when those experienced people try to prevent us from doing wrong, we disregard their advice. After all, we are "old enough" to decide what's right and wrong for us, aren't we?

But believe me, sometimes it pays to listen to our elders' advice because they've seen the world more than us and know better. Because if you don't, you may find yourself in the same situation I was in when I met a woman named Carrie.

So Carrie and I met in college, fell in love, and got engaged. A pretty straightforward love story, right? But the thing was, it wasn't. When I introduced Carrie to my mom, she was blatantly against our relationship.

"Kevin," she said. "It isn't too late. You can still break up with her, and I can find you a better girl. Mrs. Stevens found this matchmaking website for her son and found him a lovely girl ... Carrie is not the best match for you! I can see avarice in her eyes!" she warned me.

But I didn't listen to my mother. "Mom!" I retorted. "You're simply saying this because Carrie isn't from wealth. She loves me for who I am, not for how much money I have. Trust your son!"

"I trust you, Kevin," she told me patiently. "But I have seen Carrie's eyes gleaming at my house and how she enthusiastically talks about how much money you have and what you will inherit from me. Isn't that a good enough sign to reconsider your choice?"

You won't believe me, but when mom said that, I laughed. "Mom," I told her. "You're just overthinking. Carrie is not like that. We've been together for four years and she hasn't asked me for a single penny!"

Mom obviously wasn't pleased with what I said, but I talked her into accepting Carrie, and Carrie and I married a few months later. For the first month of our marriage, everything was fine, but soon after, Carrie began insisting on extravagant trips and luxurious vacations. It all started when she insisted on going to Paris for our honeymoon.

"It's the most romantic setting for couples," she said. "I feel bad for suggesting something expensive, but I want our memories to be special, Kevin!"

I knew this would be hard on my pocket as a mere accountant, yet I agreed. "You don't have to be sorry for it, Carrie," I said, hugging her. "I am your husband, and I love you. Nothing matters more to me than you."

And so, we spent our honeymoon in Paris at a five-star hotel, shrinking my savings by a considerable amount. However, I didn't give it much thought, and to be honest, I didn't give any future expenditures much thought either.

Carrie wanted to dine at fancy places, shop for expensive things, and spend money like water. I agreed to everything she wanted because I knew she'd seen a lot of struggles in her life. She belonged to a middle-class family and had spent the majority of her youth repaying loans she took to finish her education.

But as fate would have it, I started to become concerned when I broached the subject of starting a family and she refused.

"I think it's a little early," she said. "I don't want us to rush things because I'm not ready for the responsibilities..."

At that point, my mother warned me again. "That chick is after the money, Kevin! She is so self-centered that she refuses to have children since she would have to share her fortune with them! She wants your money!"

But I defended Carrie again. "You're wrong, mom! She just needs time. One day, you'll see, Carrie will want to start a family too, " I told her confidently.

"There's something you should know, Kevin," he explained. "Mrs. D'souza will further enlighten you."

I recall how depressed mom appeared that day. To be honest, I was beginning to believe my mom was right, but they say love is blind and you often ignore the red flags when you love someone. Was I making that mistake too?

A year later, my mom passed away due to cardiac arrest. After the burial, her lawyer immediately contacted me and called me to his office. I was in no mood to listen to anything the lawyer had to say. I missed my mother. I was really missing her! But Carrie encouraged me to meet the man!

"I think we should go, Kevin," she suggested. "You were her only child, and she'd be disappointed if she saw you like this!"

"I don't care, Carrie," I said. "I'm not in the mood right now!"

"Babe," she said. "You are not alone in this situation. I'm here!" And somehow, she convinced me, and we went to the lawyer's office. When we arrived there, my mom's neighbor and friend, Mrs. D'souza, was also present, and I wondered why she was there.

"Mr. Morrison?" I asked the lawyer. "Why is Mrs. D'souza here?"

Mr. Morrison gave me a funny smile. "It'll all be clear in a moment, Kevin… So shall I start reading the will?" he asked and I nodded.

He put on his glasses and began reading mom's will. "I, Mrs. Daisy Sutton," he read, "leave my entire estate, including my California mansion and family heirlooms, which includes a diamond-studded necklace, to my dear friend, Mrs. Sylvia D'souza. Nothing follows!"

As Mr. Morrison said that, Carrie lost her cool. "What? How can she do that? How can she not leave a dime for her son?"

I was shocked too. "Mom didn't leave me anything? Why?" I wondered, but Carrie's reaction was extreme!

"I'm sorry but this was how Mrs. Sutton wanted her assets distributed," Mr. Morrison said solemnly. "As to why, I can't answer that."

While it pained me that my mother left me with nothing, Carrie's reaction made me realize how right my mother was. My wife couldn't keep her wrath in check and threatened to divorce me because I had nothing on me except what I could afford from my job as an accountant! She said she did not want to live in the flat we shared for the rest of our lives. All this time, she had her sights set on my mother's house!

I was shocked. "Carrie, what are you even saying? I love you, and...."

"Do you think I put up with you because I loved you?" she shot back. "Huh, you wish! If you don't have the money, you're worthless!" she said and left, slamming the door behind her.

I was hurt. I loved Carrie. But that day, I realized how right my mother was about her. I got up to leave the office, but Mr. Morrison stopped me. "There's something you should know, Kevin," he explained. "Mrs. D'souza will further enlighten you."

"It's ok. I don't want to know anything else...I'm leaving," I announced. My marriage was crumbling around me! Did they really think I needed to hear more? The truth was, I did.

Mrs. D'souza, who had been silent the entire time, finally approached me and spoke up. "I don't want anything from your mother, Kevin. All of this was done to expose Carrie's true colors."

"What are you saying?" I was confused.

"Your mother was so sure that Carrie would leave you once she found out you weren't inheriting a cent, and she was right. She told me to hold on to her estate until you are free of Carrie. Then you may keep whatever belongs to your mother which rightfully belongs to you..."

"She's right, Kevin," Mr. Morrison chimed in. "And she has already transferred everything in your name."

I don't know what you would've done in this situation, but I decided to end my marriage with Carrie. We got divorced, and I am a happy, single man now. I have closed my heart to love for now, and if I ever fall in love again, I'll make sure she's not like Carrie!

Meanwhile, after Mrs. D'souza returned everything to me, I decided not to keep it and instead donated it all to charity. At the very least, the needy will be pleased, and my mother will be happy to see me doing a good deed.

What can we learn from this story?

• Our parents are sometimes right, and we should listen to them. Daisy had been warning Kevin that Carrie wasn't the right girl for him all along. He didn't believe her until the will reading when Carrie revealed her true colors and the truth hit him hard.
• Never blindly trust anyone. Kevin was so in love with Carrie that he overlooked the red flags until the truth revealed itself one day, and he realized he'd been a fool to trust Carrie blindly.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a mom who excluded her son from her $1.2M inheritance and left him only a broken vase with a note inside.

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