Children Refuse to Support Old Father, Learn He Died Trying to Earn at Least a Penny – Story of the Day

Brothers Brian and Christian meet at their estranged father's funeral, a man they long refused to support in his old age. Little did they guess that the funeral would unravel a heartbreaking secret their father took to his grave.

Loud chimes of the church bell echoed through the quaint cemetery. The mournful clanging, the intense fragrance of lilies, and smoke from scented candles wafting in the air enveloped Brian as he entered the gates.

"Is that Mr. Gates' son…the boy who abandoned his father? He has a brother, right?" someone from the gathering said, and all eyes were drawn to Brian.

34-year-old Brian ignored them and pressed forward to pay his last respects to his estranged father he hadn't seen or spoken to in the last eighteen years…

Suddenly, he felt a sharp tap on his shoulder and turned around, only to get the shock of his life upon seeing his younger brother.

"Christian! I'm so glad you came...I thought you would never come," Brian said, smiling. "I'll be leaving for Chicago on the next flight as soon as all this is over. How about we catch up in a café after this? My flight's in four hours."

Christian was thrilled to see his older brother.

"Yeah, sure, buddy! I won't be staying for long either. I'm just gonna get done with this funeral and return to the city...coz I have a lot of other important work!"

It was evident that the brothers had come to their estranged father's funeral for formality's sake. There was certainly no sorrow in their eyes.

The air was heavy as people dressed in black and heads bowed were whispering consolations to one another as the brothers entered.

Amid the mourners, Brian and Christian stood at a distance from the rest of the crowd, watching the priest delivering the eulogy.

In the casket before them lay their dead father, Benjamin, ready to be laid to eternal rest. But it seemed to Brian and Christian that they had not just come to say goodbye to their father but to come to terms with a dark past that still haunted them both.

"She isn't here?" Christian leaned and whispered to Brian, who scanned the gathering the second time now.

"Where is she anyway? Dad—sorry—that man worshipped her like anything. Why isn't she here...to watch him being laid to rest?

…They were madly in love with each other, weren't they? Where's all that madness now? She isn't even here at this man's funeral! Wow!"

Brian's and Christian's minds were still sour. Their resentment towards their dead father showed no signs of decay. What he had done all those years ago had inflicted an eternal scar on their hearts. And they still refused to forgive him.

"I'm sure she must have dumped him for another rich man!" Christian huffed.

"Well, he deserved it, didn't he? We were only sixteen and thirteen when he brought her home, remember? I still can't bring myself to forget that night," Brian recounted.

"Yeah, how can we forget that night? The loud knocks on the door…we knew Dad would come home fully drunk like usual…but never did we imagine he would bring a young woman with him."

Brian nodded. "Yeah, he was standing with his arms wrapped around her waist. And when we caught them kissing? They just smiled at us! How disgusting!"

"The worst part was when he introduced her as our 'New Mom.' Such bull. How could he even think some random woman he hit on at the bar could replace our Mom?"

"He was crazy after her like a dog. Sorry, but that's what I felt back then. And looking back to what he did to us and how he abandoned us...I just want to get out of here the second this man is laid to rest," Brian scowled.

"He never existed for us!"

"I can't even imagine what would've happened to us if Grandma Candice hadn't stepped up for us that day. Dad was drunk and, in a fit of rage, threw all our things out of the house and kicked us out…just because we were against him marrying his mistress."

Brian pressed Christian's shoulder, reassuring him that those dark days were now history.

"In a corner of my heart, I still feel sorry for him, Chris," Brian said, although his heart was still cold for their dead father. "He gave up on us to marry that damn woman...and she's not even here at his funeral?"

"Don't! He deserves to rot in hell for choosing her over family," Christian lamented.

Just as they watched the priest deliver the eulogy, the brothers saw a familiar face approaching the cemetery with a wreath of white roses.

"Victor?" they chorused.

"Jeez, is that Victor...Dad's old butler? He has become so old! Oh, how I used to love his smoked steak. Remember those backyard barbecues we used to have...." Christian's voice trailed off.

"...before Dad brought his new wife home and ruined our lives?"

The brothers watched Victor pay his last respects.

A few minutes later, he approached them. It baffled the brothers how Old Victor still recognized them despite last seeing them some eighteen years ago on the night their father kicked them out.

"Oh, hello, young gentlemen! I'm so glad to see you both after so many years!" Victor exclaimed as he snapped his tears.

"Victor! We're glad, too. Just look at you, man! What's with that bald head and pot belly? We missed you and your cooking so much. Sorry, we couldn't call after...you know..." Christian's voice trailed off as he and Brian hugged their old butler.

Victor teared up. He was so glad to see his old master's children after nearly two decades.

"When I last saw Mr. Gates, he told me how he wished to hear your voice...and see you boys at least once before he—"

"Let's not talk about that man anymore, Victor. He never did matter to us much...and he never will!" Brian cut off Victor, who froze in shock.

It was clear to him that the brothers' bitterness for their father had not faded over the years.

"But...Mr. Gates loved you more than you'd ever known, and—"

"Oh, really? I can't believe you're saying this, Victor, despite seeing everything with your own eyes," Christian hissed, turning away from the coffin.

"I know...but Mr. Gates is dead now. I don't think there's any point in holding onto past grudges against someone who isn't with us anymore. It's time you forgive him."

"That's impossible!" Brian scoffed. "After what he did to us and what he put us through? We hope no child in this world has to endure what we had to...

"Do you know how it feels to grow up like an orphan, even when you have a father who's very much alive? That man doesn't deserve to be forgiven. He chose her over us."

"Yeah, Brian is right. He just abandoned us for his mistress. Was she more important to him than his own flesh and blood? As soon as he found a young chick to cozy up with in Mom's absence, he simply stopped caring about us..."

"Stop! Both of you, enough!" Victor said, his eyes glimmering with tears.

"It's not true. Your father loved you. It saddens me that you would think so cheaply about your father. Despite everything he went through for you..."

"What do you mean 'for us,' Victor? He kicked us out on a rainy night...abandoned us to fend for ourselves. What kind of father would do that to his sons?"

"Brian...Christian...there's something your father has been keeping from you both. A secret he wished to carry to his grave. He made me promise not to share this with anyone, and certainly not with you boys. But now, I believe I must disclose the truth to you..."

Two years ago...

Everything was quiet around Benjamin.

It had been sixteen years since he last saw his sons, Brian and Christian. Sixteen years since the night he kicked them out.

Although Benjamin had wanted to, he couldn't muster the courage to talk to his sons again, let alone face them.

"Oh, not again, Ben," Benjamin's young wife, Amanda, hissed as she waved her red-tinted nails. "Why don't you just blow out the candle, make a wish to live for many more years, and cut the birthday cake?"

Benjamin was celebrating his 75th birthday that day.

He sat at the table, watching the flickering candle on top of the chocolate cake, and he wished his children would forgive him and call to wish him a happy birthday.

But again that year, Benjamin never got that call. He hadn't gotten that call for sixteen years now.

"Okay, c'mon, let me help you, old man," Amanda teased Benjamin as she blew the candle. "Just hold the knife, slice the cake, and there! Happy Birthday, Ben! Why would you need your stupid sons to call you to cut the damn birthday cake!"

"Stop it, Amanda. They are my sons, and I deeply regret abandoning them. I just wish they would forgive me and come back. It's been too long...I heard Brian is married. I couldn't even watch my boy get married. I feel terrible. Can you imagine what I'm going through?"

"How did you know that about Brian? Have you been calling your children behind my back?"

"No, not at all. I heard through an old friend," Benjamin disappointedly said as he rose and walked upstairs, refusing to answer any more of her questions. "I feel a bit sick. I want to sleep. Goodnight."

"What about your birthday, darling?" Amanda shrugged her shoulders. "I thought you'd take me to the mall. Then to the restaurant. It's only seven. And you are feeling sleepy already? You're getting old!"

"There's no birthday celebration today, Amanda. You should head to the mall and maybe enjoy the evening with your friends. You can take my credit card if you need it, but please be mindful of the expenses. You know our financial situation at the moment. I need some rest. Have a great evening. Just let me be for a while."

Amanda was happy anyway. She grabbed Benjamin's credit card and headed to the mall. Meanwhile, Benjamin retired to his room, and just as he sat in silence, his phone rang.

Benjamin's heart fluttered because whenever his phone buzzed, he hoped it would be a call from his children. His hopes had only swelled, considering it was his birthday today.

Moreover, it was a call from an unknown number. So, chances were that Brian or Christian had finally decided to call him.

"He-Hello?" Benjamin stuttered. An awkward silence prevailed for a few seconds when suddenly, he heard a young woman's voice on the other side.

She was crying.

"Mr. Gates...this is Sarah, Brian's wife," she introduced herself. "I found your contact information behind an old photo in one of Brian's diaries. That's when I learned you were my husband's father..."

"Oh, hello there, Sarah. I'm so glad you called. How is everything...how is Brian?" Benjamin almost teared up out of excitement, waiting for Sarah to give the phone to Brian if he was nearby and listening.

"Brian is sick, Mr. Gates. He is...he is in the hospital right now and needs urgent surgery," Sarah cried.

"It's very expensive. Costs $175,000. But we don't have that kind of money. I asked Brian to call you several times and seek help...but he refused. Please, only you can help me save my husband."

It felt like Benjamin would collapse on the floor and die of a heart attack.

"Bri-Brian is...what? Oh my God...Please, tell me where to bring the money. I'll do anything to save him. Which hospital is he admitted to? I'll be there right away with the money."

Just as Benjamin sprang to his feet and bolted out of his room, he saw Amanda standing there. She had returned home to collect her purse and had overheard everything. Her expression remained cold and hostile.

"Ben, where are you going? Who were you speaking to on the phone? Was it your son?"

"Amanda, I'm so glad you're home," Benjamin cried, grabbing Amanda's shoulder. "We gotta go...hurry. Just wait for me outside in the car. I need to go to the bank. God, banks will be closed now. I need to get to the ATM. Brian needs me."

"Wait a minute, will you, old man?" Amanda blocked Benjamin's path. "Why do you need to go to the ATM now? What's going on?"

"Amanda, it's my son. He's in the hospital. His wife just called me...and told me he's in a critical condition and needs money for his operation. I'll explain everything later. We need to hurry."

"Hold it right there, Ben," Amanda said, squeezing Benjamin's shoulders as she loomed over him.

"Where was your son and his family all these years? Did they just remember you existed after going into a financial crisis?"

"Amanda, it's not the time. Please, don't do this. I have to help my son. Each minute counts because he's struggling for his life there in the hospital. I must go. I have to save my boy. Step aside."

"Oh, you can't be serious, Ben! I'm not letting you out of this house. Maybe it's some trap your estranged son's wife is laying out for your money. I'm not gonna let you give away a dime to them...not when we are in trouble ourselves…

"...so why don't you just get back into the bedroom and wait for me? It's your birthday, and I'm in a good mood to celebrate it with you tonight...if you know what I mean!"

"Amanda, for God's sake, be serious. My son's life is hanging by a thread. I have to help him," Benjamin pushed Amanda aside and was just about to storm out of the house when she grabbed his arm.

"Have you gone crazy, Ben? Your company is on the verge of bankruptcy. We are drowning in debt. If you give away all your savings, then you'll be doomed. And I'll be doomed with you. Just listen to me. Forget about helping your son…

"…I'm sure his wife will find another way. I'm not letting you give your son a penny from our money."

Amanda could see the desperation in Benjamin's eyes. Suddenly, a sly smirk lit up her face, and she gently squeezed his hand again. Amanda knew Benjamin would not listen to her and had a plan in mind.

"Darling, look, I don't want to be the evil stepmother. If you want to save your son's life, who am I to stop you? I was just worried about our recent loss in business...credit card bills, you know…" she said in a soft tone.

"Oh, Amanda, I'm so glad you finally understood," Benjamin sighed and pulled Amanda into a tight hug.

"I'm not really worried about my business anymore. I can get it back on track. My son's life is really important right now...I'll go check how much money is left in the safe."

"Hmmm, alright then! I'll go bring you some orange juice. I'm starving, and I'm sure you wouldn't have eaten anything either. Before we leave for the hospital, let's drink something, alright?"

Benjamin nodded.

Five minutes later, Amanda served him a glass of orange juice. He hurriedly gulped it down and stashed thick wads of money bundles in his briefcase. Suddenly, Benjamin started feeling heavy and drowsy.

"Am-Amanda...wha-what is wrong with...me...I'm feeling so dizzy all of a su-sudden...."

A fierce smile lit up Amanda's face. Her plan had worked.

"It's okay, darling. Relax..." her voice slowly faded as Benjamin closed his eyes and lay on the couch.

When he woke up two hours later, Benjamin was shocked.

His expensive watch was missing from his hand. His diamond ring, bracelet, wallet, and most of all, the brown briefcase full of money was MISSING!

"Oh, God...no, this can't be!" Benjamin dashed upstairs, only to get the shock of his life after opening the safe. All his money, jewelry, and bank cards were gone.

Only now did the ugly truth strike Benjamin like a pelting stone. His beloved Amanda had spiked his juice with sleeping pills and robbed him while he was unconscious.

"Amanda, you evil witch! Pick up...God, no. Why did you do this? How could you...what will I do for my son's surgery now?" Benjamin's heart raced when he kept calling Amanda.

But her phone was switched off.

Benjamin tried calling all of Amanda's friends he knew, but nobody had seen her. At this point, his only hope was to file a complaint at the local police station and find Amanda before she ran away with all that money.

So, without further delay, Benjamin hurried to the department. But the response he got was a far cry from what he had initially hoped for.

"Your complaint is filed with us, Mr. Gates," the cop told Benjamin. "But the search might take quite some time."

Benjamin was disheartened.

"But I don't have time, Officer. She took all my money. I have no cash to pay for my son's surgery. Please, you must do something. Find her...I want my money back. She took my bank cards. Everything. Please, help me…"

"I understand your concern, Sir. But we're already spread pretty thin for the night. Please cooperate with us. We'll get our best men on this as soon as we can. But for now..."

The cop's words were anything but reassuring.

Benjamin knew there was no point in waiting for the department to act. So he raced home in his car, making up his mind to sell his cherished house in exchange for the money that could save his son Brian's life.

Benjamin sank onto the couch back home. He dropped the file of documents and regretfully buried his face in his palms. Had Benjamin known about her true colors, he wouldn't have registered the house in Amanda's name as well.

"Hey, Wilson, Benjamin here," Benjamin spoke on the voicemail when his calls to the notary went unanswered.

...I would like to sell my house. But the problem is, it's also in my wife Amanda's name. I cannot sell it without her signature. The thing is...she ran away. I don't know where she is right now. I urgently need money for my son's operation. I need to sell this house. I'll meet you at your home this evening. Please help me figure out something. Only you can help me."

Later that evening, Benjamin arrived at Wilson's house and saw him packing his bags.

"Hey, Wilson! I've been trying to reach you," Benjamin approached Wilson after knocking on the door. "Didn't you get my voicemail?"

"Oh, hey there, Ben. I'm sorry. I left my phone to charge. What voicemail are you talking about? I didn't get any."

"Will, it's about my house. Amanda...she...she robbed everything and ran away. I'll explain everything later. Right now, I want you to help me sell my house…we need to find a buyer…get the paperwork done. God, why is this even happening to me?"

"What? Amanda ran away?"

"Yes. I'll explain everything later. I need to arrange money for Brian's operation. Please, it's very urgent. I've already taken out several loans. So I can't go for more. My business is on the verge of bankruptcy. Please do something, Will."

"If I'm not wrong...you registered your house in Amanda's name, right?"

Benjamin disappointedly sighed. "Guess I shouldn't have been such a goddamn fool. Is there a way to sell the house without her signature on the paperwork? Please, there's got to be a way. Please help me, man."

Just as Benjamin looked to his side, he saw two fully packed bags and a half-packed suitcase. It piqued his curiosity.

"Sorry, but...Will, are you going somewhere? I didn't mean to intrude. But I'm up to my neck in hot water. I really need your help."

"Oh yeah, I'm going on a vacation...a solo trip..." Wilson replied.

A tense few seconds of silence later, Wilson rose from the couch and offered Benjamin a drink. But he refused.

"Ben, we'll figure out something, alright? How about we have a beer, at least? You look all worked up. Please don't strain yourself. We'll sort this out, okay? I'll go get your drink."

Benjamin nodded and sat back. While Wilson was gone to fetch the drink, his gaze fell upon the half-open suitcase. Curiosity got the better of Benjamin when he peered inside and noticed two passports there.

Will just said he's going on a solo trip. Then how come he has two passports? Who is he going with?

With several questions fogging his mind, Benjamin lifted both passports, only to learn that one was Amanda's, but under an entirely different name. Even Wilson's passport was fake.

Two plane tickets to the Maldives popped out of one of the passports.

The air got clearer when Benjamin peered into the other bag and found wads of money and jewels stashed inside. It was his hard-earned money that Amanda had stolen from him.

Fury gushed into Benjamin's eyes. He clenched his jaws, and it felt like his veins would burst in anger.

Before he could process any of it, a shiver crawled up his spine as the cold touch of metal pressed against his back. It sent a tremor through his body.

"You could've lived longer had you stopped playing detective, Ben," Wilson's grim voice spoke as Benjamin slowly turned around, his hands raised in the air.

"You see this? One bullet right into your head...the game is over! I'll just place the gun in your hand and tell the cops you stole my gun and shot yourself due to depression!"

Beads of cold sweat broke on Benjamin's forehead. He knew he had to act fast. His heart pounded wildly when he saw Wilson's finger brushing against the trigger, his evil stare fixed on his temple.

"Any last words, Ben?"

"I'd ask you the same thing, Wilson, coz I already called the cops. They're on their way. They should be here any minute."

Benjamin's heart raced. He never called the cops. If they didn't show up in the next few minutes, Wilson would find out he had lied and finish him off.

But to his surprise, Wilson didn't choose to stick around any longer.

Grabbing the bag of money and passports, he turned around and dashed downstairs. Benjamin ran after him and struck his head with a ceramic vase he managed to grab from a table nearby.

Benjamin slowed down as he watched Wilson cup his head and groan in pain, dropping the money bag. He rolled down the stairs and blacked out. Suddenly, his phone buzzed, and a new number flashed on the screen.

Benjamin swiped to answer and stood in silence.

"You idiot, what is taking you so long? You know what? I'm coming there to pick you up. Be ready," the voice that Benjamin instantly recognized spoke. It was Amanda.

Ten minutes later, a car pulled into the driveway. "Wilson? Will? Where the hell are you?" Amanda rushed in, screaming.

She slowed down after seeing Wilson lying on the couch.

"Are you kidding me? We have a flight to catch, and you're sleeping now? Get your rear off the couch, Will. We're running late. We need to get out of the city before that old fool tracks us down. Are you even hearing me, you idiot? This is not the time to sleep. Get up!"

"What's the hurry, Amanda? Poor Wilson cannot hear a thing, so there's no point in screaming!" Benjamin's voice sent shivers down Amanda's spine.

"BENJAMIN??" she gasped.

As Benjamin inched closer, a cold sweat broke onto Amanda's temples as she backed off.

"Benjamin, it's not what you think. I can...I can explain. He made me do this. Please..."

"You know what, Amanda? I don't want your damn explanation! I got my money back. I know everything about you now."

"No, please don't. I'll not bother you or your family again. I'll go. Please, don't call the cops," Amanda pleaded with Benjamin as he leaned to take the money bag.

She thought he was going to call the cops.

"Don't worry, Amanda. I'm just taking the bag. I'm not calling the cops. I don't want to make you suffer. I'll withdraw the complaint from the station. I'm ready to forget everything you did to me...because I...I genuinely..."

Unable to talk any further or look into her eyes, Benjamin swallowed those unspoken words and left the spot with the money.

Later that evening, he transferred all the cash to his son's wife's bank account and called her.

"Please, Sarah, I know...I really understand. But I don't want you to tell Brian I was the one who gave him the money for the transplant. He'll start hating me more. I don't want my son to live with guilt for the rest of his life. He and his brother...they hate me. So please don't tell them anything. Please promise me...it's my last wish. Please."

Present day...

"...and that's how Mr. Gates lived the rest of his life in solitude, even his last days," Butler Victor finished recounting.

"Mr. Gates' business went bankrupt. He couldn't save it, no matter how hard he tried. He had to sell his house to pay all the debts. He then got a job as a janitor at the park and worked very hard to get by…

"He later moved into that small cottage in the same neighborhood he lived in for the rest of his life, just waiting for you boys...I used to meet him at church often. He told me he hoped his children would forgive him and reach out someday. He was always hopeful. But unfortunately...."

Victor swallowed his words as streaks of tears streamed down his face.

Brian and Christian exchanged a tearful glance.

The revelation hit them like a ton of bricks. The father they hated and never wanted to see again had gone above and beyond for them and had died while hoping for their forgiveness.

Brian and Christian approached the coffin and leaned on it. Their hearts ached to go back in time to see their Dad once, hear his voice, and tell him that they had forgiven him.

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