A girl married a wealthy old man—eagerly waiting for him to “kick the bucket”… But when the old man passed away, something absolutely unbelievable happened!
Riley had always known she was meant for a glamorous life. She couldn’t picture herself stuck in daily monotony, living in a shabby house with a husband who couldn’t fulfill her every whim.
She always wanted more—luxurious dresses, the sparkle of gemstones, vacations at resorts where champagne flowed like water. And most importantly—she wanted all of it without lifting a finger. She had no doubts or regrets. She simply knew: life offers opportunities to those who aren’t afraid to take them.
And finally, fate handed her a golden opportunity—a wealthy older man with a solid reputation and an impressive fortune. He was well past sixty, while she was only thirty.
So what? She knew she wouldn’t have to wait long. Time would take care of everything. She swept into his life like a spring breeze—light, fresh, dazzling. Samuel, enchanted by her youth, fell right into her trap.
“My dear Riley, who else would I leave all this to, if not you?” he would often say, gently stroking her delicate hand with his wrinkled fingers.
“You are the most precious thing to me, my love,” she chirped, lightly touching his shoulder.
But inside, she was coldly counting down the days. It wouldn’t be long now.
And then, one morning, her “beloved” old man didn’t wake up. Everything happened exactly as she had expected. Her tears at the funeral were perfectly staged, and her mourning attire was impeccably chosen. She played the role of the grieving widow flawlessly, and she could almost taste the sweet victory.
But when the lawyers and heirs gathered in the room to announce the deceased’s final will, Riley suddenly felt a cold shiver down her spine. Something was off…
The words of the will shocked everyone. But most of all—they shocked her.
“Regarding my real estate properties, bank accounts, and shares in the companies I own, they will be distributed as follows…” the lawyer paused, looking directly at Riley.
She held her breath, her perfectly made-up face contrasting sharply with the sudden pallor that overtook her.
“My entire fortune will be transferred to the Samuel Peterson Foundation for Abandoned Children, with the exception of $10,000, which will be granted to my wife, Riley Peterson, for immediate expenses.”
A murmur of shock rippled through the room. Riley felt the floor shift beneath her feet. Ten thousand dollars? After all her sacrifices, all those nights spent next to an old man who snored and constantly demanded attention? That’s all?
“This arrangement,” the lawyer continued impassively, “will take effect immediately, with the condition that the estate where Mrs. Peterson has resided for the past two years will remain available to her for three more months, during which time she must find alternative housing.”
Riley shot up from her chair, trembling with rage and disbelief.
“Impossible! There must be a mistake! Samuel promised me everything! He told me himself…”
“Mrs. Peterson,” the lawyer interjected calmly, “there is no mistake. The will was drafted six months ago and signed in the presence of three witnesses. It is fully legal and incontestable.”
“But I’m his wife!” she screamed, tears beginning to streak through her flawless makeup. “I have rights!”
“Indeed, you have the rights granted by law, which have been respected through this allocation. According to the prenuptial agreement you signed before the marriage, you are not entitled to anything beyond this amount.”
Riley collapsed back into her chair, her mind spinning. The prenuptial agreement… She had signed it almost without reading it, so sure that the old man would never change the previous will, where she had been the main beneficiary.
“There is one more element to the will,” the lawyer added, pulling out a sealed envelope. “Mr. Peterson left this letter for you, with instructions to deliver it after the reading of the will.”
With shaking hands, Riley opened the envelope and began to read.
“My Dearest Riley,
If you are reading this, it means I have left this world and you have just learned of my decision regarding my fortune. I am sure you are shocked and furious, and I fully understand your feelings.
I want you to know that I was aware from the very beginning of why you married me. I am not naive, my dear. At my age, I have learned to see through people’s facades. I knew you were eagerly waiting for the day I would die so you could enjoy my wealth.
But, surprisingly, I do not blame you for it. Life has taught me that everyone does what they believe necessary to survive and thrive. You chose this path, and I chose to let you believe you would succeed.
Why? Because the past two years with you, even if built on a lie, were enjoyable. Your false affection was more comforting than my previous loneliness. You were an excellent actress, and I appreciated the performance.
You might wonder how I discovered the truth. Well, modern technology works wonders. Your messages to your friends, laughing about ‘the old man who just won’t kick the bucket,’ your detailed plans for how you would spend my money after my death—all of it reached me. Don’t worry about how—the details no longer matter.
But I want to give you one final gift, one more valuable than the money you hoped for: a lesson. Learn that a life built on deception brings only disappointment. The $10,000 is enough for a fresh start. Use it wisely.
And the children who will benefit from my wealth will, I hope, learn that there is generosity in this world, not just self-interest.
Sincerely,
Samuel”
Riley let the letter fall from her hands. She felt the eyes of everyone in the room on her—some triumphant, others pitying. She stumbled out without looking back.
At home—in the mansion that was no longer hers—Riley collapsed onto the white leather couch that had cost as much as a small apartment. How had this happened? How had she been so certain, so careless?
Her gaze landed on the wedding photo hanging on the wall. Samuel was smiling enigmatically, while she beamed confidently, sure of her victory. Only now did she notice his expression—not that of a naive old man, but of a cunning fox who had known exactly what game was being played.
In the following days, Riley lived in a daze. The friends who had envied her fortune vanished overnight. The credit card bills for designer clothes and jewelry became urgent. The luxury store owners, who used to greet her with wide smiles knowing who her husband was, barely acknowledged her presence now.
Desperate, Riley began selling the gifts Samuel had given her. A watch, some jewelry, a fur coat—all gone for much less than they were worth. But the money ran out quickly.
A month later, just as she was preparing to leave the estate, the doorbell rang. It was Michael, Samuel’s lawyer, holding a thin folder.
“Mrs. Peterson, I’ve come to discuss the final part of the will’s arrangements.”
“There’s more?” Riley asked bitterly. “I thought you had already told me everything.”
“Not quite,” Michael said with a mysterious smile. “There is an additional clause that takes effect one month after Mr. Peterson’s passing.”
“What clause?” Riley asked, a flicker of hope reigniting in her chest. Maybe Samuel had only been playing with her temporarily? Maybe, after all…
“Mr. Peterson specified that after one month, you would be offered a job at his foundation. An administrative role, well-paid, under the condition that you work a full eight-hour day, five days a week.”
Riley was stunned.
“Why would he do that? Why offer me a job after… after what he wrote in his letter?”
Michael shrugged.
“I believe the answer is in this envelope.” He handed her another letter, similar to the first.
Riley opened it with trembling hands.
“Riley,
If you are reading this second letter, it means you haven’t run away yet, abandoning everything. It means you are still here, trying to figure things out.
I offer you this job not as revenge or humiliation, but as an opportunity. In the two years you were my wife, I noticed that beyond the greed and manipulation, you also have qualities: intelligence, efficiency, the ability to handle complex situations.
The foundation needs those skills. And you need a fresh start, one based on honest work.
The choice is yours. You can refuse and go back to your old ways—finding another rich old man. Or you can accept and discover that life offers deeper satisfaction when you contribute something real to it.
Michael will explain the details. The salary is generous, but you will work for every penny.
With hope,
Samuel”
Riley stared at the letter for a long time, then looked up at Michael.
“Why would he think I’d accept? After he tricked me like this…”
“You are not the one who was tricked, Mrs. Peterson,” Michael said flatly. “But if you mean the lesson he gave you, I think the answer is simple: because he saw potential in you that even you don’t recognize.”
That evening, standing on the balcony of the mansion for the last time, Riley thought about Samuel’s offer. A job. A career. Something she had never considered, convinced that her beauty was her only asset.
But maybe… maybe the old fox had seen something in her that she had failed to see in herself? Maybe all her scheming and planning actually proved skills that could be used for something real?
The next day, with her suitcases packed and ready to leave the estate for good, Riley made a decision. She dialed the number Michael had left and said simply:
“I accept the offer. When can I start?”
Three years later, Riley Peterson was the administrative director of the Samuel Peterson Foundation. Under her leadership, the foundation had doubled its efforts, helping twice as many children as before. She lived in a modest but comfortable apartment, bought with her own salary.
Sometimes, looking at Samuel’s photo on the foundation’s office wall, she smiled at the irony. The old man had indeed given her a better life—but not in the way she had planned.