We spent a week at a beach resort, enjoying the sun, the sea, and each other’s company. I made sure Gran-Gran had the birthday celebration she deserved. We took countless pictures, capturing EVERY joyful moment.
Before we left I reassured everyone by informing them that Grandma was being discharged. I stated that her fall was due to stress. I assured them that I would take care of her and that they did not need to worry.
I shared the trip images on social media and tagged all of our family members. The captions included phrases such, “Best birthday ever!” and “Gran-Gran’s special getaway!” It didn’t take long for my phone to begin vibrating with calls and texts.
The first one was from my mom. “But you said the money was for the hospital!” she cried. “But you promised you would come to her brunch and you didn’t,” I replied calmly, then hung up.
Next, my brother called. “What the hell, sis? You tricked us!”
“And you broke Gran-Gran’s heart,” I shot back before ending the call.
Each family member received the same response. I felt a sense of satisfaction watching them squirm. They had let her down, and they needed to understand the consequences of their actions.
When we returned home, Gran-Gran was glowing. She hadn’t stopped smiling since we left! “Thank you for this, darling. It’s been the best week of my life,” she said, hugging me tightly.
“You deserve it, Gran-Gran. And don’t worry, next year will be even better.” From that day on, my family never missed another event. They showed up for every birthday, holiday, and Sunday dinner, but they still gave me a cold shoulder for what I did.
Some of them even tried to make me feel guilty. But whenever they did, I asked them, “Do you want us to go and discuss this with Grandma?” This usually got them to back off as they weren’t brave enough to face what they’d all done.
And every time I saw Gran-Gran’s happy face, I knew it had all been worth it! But a part of me felt a bit guilty for scamming everyone the way I did. So to all those who read my story, do you think I overreacted and took things too far?
What would you have done if you were in my shoes?
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