When Grandma Discovered Her Grandson Wanted to Evict Her, She Sold the Flat Without a Second Thought
Why take out a loan when you can just wait for Grandma to pass and inherit her flat? That was the logic of my husbands cousin, Rupert. He had a wife, Emily, and three children, and the entire family lived in anticipation of their inheritance. They refused to deal with mortgages, preferring to dream of the day Grandmas flat would be theirs. For now, they squeezed into Emilys mothers cramped two-bedroom house in Brighton, by the sea, and it was clear the arrangement was wearing them down. Rupert and Emily whispered more and more about how to “resolve” the Grandma problem.
But Grandma, Mrs. Eleanor, was a force of nature. At seventy-five, she brimmed with energy, lived joyfully, and never complained about her health. Her flat in central Brighton was always full of friends. She mastered her smartphone, attended art exhibitions, went to the theatre, and even indulged in harmless flirts at senior dance nights. She radiated light, and her life was a lesson in savouring every moment. But to Rupert and Emily, this wasnt a source of prideit was pure frustration. Their patience had run out.
They decided Mrs. Eleanor should transfer the flat to Ruperts name and move into a care home. They didnt even disguise their intentions, claiming it would be “better for her.” But Mrs. Eleanor wasnt one to back down. She refused firmly, igniting a blazing row. Rupert erupted, calling her “selfish” and shouting she “ought to think of her grandchildren.” Emily stoked the flames, hinting Grandma had “lived long enough.”
When my husband, Thomas, and I found out, we were horrified. Mrs. Eleanor had always dreamed of travelling to Indiaseeing the Taj Mahal, breathing in the spice markets, losing herself in the streets of Goa. We suggested she come live with us, rent out her flat, and save for the trip. She agreed, and soon her spacious three-bedroom flat in the city began turning a profit. When Rupert and Emily discovered this, they threw a fit. They believed the flat was rightfully theirs and demanded Grandma let them move in. They even accused Thomas of “manipulating” her for money. Rupert went as far as demanding the rental income, calling it his “fair share.” We shut that down immediately.
Emily started appearing at our house almost dailysometimes alone, sometimes with the kids, always bearing ridiculous gifts. Shed ask how Grandma was, but we saw right through itshe and Rupert were still waiting for Mrs. Eleanor to “pass” and leave them the inheritance. Their greed and shamelessness were staggering.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Eleanor saved enough and left for India. She returned glowing, her suitcase packed with stories and photos. We suggested she keep going: sell the flat, travel more, and live with us in her later years, in peace and comfort. She thought it over and took the leap. The flat sold for a handsome sum, and with the money, she bought a cosy studio on the outskirts of Brighton. The rest funded new adventures.
Mrs. Eleanor explored Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. In Switzerland, during a stroll by Lake Geneva, she met a Frenchman named Pierre. Their romance was like something from a filmat seventy-five, she married him! Thomas and I flew to France for the wedding, and it was incredible to see her in a white dress, surrounded by flowers and smiles. Mrs. Eleanor deserved that happiness. Shed worked her whole life, raised children, helped grandchildrenand now, at last, she was living for herself.
When Rupert learned shed sold the flat, he lost his mind. He demanded she hand over the proceeds, claiming she “had enough already.” How he planned to fit five people into a studio remained a mystery. But we didnt care. We were just glad Mrs. Eleanor had found her place in the sun. As for Rupert and Emily? Their story is a reminder that when moneys involved, even family can show their true colours.
