An unusual letter provides the catalyst for one woman to uncover a secret kept from her for years, and receive unexpected wealth.
Gregory locked the door to the small corner shop where he’d worked as a cashier for the last twenty years. His coat was too old and thin to keep the chill from his bones as he walked home, but he smiled nonetheless. It had been another great day at work.
Gregory’s wife had never understood how he found satisfaction in what she called a low-level job. She’d left him because she felt he lacked ambition, but he still had his daughter.
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Linda was standing in the foyer of the apartment block where she and Gregory lived when he entered the building. She had also recently started working as a cashier and still wore her uniform. In one hand, she held a letter.
“What have you got there, Linda?” Gregory asked as he approached her.
Linda looked up, startled. “You tell me, Dad. I’m too scared to open it.”
Gregory frowned and took the letter from his daughter. The name of a legal practice was printed on the envelope.
“Why would a lawyer be contacting me?”
Gregory shrugged. He tore the envelope open and studied the papers inside. His jaw dropped, and his fingers began shaking as he read.
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“It’s bad, isn’t it?”
“It’s… strange. According to this letter, somebody has left you a business comprising three restaurants, and it’s worth nearly four million dollars.”
“What!” Linda snatched the letter from Gregory’s hands. “It’s got to be a scam.”
“I did this to find out whether you’re a good person.”
“There’s an easy way to find out.” Gregory leaned over to indicate the lawyer’s phone number on the letterhead.
Linda called the lawyer and arranged a meeting for the next day. Gregory accompanied her.
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“This has got to be a mistake,” Linda told the lawyer when they entered his office.
“I don’t know anyone who would leave me a business.”
The lawyer shook his head. “There’s no mistake, Miss. My client, Matthew Markham, was very particular in his instructions.”
Gregory felt as though he’d been electrocuted. “Please, say that name again.”
“Matthew Markham.”
Gregory understood everything then. He hung his head and burst into tears.
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A few months earlier…
Matthew shivered with anxiety as he approached the cashier. He set down the packet of gum and stared at the man who rang it up. The nametag on his chest said ‘Gregory.’ He was the right man.
“Sir? Are you okay?”
“Fine.” Matthew realized he’d zoned out and handed the cashier a five-dollar bill. “But I do need to talk to you. It’s about Linda.”
The man looked up sharply at the customer who had just uttered his little daughter’s name. “Is she in some kind of trouble?”
Matthew shook his head. “Do you have a few minutes, please?”
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Matthew and Gregory arranged to meet at a diner nearby during Gregory’s lunch break. While Matthew waited, he thought over the revelations that had brought him to this point.
A few days earlier, he’d been discussing his terminal illness with a close friend, Jeremy, and lamenting that he had no heirs to whom he could leave his restaurant business.
Then Jeremy dropped a bombshell on him: Matthew had a daughter he didn’t know about. His ex-girlfriend had died in childbirth, and the baby was placed up for adoption.
Matthew immediately hired a detective to track her down. Days later, he was finally sitting down with Gregory, the man who’d adopted his daughter.
Matthew explained to Gregory that he was Linda’s biological father and then asked the question that was foremost in his mind:
“Does Linda know she was adopted?”
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“No, and you can’t tell her, sir.” Gregory looked at him pleadingly. “My wife left me a couple of months back, and I can’t lose Linda too. Please, don’t take her from me.”
Matthew was torn. He wanted to know his daughter but didn’t want to cause problems for the man who’d raised her. He also didn’t want to upset his daughter’s life by introducing himself when he only had a few months more to live.
“What is she like?” Matthew asked. “Is she a good person?”
Gregory smiled. “She’s an amazing person. She’s kind and treats everyone equally.”
Matthew nodded. He was starting to get an idea.
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The next day, Matthew disguised himself as a poor man and went to the store where Linda worked as a cashier. He took a few essential food items to her checkout and waited while she rang them up.
“I’m sorry, Miss,” he said once she told him the cost.
“I can’t afford all of that. I’ve only got ten dollars.”
“Don’t worry about it, sir.” Linda smiled at him. “I’ll cover the rest.”
Matthew left the store and returned a week later. This time, he wore his finest suit. He chose several of the most expensive items in the store and again went to Linda’s checkout.
“Get out of the way,” Matthew shouted as he pushed his way to the front of the queue. “I’m in a hurry and need to be served fast.”
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He set his purchases down in front of Linda and waved his hands at her. “Hurry up, girl, I’ve got an important meeting to attend.”
“Then you’ll have to tell them you’re going to be delayed.” Linda pushed his purchases aside and gestured to the woman behind him. “You’re next, ma’am.”
“I need to be served first!” Matthew exclaimed.
“That’s too bad, sir. I don’t allow anyone to push to the front of the queue, no matter how important you think you are.”
Matthew grinned from ear to ear. “I’m glad you said that.”
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He reached for a bouquet of yellow lilies and placed the cash to pay for them on the counter. “These are for you, Linda. My name is Matthew, and I did this to find out whether you’re a good person.”
“Do me one favor, please, and remember my name when you see these lilies.”
Present day…
“Matthew is the name of your biological father, Linda,” Gregory said. “You’re adopted.”
“Why did you never tell me?”
“I’m so sorry. I never wanted you to feel bad about it. Then your mother left, and I was afraid you’d leave me too if you knew I wasn’t your real father.”
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Linda hugged him. “I’d never do that, dad.”
The lawyer cleared his throat. “As I was saying, my client bequeathed his three restaurants to you, his sole heir, when he passed away a month ago. These restaurants are each worth over a million dollars.”
“Mr. Markham also had a special request. He wanted me to give you something.”
The lawyer left the room and soon returned with a bouquet of yellow lilies, which he presented to Linda.
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Linda cradled the flowers in her arms. “I understand now.” She turned to Gregory. “He came into my shop once and asked that I remember his name when I see yellow lilies.”
Gregory placed a hand on Linda’s shoulder. “I’m sure he was very proud of you, Linda, and will continue to be proud of you from heaven.”
What can we learn from this story?
Treat people equally, and you will be rewarded. Matthew was encouraged to leave his business to Linda when he saw that she was a good person.
One can find happiness in a simple life. Gregory and Linda were both happy to work as cashiers and earn an honest living.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who discovers the house she’s been cleaning for the past ten years belongs to her.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
Taylor Swift’s Chiefs Game Outfit Called ‘Cringe’ – Fans Say She Looks Like a Teen!
Taylor Swift’s outfit at the Kansas City Chiefs game has caused a lot of talk online.
On October 7, 2024, Taylor Swift made a big entrance at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, play against the New Orleans Saints. Many were excited to see her, especially since she had missed two of his previous games. Her appearance was highly anticipated, and fans were eager to see what she would wear.
Her absence from earlier games sparked breakup rumors between her and Kelce. But by attending the game, she silenced those rumors and attracted a lot of attention from fans and photographers. Swift walked into the stadium wearing a short plaid dress and tall black boots.
In a close-up photo, Swift’s slight smile and fresh look were highlighted. Her dress had an off-shoulder design, which showcased her gold jewelry nicely. In another picture, she smiled even more broadly, with her bangs framing her face. Her hair was pulled back in a casual ponytail, combining a glamorous and simple style.
One of the most talked-about parts of her look was the glittery freckles on her face, which sparkled under the stadium lights.
Once her photos were shared online, people quickly voiced their opinions, which ranged from praise to criticism. One user joked, “I was wondering where my tablecloth [sic] went.” Another commenter criticized her boots, saying, “Bizarre boots!! They look awful on her.” Other comments included, “Is she dressed for football or a nightclub?” and “Grow up; she looks like a high school girl [sic].”
Many comments focused on her footwear, with remarks like, “She can’t walk in those boots. So dumb…” But other fans defended her, saying, “She’s a wonderful human and so talented!” Another fan chimed in, “She’s awesome. She’s looking pretty niiice [sic].” One user who wasn’t a big fan of Swift added, “Not exactly a fan…but loving her outfit!”
Her facial glitter also caught attention. One fan commented, “The face glitter? Are you kidding? She’s so cute!” Another said, “Taylor Swift makes the whole place shimmer.”
This isn’t the first time Swift has faced criticism for her outfits at Kelce’s games. Previously, on September 15, she attended a game wearing a red, oversized Kansas City Chiefs t-shirt as a mini dress, which fans labeled as “so trashy.” She paired it with thigh-high black leather boots, a black crossbody bag, and gold chains. Her signature hoop earrings and bold red lipstick completed her look, while her blonde hair fell in messy waves.
Swift made a fashion statement as she arrived and later cheered from the Chiefs’ VIP suite. While some fans loved her bold style, others were not impressed. One user questioned, “With all her money, that’s what she wears?”
More negative comments followed, with one saying, “Omg… again her outfit is so trashy… what’s happening to her?” Another remarked, “Looking like an old-fashioned street walker as usual.” Critics also pointed out that her outfit seemed out of place compared to other players’ wives and girlfriends, who wore more traditional game-day clothing. One commenter said, “She dresses like a teenager.”
Some wondered if her changing style was part of a strategy to gain publicity since her relationship with Kelce became public. “Her outfits are getting goofier. Does she really need the attention? Seems since Kelce, she’s all about PR,” wrote one user.
Critics said her style didn’t fit with the more traditional game-day outfits worn by the wives and girlfriends of other players. One commenter said, “She dresses like a teenager.” Some even wondered if her changing style was a way to get more attention since her relationship with Kelce became public. One person wrote, “Her outfits are getting goofier. Does she really need the attention? Seems since Kelce she’s all about PR.”
This wasn’t the first time Swift’s outfit at a game had sparked criticism. Back on September 15, 2024, she wore a red oversized Kansas City Chiefs tee to a game between the Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals. Some fans didn’t like how she turned the tee into a mini dress.
She paired the look with thigh-high black leather boots, a black crossbody bag, and gold chains. Hoop earrings and her bold red lipstick completed the outfit, while her blonde hair was styled in messy waves. She later cheered from the Chiefs’ VIP suite.
Some fans didn’t like this outfit either. One user asked, “With all her money, that’s what she wears?” Another said, “Omg… again her outfit is so trashy… what’s happening to her?” Some even compared her look to that of an “old-fashioned street walker.”
No matter what people think about her outfits, Swift continues to grab attention wherever she goes—on and off the football field.
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