Grandson Who Squandered $1.7 Million Inheritance To Impress Girl Learns Costly Lesson

The Prodigal Grandson

“The prodigal grandson has returned,” Grandma Griselda Ellis whispered at the door as the boy parked his car in her driveway. But her voice had no triumph, only a bitterness that had been there for months.

She wiped away the tears clinging to her lashes and turned around. Her grandson had returned despite the evils he’d done to her.

But he had no idea that he had been playing right into her trap. By the time he figured things out, it would be too late.

Coming Home

She was sad that it had come to this. She loved the boy more than life itself and only wanted the best for him. But he’d shown her his true colors for the last few days.

She watched from the top of the stairs as he walked through the front door, his head hung and eyes cast to the floor. He didn’t announce himself as was his habit.

Instead, his eyes tracked up to where she was, and he tried to smile but failed. He had no idea that the worst was still to happen.

She Never Thought It Would Come To This

But for sixty-year-old Grandma Griselda Ellis, things were supposed to end differently between her and her grandson, Jordan.

She’d been his sole guardian for the last two and a half decades after he lost his parents to a grisly road accident. She’d given him everything, from a wonderful and welcoming home to an education that would ensure his future was safe.

She only wanted the best for him, especially since he was the only link she had to her deceased daughter and son-in-law. She never thought it would come to this.

She Was His First

When Griselda first held Jordan in her arms, he’d only been a second old. Yes, she’d been the one to take him from his mother’s womb when he was born.

She’d been the first to wipe the birth fluids off him, place a gentle kiss on his forehead, and speak out his name as he drew his first breath and cried out.

Even then, she’d promised to give him the world. He was her everything, the same way her daughter, his mom, was. She had no idea it would all lead to this.

She’d Loved Before

Griselda had loved before. In her sixty years of existence, she’d experienced all that life had to offer. She’d known affection and appreciation the same way she knew heartbreak and heartache.

She’d loved desperately, especially when her late husband, Mark Jordan, was still around. When she lost him, she thought she’d never experience that love again.

Well, she was proved wrong that day in the hospital when little Jordan clung to her thumb with his little fingers. Griselda smiled with teary eyes, knowing she’d give anything to love and protect the little child.

Losing Meaning

Although Griselda never told anyone this, her life had lost meaning after she lost Mark Jordan. The sun wasn’t as bright, and the air wasn’t as crisp.

The grass wasn’t green, and the butterflies that usually flocked to her garden were more of a nuisance than something to smile about. Food lost its taste, and good music turned into ear-numbing noise.

But the birth of her grandson, named after her late husband, reignited a fire in her she never thought she’d experience again. In a day, her life had changed for the better.

His Favorite

Like many of her family members, Griselda couldn’t get enough of baby Jordan. He was a bundle of bubbling joy, with his dad’s large hazel eyes and his mom’s curly blonde hair.

He was always smiling and cooing and loved to spend time with people. Among his favorites was his dear grandma, of course.

Most of the family members loved to argue that this was because Griselda always brought him treats hidden in her purse. But she insisted she was just a delight to be around–no bribes of the edible variety whatsoever.

Growing Up

For five years, the Ellis family brimmed with happiness. Little Jordan grew up to be an energetic and equally curious little boy.

He was smart as he was decisive and caring. He always told the truth and maintained a kind heart throughout his life.

Everyone was proud of him because, in him, they saw the greatness that his grandfather had once embodied. But no one knew that exceedingly dark days lay ahead.

A Necessary Call

Disaster struck when Jordan was only six years old. One rainy night, Griselda, who had been watching over him, received a heartbreaking call.

Her daughter, Nelly, and son-in-law, Wilfred, had left their house early that evening, headed for a date night. But as the grandfather clock rang at 11 pm, Griselda’s phone started ringing.

She picked it up, surprised that she was getting a call this late at night. Usually, most people knew never to call her at night. She’d always kept calls for the daytime. But this one was necessary.

A Late Night Call

At first, Griselda thought it was a prank. Someone was insisting that there’d been an accident just outside town. Her son-in-law’s car had veered off the slippery road, trying to avoid a head-on collision with a school bus coming from a trip.

The car had wrapped itself around a tree just a few meters from the road. Both occupants had been pronounced dead when first responders got to the scene.

Griselda’s world came to a standstill as she looked at the number calling her phone. It was the authorities. This wasn’t a prank.

The Phonecalls

Griselda stood in her daughter’s living room for what felt like hours. Her grandson was asleep, oblivious to the staggering blow fate had just dealt them.

Her phone continued to ring as the town doctor and some of her friends started to call her. Her other children also tried to reach her.

The news had spread all over town in minutes. Griselda’s phone rang throughout the time she stood transfixed. She knew life would never be the same again.

Robbed

The days that followed were the worst Griselda had ever endured. Burying her husband had been a nightmare. She’d mourned him for months, barely able to leave her bedroom.

But at least Mark Junior had been at a ripe age of sixty-eight when he sadly passed away. Nelly and William were only twenty-eight and thirty. They had a long life of love, laughter, and memories before them.

They were to see their son grow up. They were to attend birthday parties, musical recitals, and football games. They were supposed to be there when he talked about his first crush and when he came home grinning after prom night. Life had robbed them.

The Aftermath Of The Burial

But Jordan had been robbed more. He’d looked up to his mom and dad, seeing them as gods among men. They’d been his everything, and he couldn’t understand why they were in coffins now.

But what hurt the most was the days that followed the burial. He’d wake up crying for them, as young as he was. He needed his mommy and daddy, but they wouldn’t answer his calls.

All he had was his extended family, headed by their matriarch, Griselda. Everyone came to help, from his relatives to his parents’ friends. But none of them was as hands-on as his grandma.

Becoming His Guardian

Griselda threw herself into grandma mode, giving it everything she had. She didn’t want to think about what she’d lost, only focusing on what she still had.

She called her lawyer and officially took over her son’s custody, becoming his legal guardian. As someone who’d worked tirelessly through her younger years, she had enough resources to take care of him.

She moved him to her manor in the South Carolina countryside, where he’d never want for nothing. But she had no idea how all this would turn out.

Living In The Country

Life in the countryside was quiet and fulfilling for Griselda and her grandson. Jordan grew up to be a remarkable teenager. He was just as kind-hearted as he’d been as a child and always went out of his way to help those around him.

Griselda had brought in help in the name of a nanny and maid to watch over him. She’d bought him everything he wanted, although balancing it with responsibility so she wouldn’t outright spoil him.

She took him to the best schools in the region and even paid for him to get into great sports and art programs outside of school. To her, Jordan was everything.

Seeing Him Grow Up

By the time he turned sixteen, Jordan was a six-foot gifted football player with a good understanding of theoretical physics. He also loved classical art and music, a perfect mix of his late father, mother, and Griselda, respectively.

Griselda had worked hard to mold her grandson after everyone and everything she loved. She watched as Jordan simultaneously embodied his mom, dad, and her.

At sixteen, he was already at the top of his classes while doing great in arts and sports. She knew that, eventually, he’d gravitate toward one of these interests, and she was okay with that. What she didn’t know was what he’d do to her.

Turning Eighteen

The changes in Jordan started happening when he turned eighteen and went to college. He’d been a good boy so far, always making Griselda proud in everything he did.

He’d drive her to church and attend mass with her, then join her in making cookies throughout the afternoon. He always made an effort to introduce his friends to her so she’d know who he was with when he wasn’t at home.

More than that, he never wanted to see her worry, mainly when the worry revolved around him. He’d work hard to solve any issues on his end, trying to protect her heart. But all this would soon change.

Is Something Wrong

Jordan had just returned home for spring break when it all began. He was as cheery and kind as usual, but Griselda noted something different about him.

He seemed to carry a weight on his shoulders, which he didn’t even know he had. The burden had dug deep into his skin, quietly weighing him down.

“Are you okay?” Griselda asked him. After caring for him since he was six, she could tell when something was wrong. Jordan shook his head with a smile.

Something’s Wrong

Something was wrong. Griselda could tell. Her grandson had barely looked at her while talking, only shaking his head and quickly walking off.

He’d never been one to keep secrets, especially from her. He knew how much she adored him and that she’d give anything to help with his issues. So why was he holding back today?

Griselda counted a few minutes before following him to his room. She knocked gently on the door before walking in. And that’s when she caught him red-handed.

Caught In The Act

“Grandma!” Jordan yelped and jumped up, pulling the scrunched bed covers over him. Griselda turned around quickly, hoping she hadn’t seen something she wasn’t meant to see.

But the scene played in her mind immediately, and she realized that her son had just hidden his laptop under the sheets.

“What are you hiding from me, Jordy,” she asked calmly, even though her voice carried the authoritative tone she rarely used with him.

His Friend

Jordan spoke up immediately. He knew how strict his grandma was. Pulling up the laptop, he showed Griselda a closed video call between him and some individual named FunniCat.

“Is that a friend from college?” Griselda asked. She didn’t want her son to feel out of place for having new friends, and she could tell that whoever this FunniCat was was a female.

She could also tell that her Jordi liked them, given that he was going through this much effort to hide them. Griselda had no idea that this individual would ruin her very life.

Ask Her Out

That evening, Griselda asked about this individual her son had been talking to on his laptop. She could tell that the person was the source of Jordan’s distress.

“You like her, mh?” she asked, and when he shyly nodded, she offered to help. “How about you invite her for a date? I’ll give you my car as long as you are responsible for it.”

Jordan’s face lit up, but his smile quickly faded away. “Do you think she’ll say yes?” he asked. Griselda nodded, unaware of the chain of events she’d just set in motion.

A Successful Date

Griselda reminded her son that he was the descendant of powerful men and women. He was not meant to be fearful or have second thoughts. He was meant to strike at the neck and claim victory at every turn.

She watched as Jordan’s smile reappeared, and he squared his shoulders. “Let me go ask her right now,” he declared with a grin, and she nodded at him.

The two went on a date a week later, and Jordan wouldn’t stop smiling about it. Griselda had barely seen him this happy of late and wanted to meet this woman who was quickly changing his life. But the meet-up would go differently than expected.

Meeting Elise

Griselda had spent years teaching her grandson to be a good judge of character. So, you can imagine her surprise when she met the woman who had seemingly snared Jordan’s heart.

The lady in question, Elise, could have been better when it came to personality. She was covered in tattoos and piercings, which Griselda didn’t mind. She had her tattoos, which held irreplaceable memories.

What she didn’t like was how Elise carried herself. The woman was outright rude and inconsiderate, with little to no manners. On her first visit, she broke one of Griselda’s priceless vases, among other things, and didn’t care enough even to apologize. But things would go from bad to worse very soon.

She Disapproves

Of course, Griselda talked to Jordan afterward, telling him what she’d seen. After sixty years on earth, she knew a thing or two about human character, behavior, and nature. What she’d seen in Elise scared her to the core.

“You need to stop talking to her,” she said, trying not to sound too stern, even though she was afraid. “She’s not good for you.”

But Jordan’s face fell. He’d wanted his grandma to like Elise. But the visit had the opposite effect. But he wasn’t going to give up so easily.

His Plan

It was clear that Griselda disapproved of Elise. So Jordan devised a plan to get them to spend a day together on neutral ground. He chose their town’s fair, which he knew both ladies loved.

But he didn’t tell Griselda that she would meet and spend the day with Elise. Instead, he masked it as just a visit to the fair for candy and corndogs.

Griselda was surprised to find Elise waiting for her and her grandson. But instead of leaving, she decided to give the girl another chance. It was then that she learned another world-shattering information.

More About Elise

Griselda discovered that Elise was seven years older than Jordan. She also found that the girl knew too much about their family, especially Griselda’s line of work.

It was as if she had been eyeing the Ellis family for a while, trying to find a way to infiltrate it. Griselda was on edge when she reached this conclusion, but she couldn’t deny her grandson’s happiness with the woman.

She discovered that Elise had finished college a while back and worked at a pizzeria in Jordan’s school. That’s how the two had met. Would she give her a chance as Jordan had?

She Wants To Accept Her

Griselda had rarely been one to judge people based on their first impressions. Her mind wanted to like Elise, seeing how happy she made Jordan.

But her heart couldn’t allow it. She’d had enough brushes with opportunists in her long life to smell them from a mile away.

She didn’t want to admit it, but deep down, she knew Elise had the hot opportunist stench about her. She’d scented the Ellis fortune and wanted to sink her claws into it.

Warning Him

Again, Griselda warned her grandson about the woman and pleaded with him to stop seeing her. “You’re still young,” she said. “You’ll have your fair share of ladies in life. You will love it, and you will laugh. You will be thankful.”

She insisted that Elise was nothing but trouble. But her grandson was love blind. He glared at his grandma for the first time in his existence and banged the door behind him when he walked away.

He didn’t talk to her throughout the remainder of spring break, and when it was over, he packed his bags and left for school. The damage was done. But worse was yet to come.

An Empty House

Griselda woke up to an empty house the following day. Jordan had left in the dead of night without as little as a goodbye. When Griselda tried his phone, it went straight to voicemail.

She tried calling his friends, but none of them had seen him. Even his landlord, who oversaw his apartment at school, hadn’t seen him.

Worried, Griselda jumped into her car and drove to his college. She went straight to his apartment and, true enough, found the door locked with no signs of life inside. Where was her grandson?

The Local Pizzeria

Griselda remembered Jordan mentioning he’d met Elise at the local pizzeria where she worked. She drove there immediately and was surprised to find out that the girl had recently quit her job.

“She ran away to be with that blonde-haired, green-eyed puppy dog of hers,” one of the workers answered, and Griselda had to stare daggers at her as a warning against calling her grandson a puppy dog.

“Where does she live?” she asked, and the worker quickly gave her Elise’s address. Griselda drove there immediately, unaware of what she was about to uncover.

Going To Elise’s

Griselda didn’t bother knocking on the door. She twisted the doorknob and called out to her grandson when it didn’t move. When no answer came, she went to the next apartment and asked if they’d seen either Elise or Jordan.

But no one had seen the two. Griselda’s heart started thundering as she realized she was slowly losing her grandson. Where was he, and why wouldn’t he pick up her calls?

She called over the apartment complex caretaker, and after explaining who she was and the power she held, he opened Elise’s apartment. It was time for the truth.

He’s Been Living There

Griselda was surprised to discover that most of Jordan’s belongings were already here as if he’d been living here for months. It didn’t make sense, as he and Elise had only started dating mere days ago during spring break.

When Griselda asked the caretaker if a blonde-haired boy had been frequenting the apartment, the man nodded, saying Jordan practically lived there. Griselda held in a frustrated scream. Her grandson had lied to her.

She headed straight home, wondering when Jordan had started lying and what else he was hiding from her.

Cutting All Contact

Griselda decided not to contact her grandson again. That’s what he wanted and expected. If she left him to dry out for a while, he’d worry and reach out. But the boy didn’t.

For a whole week, he kept quiet, not even texting her to tell her he was okay. It took everything within Griselda to hold her ground.

She loved Jordan, after all. The boy was among the few people she had left on this earth, and she cherished him more than life. But lately, it seemed like he was slipping away from her.

He’s Back

She was about to call him one morning when he suddenly appeared at her bedroom door. He was well dressed and groomed, with his usual grin as if he hadn’t put her through one of her worst nightmares.

Then, he asked her if she could give him some money, an outrageous $1.7 million. Over the years, Griselda had been teaching him proper money management, hoping that he’d better handle the family finances when she was gone.

She’d wanted him to be the head of the house and had also told him about his inheritance, which was a little over one and a half million dollars. It was supposed to be his protection throughout life, but it seemed Jordan had other plans for it.

More Lies

The first thing he did was explain how he’d been the happiest in the last few days. He told her how much Elise had completed him and that he only wished for his grandma’s acceptance and blessings. Well, those and the $1.7 million.

He talked about it being his inheritance and how it was rightfully his. He mentioned that he felt confident he could start life now with Elise by his side.

He was already eyeing a beautiful cottage just outside town that he and Elise liked and had already applied for a few jobs. “I can do this,” he said. But Griselda could see right through the lies.

An Excellent Liar

Going to Jordan’s school had taught Griselda one important lesson. Her grandson was an excellent liar. She’d also found out that he had been absent from classes for a few weeks now and had four missing marks in the last exams he did.

He’d also failed to turn in several school projects, each important for his overall grade. Griselda looked at him with furrowed brows, knowing that Elise was the one pulling the strings.

“Did she put you up to this?” Griselda asked in a calm tone. When Jordan didn’t answer, she got up, hands on her waist. “If you do this, there’s no coming back from it.”

He’s Rich

Jordan nodded. His face was slicked in sweat, and he was worried his grandma would say no. He’d been bragging to everyone in school about how rich he was.

He talked about her manor as if it were his, saying that it would all be his if she passed. He even went into detail about his inheritance, which is why Elise had been so interested in him.

Talking to a few students in his college had revealed all these things to Griselda. She was beyond heartbroken that she’d failed her daughter and son-in-law this much. She needed to rectify things before it was too late.

Hatching A Plan

“Fine,” Griselda said. She’d already hatched a plan. Walking to her home office, she phoned her lawyer, who was over in the next twenty minutes.

She explained what was happening, and even the lawyer was amazed to hear that Jordan wanted his cut of the inheritance well before its time.

“It’s his wish,” Griselda said in a sad tone. She had her fingers crossed, hoping her plan would work. The lawyer agreed to release the funds as instructed.

Las Vegas

But before letting her son sign the inheritance clearance, she begged him to take the day to read through it. She didn’t want him to throw away his life like this. But of course, Jordan couldn’t wait to be a millionaire. Soon, he had all the money he wanted. He left immediately and, about a week later, called to inform Griselda that he was doing okay. But that’s when things started to take a turn for the worse.

He couldn’t explain it, but he found himself in Las Vegas that very week, with an expensive sports car leased under his name and one of the priciest penthouses in the city allocated to him.

Draped over his lap was Elise, who had been egging him to do all these things. She kept telling him his grandma had more money and it would all be his when she passed. How about they just enjoy what they have and not worry about tomorrow?

Disaster

Young and naive, Jordan fell into her trap. He spent every dime on her or in casinos with her. He’d always heard about how huge a million-plus dollars was.

People usually had problems spending it all in a week. But not him. Only five days after he’d called his grandma to tell her he was okay, he’d already been kicked out of the penthouse. He also owed the casinos three million dollars.

As expected, Elise flew into the wind the moment things turned sour. Her name was not in any of the documentation, so there was no legal basis for involving her in the ugly aftermath.

Griselda Knows

As a woman well connected in society, it didn’t take long for word to reach Griselda’s doorstep. Her grandson’s escapades were what she’d expected someone who needed proper financial training to do.

She wept through the night, hating that it had come to this. But now it was time to enact her plan. She should have been kinder because she still loved Jordan more than herself.

But the lines of war were already drawn, and she could not back down from her promise. She needed to teach him a lesson he would never forget.

The Fine Print

Griselda stood on top of her manor’s staircase as her grandson walked through the front door, beaten and battered by life. He tried to smile at her, but one look at the glare emanating from her and his eyes cast to the ground.

“You are no longer welcome here,” she said. “This is no longer your home. Didn’t you read the inheritance’s fine print?”

When Jordan’s brows furrowed, she threw a copy of the document at him. She’d highlighted the clause in red, showing where it stated that if her son took the cash and blew it in less than a month, she’d seize being his guardian and pull him out of her will.

Consequences

Jordan read the highlighted part, his heart thundering. He remembered how his grandma had begged him not to sign his name on that paper. She’d begged him not to throw his life away because of a woman he barely knew.

But he had not listened. He had been in a hurry to leave, wanting to see what adventures the outside world had in store for him.

But now, after everything had been said and done, he was back where he thought he’d never return, with nothing to his name save a three million casino debt and the clothes on his back.

His Wish

“I warned you,” Griselda said. She’d already set her eyes on other grandchildren, who, although young, would take the mantle of her family and guard it with everything they had.

She had Jordan take all his belongings from the house and leave. She hoped the world would teach him more lessons before she accepted him back into her fold again.

Although that would happen a year later, and Jordan would return wiser and better, she’d not renounce her words and add him back to a will. He’d have to fend for himself now, as that was his wish.