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.
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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.
Struggling to Find Love, She Matched with a Mystery Man Online and His Real Identity Blew Her Away – Story of the Day
Megan’s chaotic gala planning took an unexpected turn when she matched with a witty “MysteriousMovieGuy” on a dating app. Weeks of banter led to an invite to meet at the gala, but he declined, citing work. Little did she know, their worlds were about to collide most surprisingly.
Megan leaned back in her chair, pressing her fingers to her temples as the noise in the study room grew louder.
It was supposed to be a “think tank” session for the upcoming charity gala, but it had spiraled into chaos.
Papers were scattered across the table, coffee cups were dangerously close to spilling, and her friends were more interested in debating snack options than solving the real problem.
“Can we focus, please?” Megan groaned, her tone edged with frustration.
“The gala is in three weeks, and we still don’t have a keynote speaker. You know, the person who’s supposed to inspire the audience?”
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Sarah, sitting cross-legged in her chair, tapped her pen thoughtfully.
“What about that guy who wrote the book on workplace dynamics? He’s local and pretty well-known.”
Megan wrinkled her nose. “Too dry. We need someone engaging, someone who won’t put the audience to sleep.”
From the corner of the room, Liam snorted.
“Engaging, like you? Miss Overachiever herself?” He leaned back with a smug grin, clearly enjoying her irritation.
Megan shot him a withering look but didn’t respond. Instead, she reached for her phone, desperate for a distraction.
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A buzz on her screen caught her attention—a notification from the dating app she’d reluctantly joined a few weeks ago.
New match! Hello, you seem interesting. Tell me about the worst movie you’ve ever seen?
Megan’s lips twitched into a faint smile. She typed back without hesitation:
“Easy. That one where the dog talks like a frat boy. And you?”
The reply came almost instantly:
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“The one about the volcano and the cloud. Who thought that was a good idea?”
She chuckled, the tension in her shoulders easing as she read the response.
The conversation flowed effortlessly from there, pulling her into a world far removed from the chaos of the study room.
“What’s so funny?” Sarah asked, leaning over to peek at Megan’s phone.
“Nothing,” Megan said quickly, locking the screen and shoving the phone into her bag.
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But as the group continued their debate, Megan found her thoughts drifting back to the witty stranger on her screen.
For the first time that day, she felt herself relax, the weight of the gala temporarily forgotten.
Megan sat cross-legged on her couch, her laptop open but ignored as she scrolled through her messages with “MysteriousMovieGuy.”
Over the past few weeks, their chats had become her favorite part of the day.
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She’d found herself looking forward to his clever responses, hilarious take on bad movies, and the surprising depth he showed when talking about life.
She typed a quick message: “Pineapple on pizza is still a crime against humanity.”
The reply came seconds later. “Agreed. But we can all agree that garlic bread is sacred, right?”
Megan grinned, leaning her head back against the cushions. It was strange how easy it was to talk to him.
They’d swapped embarrassing childhood stories, debated their dream travel destinations (he wanted to hike the Andes; she dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights), and even created a ridiculous running joke about opening a “bad movie appreciation club.”
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Yet, despite all the banter and laughs, they hadn’t met in person. Megan didn’t mind at first—it felt like a fun escape from reality.
But now? Now, she wanted to meet him and see if their connection held up in the real world.
Picking up her phone, she typed out a bold message:
“Want to meet tonight? I’ll be at this fancy event, so it could be a fun surprise!”
She hit send before she could overthink it, her heart racing.
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The minutes ticked by. She checked her phone, refreshing the chat, her stomach twisting in nervous anticipation.
Finally, her phone buzzed. She opened the app to see his reply:
“I’d love to, but I can’t. I have a work obligation. Rain check?”
Megan sighed, the disappointment settling over her like a blanket. She stared at the screen, her mind racing with questions.
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What kind of “work obligation” did he have? Was he making an excuse?
Pushing those thoughts aside, she typed back:
“Of course. Good luck with work!”
Setting her phone down, Megan let out a long breath. Tonight would be busy enough with the gala.
Still, a small part of her wished he could’ve been there, even just to see if he was as wonderful in person as he was behind the screen.
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The College Ballroom buzzed with energy, the air filled with the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses.
Megan moved gracefully between tables, her clipboard in hand, ensuring everything ran like clockwork.
The soft glow of the chandeliers cast a golden sheen over the crowd, reflecting off her sequined dress.
Despite the glamour and success of the evening, a faint disappointment lingered in the back of her mind.
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“Megan!” Sarah called from across the room. “The dessert table’s running low. Should we bring out the backups?”
“Go ahead,” Megan replied, offering a distracted smile. She glanced at her watch, wondering when the keynote speech would begin.
Near the bar, Liam leaned casually against the counter, sipping his drink like he had no care in the world. Megan made a beeline for him, her heels clicking on the polished floor.
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“Where’s the keynote speaker?” she asked, exasperation creeping into her voice.
Liam gave her one of his trademark smirks. “He’s here. Relax, you’ll love him.”
“Liam—” she started, but the emcee’s voice interrupted her.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our keynote speaker, Chris!”
Megan turned toward the stage as polite applause filled the room. Her eyes widened as Chris stepped into the spotlight.
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He was tall, with a confident stride that exuded charisma. His sharp suit fit perfectly, and his easy smile was enough to disarm even the most skeptical guest.
Her breath hitched. There was something about the way he carried himself, his natural charm.
She didn’t recognize his voice but found herself captivated as he spoke. His humor was effortless, his anecdotes sharp and relatable.
The audience laughed and nodded along, hanging on his every word.
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Megan’s heart raced, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint why.
There was something eerily familiar about him—his mannerisms, playful wit, and the way he used just the right amount of self-deprecation.
When Chris wrapped up his speech, the crowd was on its feet, applauding enthusiastically. Megan clapped along, her mind swirling with questions.
“See?” Liam said, nudging her arm. “Told you he was good.”
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Megan barely heard him. She was too busy trying to shake the strange feeling in her chest. Who was this guy, and why did he seem so… familiar?
The hum of conversation filled the air as the gala afterparty hit its stride.
Guests lingered around the ballroom, their laughter and chatter blending with the soft clink of glasses.
Megan, still buzzing from the night’s success, scanned the room. Her eyes landed on Chris, casually leaning against the bar, a half-empty glass in his hand.
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“Okay, Megan,” she muttered, gathering her courage. “Time to stop overthinking.”
Her heels clicked softly as she approached him. He didn’t notice her until she was just a few feet away.
“Great speech,” she said, offering a confident smile.
Chris turned, surprised, his expression quickly shifting to warm amusement. “Thanks,” he replied. “Glad you enjoyed it.”
“I’m Megan,” she said, extending her hand.
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“Chris,” he replied, shaking it firmly. His grip was steady, his demeanor calm, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
“So,” Megan began, her tone light, “what’s a keynote speaker like you doing standing here all alone?”
Chris chuckled, gesturing to his phone.
“Actually, I’m not alone. I’m talking to someone.”
Megan’s curiosity got the better of her as her gaze drifted to his screen.
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Her heart skipped a beat when she caught sight of the familiar text exchange. The last message read:
“Rain check?”
She froze, her breath catching.
“Wait… are you ‘MysteriousMovieGuy’?”
Chris’s eyes widened, realization dawning as he stared at her. “And you’re… MovieBuff123?”
For a moment, they both stood there, stunned. Then Megan let out a laugh, equal parts disbelief and amusement.
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“You’re the guy I’ve been texting?” she said, her voice rising slightly.
“And you didn’t think to mention you were a keynote speaker?”
Chris grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Didn’t exactly come up. And you didn’t mention you were the gala organizer.”
Megan folded her arms, a playful smirk on her lips.
“Touché.”
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They laughed, the tension between them easing into something warmer.
“So,” Chris said, setting his drink on the bar and leaning slightly closer, “what now? Still want that rain check?”
Megan tilted her head, pretending to consider. “How about dinner instead? You owe me for dodging me earlier.”
“Fair enough,” he said, his grin widening.
Megan’s mind buzzed with questions and possibilities as they left the bar. But for the first time that night, she wasn’t overthinking.
She was just… excited.
She realized that sometimes, the best surprises aren’t planned. Sometimes, life connects the dots in its own unexpected, beautiful way.
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