What happens next? I asked. For now, we focus on stabilizing him, but when he’s awake enough to talk, we’ll need to understand his living conditions, and you may need to consider reporting the situation. I nodded. I will. But even as I said it, I remembered the words he whispered. They don’t know about, “Help me get revenge.” I didn’t know what he meant yet, but I intended to find out.
That afternoon, Grandpa woke up more fully for the first time. His voice was fragile, like paper rustling, but his eyes were sharp, sharper than I’d seen them in years. “Kido,” he whispered. I moved closer. “I’m here, Grandpa.” He looked around the room slowly, confusion giving way to memory. Then, to my surprise, he chuckled weakly.
“I bet your parents are enjoying their cruise.” I clenched my jaw. “Grandpa, why didn’t you call me or anyone?” He shrugged if you could call that tiny movement a shrug. phone line got cut off months ago. Your father said it was too expensive. I bit back a surge of anger and they left you without heat. His eyes softened, not with sadness, but something closer to acceptance.
They don’t want an old man around. I slow them down. Make them uncomfortable. That doesn’t excuse what they did. He squeezed my hand with surprising strength. No, it doesn’t. A long pause. Then he said, “They think they know everything. Think they’ve controlled everything, but they don’t know about.” He looked around as if checking the room for eavesdroppers, then lowered his voice even more.
“They don’t know about the documents.” I blinked. “Do he gave the faintest nod.” “Your grandmother.” She left things. Letters, wills, deeds. I hid them. Your parents never found them. They think I signed everything over. They think I’m helpless. He let out a faint breath. That might have been a laugh. I may be old, but I’m not stupid. I leaned in.
What kind of documents? The kind that change who owns what. The kind that show what they took. They’ve been siphoning money, using my pension. But they don’t know I kept proof. My heart pounded, not with anger this time, but clarity. This wasn’t just neglect. This was financial exploitation. How much did they take? I asked.
He closed his eyes. More than I want to admit. But enough that they’d rather I wasn’t around to tell anyone. A cold shiver went down my spine. He opened his eyes again, sharper now. You’re a marine, strong, smart. You know how to fight battles the right way. I need you to help me finish this one. I squeezed his hand.
Where are the documents? his lips curved into a determined, almost mischievous smile. “In the house, hidden where your father would never bother to look.” “I’ll tell you when I’m stronger.” “Okay,” I whispered. “We’ll get them, and we’ll make this right,” he looked at me with a mixture of pride and exhaustion. “Revenge,” he murmured.
