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After Winning the Lottery, the Ungrateful Adopted Son Comes Back to Support Me
NovelShort
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My husband and I couldn't have our own kids, so we adopted a boy. We were great to him and always open about his adoption. But after our company tanked, he cleaned out my jewelry box, cut us off, and ...
章節（8）
第1章
My husband and I couldn't have our own kids, so we adopted a boy.
We were great to him and always open about his adoption.
But after our company tanked, he cleaned out my jewelry box, cut us off, and left us in the dust while he was still in college.
I was frantic, scared he'd gotten into trouble, so I reported him missing.
When I finally got him on the phone, he shut me down cold, "Stop calling me. You're not my family anymore."
After I hit the jackpot with a 200 million dollars lottery win, there he was, kneeling before me with his wife and kid, offering to take care of us.
It was pretty clear what he was after.
***
My husband, Grant, and I were on cloud nine about winning 200 million dollars from the lottery. While we were dreaming of mansions, fancy cars, and exotic vacations, the doorbell rang.
Before I could ask who it was, a man, a woman, and a little kid about four years old came bursting in.
It was our ungrateful adopted son, Colin Harris.
Since we couldn't have children, Grant and I had adopted Colin from an orphanage when he was seven. He seemed so sweet and vulnerable back then, and we fell hard for him.
For the next fifteen years, we showered Colin with love and never pushed him into anything. The year he graduated from college was the same year our business collapsed. The failure hit Grant hard, landing him in the hospital.
We had to sell several properties to pay off debts and employee wages.
That was when Colin disappeared. He took my jewelry and cut off all contact.
Back then, I was knee-deep in sorting out the bankruptcy and taking care of Grant at the hospital, barely ever home.
It wasn't until Grant was discharged that I found out about Colin's disappearance and the theft.
Remembering those days when I couldn't reach Colin terrified me. Worried something awful might have happened to him, I quickly decided to report it.
When we finally reached Colin, he coldly told us, "You were well-off when you adopted me, but now you're bankrupt and sick. I don't owe you anything. Anyway, I have no obligation to pay off your debts and take care of you. Don't contact me again."
Grant and I exchanged a heavy look.
I thought, "Colin's timing couldn't be more ironic. Just as Grant and I land a massive lottery win, he shows up. How convenient."
第2章
As soon as Colin walked in, he dropped to his knees alongside the woman and the little boy. He announced, "Mom, Dad, I'm back. This is my wife Mila Harris, and my son Jasper Harris."
Mila gave us a quick hello, then nudged Jasper, saying, "Say hi to your grandma and grandpa, sweetie."
Jasper sweetly called out, "Hi, grandma and grandpa."
Grant and I just stared. I said coldly, "Why are you here, Colin? I thought you wanted us out of your life."
Colin, still on his knees, replied, "Mom, when I left after college, it was because I knew the company was tanking. I didn't want to be another worry for you. And I planned to come back when I could actually help."
Grant scoffed. "Oh, really? So we should thank you for running off with our money and jewelry, huh?"
Colin kept a straight face and continued, "I was young and stupid. I thought leaving was helping. But now that I'm a dad, I get it. Nothing beats being there for your kid. That's why I'm home now. I'm not going anywhere. I want to take care of you, Mom, Dad."
We hadn't told a soul about the lottery win. People would do crazy things for money. I knew Colin too well. He wouldn't have come back if he didn't want something. But I was still trying to figure out what he was really after.
Grant and I locked eyes, understanding each other instantly. We stood united at the door, pointed to the hallway, and said, "We didn't need your help four years ago, and we sure don't need it now. Get out, Colin. And don't make me call the police."
第3章
Colin and Mila obediently walked out, but they didn't leave. Instead, they knelt down in the hallway. Colin began crying out loud, "Mom, Dad, I know I'm not your flesh and blood, but I really want to come back and take care of you. I admit I upset you back then, but it's been years. Could you forgive me, please?"
Soon, a few neighbors gathered in the hallway to see what was going on.
With Grant's heart condition, I was worried he might get another heart attack from the stress, so I hustled him into the bedroom. I blocked the door and called out to Colin, "When your dad and I were struggling four years ago, you took off with our valuables and told us to leave you alone. Now you expect us to believe you want to take care of us? Not happening."
Colin was taken aback by my bluntness. I'd always been one to keep up appearances.
But losing our business four years ago showed me that appearances mean nothing. After all I'd been through, I couldn't care less about them now.
Colin and Mila just kept begging and stopped trying to explain themselves.
It was a hot day, and with no air conditioning, Jasper was sweating buckets and crying his eyes out.
The neighbors couldn't stand watching and started to intervene.
"Whitney, Colin's your only kid. No need to hold grudges. He's clearly sorry, why not give him a chance?"
"Right, and eventually, he's going to inherit everything, right? Let the jewelry thing slide. It's more important he's back."
"Look at your sweet grandson, crying like that. How can you stand it?"
"Even if Colin isn't your biological son, you can't do this to him. He's sincerely apologizing. How can you be so cold?"
I realized why Colin had left my place as told. He had planned this whole act.
I wasn't mad, just laughed a bit and told the neighbors, "If you all love a kid who takes off with family stuff during tough times, then I wish you kids just like him. Hope your grandkids and great-grandkids do the same to you."
My words hit hard, and the neighbors went silent.
Tired of the drama, I shut the door.
Colin and Mila stayed on their knees for over an hour outside our door. Seeing that I was firm about not letting them in, they finally left.
第4章
For the next few days, Colin and Mila, along with Jasper, showed up every day and knelt in the hallway for hours.
Each visit, they brought loads of fruits, vegetables, clothes, shoes, and even jewelry.
I never took any of it, just let them stack it all up by the door.
The neighbors seemed to relish the drama, stopping by daily to offer superficial advice while expressing sympathy for Colin.
Colin really leaned into the role of the prodigal son. He didn't blame me at all, insisting that he was at fault and deserved whatever punishment we deemed fit. He even claimed he'd wait forever for our forgiveness, whether or not it ever came.
My peaceful life was completely disrupted by this daily soap opera.
Colin's actions made Grant and me even more suspicious that he knew about our lottery win. I knew Colin wouldn't just give up.
One day, Colin claimed he wanted to rent an apartment below ours to take care of me and Grant. Playing along, I softened up and invited Colin and his family to stay in our guest room.
Though Grant was still angry, he listened to me. Tossing and turning at night, he asked, "Whitney, have you really forgiven Colin? I can't shake the feeling he's back because he knows about the lottery win. Even if it wasn't for the lottery, it must be about the money."
I simply nodded and said, "I know."
Grant looked even more baffled. "Then why let him stay?"
Not wanting to hide anything from Grant, I showed him the live feed from the security camera I'd installed in the guest room. "I've set up cameras. I need to know why Colin really came back. If he's genuinely sorry and doesn't know about the lottery, I'll consider forgiving him. But if he's just after our money, I won't think twice about kicking him out."
第5章
I soon picked up Colin and Mila's conversation through the phone.
After putting Jasper to bed, Mila tiptoed over to scope out where our bedroom was. Making sure we were asleep, she whispered, "Colin, do you really think your parents will forgive you and just hand over this apartment?"
Colin nodded. "Back when they sold a property and Dad was hospitalized, I thought they were deep in debt, so I left. Five years on, their lifestyle hasn't dipped at all. I'm starting to think they pushed me out on purpose, making me struggle while they lived comfortably."
It was clear Mila was just like Colin. They were birds of a feather.
Mila bought into his theory. "It adds up. Their business problems popped up just when you graduated and needed money to start your own venture. And once you left, their debts magically cleared up."
Colin snorted. "Exactly, so I had to come back. They chose to adopt me, so they've got to own up to that. They didn't give me a dime for my wedding. Now with Jasper about to start school, I need to secure their apartment during this holiday."
Mila nodded, pausing before adding, "Your parents seem pretty hard-hearted, especially your dad. Plus, he seems to do whatever your mom says. I doubt you'll easily get the apartment."
A grim look crossed Colin’s face. "I'll give them two months. If they don't forgive me or start coughing up some cash, I'll just..."
He mimed slashing his throat. "I'm their only family, after all. Everything will eventually be mine."
Colin sneered and continued, "Don't think I'm being cruel. I'm doing this for my kid."
Mila seemed taken aback, but after a glance at Jasper, she nodded.
第6章
Grant nearly passed out from anger, and had to pop a few nitroglycerin pills to steady himself.
He was ready to confront Colin right then and there, but I stopped him. "Don't do that. You'll just end up making yourself sick, and that won't help anything. Now that we know what they're up to, I've got a plan."
I whispered a quick plan to Grant. He hesitated, but eventually nodded in agreement.
In the following days, Colin and Mila did everything they had promised when Colin was kneeling at our door. They took great care of us and did everything we asked.
Grant and I pretended to be moved by their actions. One night after dinner, I hugged Colin, tears in my eyes. "It's so good to have you back, Colin. Your dad and I have really missed you these past few years."
Colin was also tearful. We ended up crying together, looking like a family that had genuinely made up.
We spent the entire night in tears. The next day, I put on a show of making a tough decision. I sat Colin down in the living room, laying out some IOUs and a rental agreement.
I began, "Colin, all these years, your dad and I really wanted to reach out to you. But with all our debts, we didn't want to drag you into it. I wanted to forgive you right when you returned, but I was scared the creditors would come after you. You know... I was at a loss."
I dabbed my eyes with a tissue I'd secretly prepared by rubbing it with onion, making myself cry more convincingly. "But you and Mila are right. We're family. We should clear the air, no matter the misunderstandings. You two coming back to take care of us shows you're good kids. It would be wrong to push you away now."
Grant also dabbed his eyes, pretending to wipe tears. "Actually, our apartment lease is almost up. Could you help us out with the rent?"
第7章
Colin's face fell the second I finished my first sentence.
Mila looked even sourer. She'd spent the last month trying to please us by cooking and doing laundry. I bet she was regretting it now.
Mila and Colin exchanged a look before Colin stood up and asked, "Mom, Dad, are you serious? Are these IOUs and the rental agreement real?"
Indeed, they were. Actually, the apartment Grant and I were living in had been sold to settle some debts. It just so happened that the investor who bought it had no intention of living here and rented it back to us.
Grant nodded. To convince Colin, Grant pulled out the original contract and the payment records and showed them to Colin.
The more Colin read, the angrier he seemed to get.
Finally, he snapped. He threw the IOUs and rental agreement at us. "So, you knew you were broke and you still made us wait on you hand and foot?"
Grant and I feigned deep hurt. "Colin, how can you say that? We may not be related by blood, but we raised you all these years. We've had a tough time these last five years and never meant to bother you. If you hadn't come to us, we wouldn't have asked for anything."
Mila sneered, "You're barely getting by and yet you kept us in the dark. If you really cared about Colin and Jasper, you should have come clean about your finances from the get-go."
I chuckled awkwardly, pretending to be embarrassed. "Weren't you the one who was kneeling outside, saying you came back to take care of us?"
Colin gave me a scornful look. "Come on, you're an adult. Use your brains. You're not my biological parents. Why should I have to support you?"
Grant dramatically clutched his chest, feigning hurt. "Then why did you come back?"
第8章
Mila, holding Jasper, headed straight to the bedroom. It looked like she was packing up to leave.
Colin looked down at Grant and me, saying, ""We want you to transfer this apartment to me, sell it, and buy a place in a good school district. Otherwise, Jasper will start at a disadvantage."
I pointed at Colin, my hand trembling slightly. "So, you came back just to get the apartment from us? Not because you missed us?"
Mila came out with her bags packed. "Seriously? You actually believed that? If we really wanted to take care of you, would we have waited this long? If I'd known you were broke, I wouldn't have come. I've spent quite a bit on groceries and fruits these past few days. Pay me back now."
I shook my head repeatedly. "How could you lie to us, Colin? Your dad and I are old and have no income. We're going to court to demand support from you."
Colin gripped my arm tightly, glaring. "I knew you two old fools were no good. Fine, let's go to court now and disown each other."
Grant and I hadn't expected to get what we wanted easily. But seeing the hesitation in Colin's eyes, I guessed he still had doubts and was testing us. So, I refused to go to court.
Finally, Colin lost his temper and slapped Grant to the ground. Crying, I agreed to go to court to dissolve our family ties.
Colin even took the little cash and few pieces of jewelry left in my room. Then, he dragged Grant and me to court, where we officially ended our parent-child relationship.
Once we got the paperwork, Grant and I couldn't help but laugh.
Colin stared at us, puzzled. "Have you two lost your minds?"
We ignored him and walked to a luxury car parked nearby. The driver immediately opened the doors for us. It was then that Colin realized he'd been duped.
He rushed over, trying to stop us. "You were lying to me, weren't you? You do have some money, right?"
Grant chuckled. "It's not just some money, Colin. We're sitting on 200 million dollars. But thanks to you insisting on severing ties, we don't have to share a dime with you."
Colin and Mila were stunned. They tried to approach us, but several bodyguards quickly stepped in and blocked them.