“But it’s a simple thing we’re asking and the compensation we’re offering more than makes up for it, don’t you think?”
I twirled the pen in my fingers and stared at the page. $100, 000 for one small lie… but would that mean Archibald would go to live with his late owner’s sister, the one contesting the will?
I remembered Mr. Grayson’s face when he held the cat.
The way he’d thanked me, and the kindness in his eyes. And how Archibald had purred so loudly when Mr. Grayson held him close.
“I’m sorry,” I said, setting the pen down and sliding the affidavit back to him.
“I can’t do that.”
“I don’t think you understand what you’re turning down,” Peters said. “This kind of money could change your life.”
“I understand perfectly. The answer is still no.”
That night, I lay awake questioning my decision.
The money would have changed everything. Every creak of the house, every drip of the faucet seemed to mock my choice. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Mr.
Grayson cradling Archibald, and I knew I’d done the right thing.
The next morning brought another knock. This time, Mr. Grayson stood on my porch, his expression grave.
“I heard about Mr.
Peters’ visit,” he said. “I came to apologize for inadvertently dragging you into this mess.” He handed me a small wooden box and an envelope. “A token of my gratitude for your integrity.”
Inside the box was a delicate silver locket.
When I opened it, I found a tiny photo of Archibald.
“It was Eleanor’s favorite,” he said softly. “She wore it every day. Said it kept him close to her heart.”
But the real shock came when I opened the envelope.
Inside was a deed of trust for a small rental property.
“It’s modest,” he said, noting my stunned expression.
“But it should make up for the trouble. Eleanor would have wanted you to have it. She always believed in rewarding kindness.”
The property’s rental income wasn’t a fortune, but it was enough.
For the first time in years, I could breathe. I quit my soul-crushing office job and set up a small ceramics studio; something I’d dreamed of since college but never had the courage to pursue.
At my first craft fair, I met James. He came to buy a bowl and stayed to talk for hours.
He was kind, intelligent, and made me laugh without trying.
This time, I didn’t rush. We took things slow and got to know each other. He understood my past, my fears, my dreams.
Six months later, when he proposed under a sky full of stars, it felt right.
The morning I discovered I was pregnant, I sat in my backyard, watching the sun rise over the same stone wall where Archibald had appeared. My hand rested on my stomach, and tears of joy ran down my cheeks.
Everything I’d ever wanted was finally within reach.
Nine months later, I held my daughter for the first time. James kissed my forehead, and I felt complete.
Mr. Grayson sent flowers and a tiny silver locket.
Sometimes I think about that morning, about the cat who changed everything. The $100,000 would have helped for a while, but what I gained instead was beyond price.
🤔🤔🤔
Source: amomama
