Chapter 5 - The Grandchildren
A month passed, and the bitter cold of winter began to slowly fade.
Margaret was sitting in her sunroom, enjoying a cup of tea while reading a novel.
She looked peaceful, rested, and completely free of the constant stress of managing Daniel's disasters.
Suddenly, her phone rang with a FaceTime request.
It was an unknown number, but the area code belonged to Claire’s parents.
Margaret hesitated for a moment, then accepted the call.
The screen flickered, and suddenly, the sweet, innocent faces of her two grandchildren appeared.
“Grandma!” eight-year-old Leo smiled, his missing front tooth making him look adorable.
“Hi Grandma,” six-year-old Mia chimed in, waving a small stuffed bear at the camera.
Margaret felt a sharp, painful ache in her chest, but she forced a warm smile.
“Hello, my darlings,” Margaret said softly, her eyes tearing up slightly.
“We miss you, Grandma,” Leo said, leaning closer to the screen.
“Dad said you moved away to the North Pole and that’s why we couldn't see you on Christmas.”
Margaret’s jaw tightened at the sound of Daniel’s pathetic lies.
He couldn't even take responsibility for his actions in front of his own children.
“I didn't move away, sweetie,” Margaret replied gently, keeping her voice calm.
“But I am so happy to see your faces, are you being good for your mother?”
“Mommy cries a lot,” Mia said innocently, completely unaware of the weight of her words.
“And Dad doesn't live with us anymore, he sleeps in a small apartment.”
Margaret closed her eyes for a brief second, absorbing the reality of their broken family.
Before she could say another word, the camera jerked violently as someone snatched the phone away.
Claire’s tired, angry face appeared on the screen.
“Who gave you this phone, Leo?” Claire snapped at the children off-camera.
She turned her furious gaze back to the screen, glaring at Margaret.
“Don't you dare try to manipulate my children, Margaret,” Claire hissed bitterly.
“I wasn't manipulating anyone, Claire,” Margaret said calmly, completely unbothered by the woman’s rage.
“I was simply answering a call from my grandchildren.”
“You ruined our lives!” Claire sobbed, the anger cracking to reveal pure desperation.
“Daniel is broke, we are losing the house, and I have to move in with my parents!”
“I didn't ruin your life, Claire,” Margaret stated firmly, her voice carrying absolute authority.
“You and Daniel built a life on stolen foundation, and I simply removed the support beams.”
“If you want someone to blame, look at the man you married.”
Margaret reached forward and tapped the screen, ending the call immediately.
She immediately dialed Arthur, her lawyer.
“Arthur, check the educational trusts for Leo and Mia,” Margaret ordered.
May you like
“Ensure that their tuition at the new public school district is covered for extra tutoring if they need it.”
She loved her grandchildren fiercely, but she would never let Daniel use them as a financial weapon again.
