An Inheritance from an Ex-Husband or a Surprise from the Mother-in-Law A Gift from My Alcoholic Ex: Left Alone to Care for His Difficult Mother Ten Years After Our Divorce—But When She Passed, I Discovered the Unexpected Legacy She Left Behind

So, listen to this its honestly like something out of a telly drama. Years ago, Alices husband, Pete, who was a complete drunk, gave her the worst parting gift you could imagine: he left her to look after his mother. Theyve been divorced for a decade, not only because of his drinking, but also because he used to get violent with her. Naturally, after all that, they cut ties completely.

Their only son, Oliver, is grown up now, settled with his own family in another city, and he wants nothing to do with his dad I mean, whod want to, after what Pete was like? Pete wasnt much of a father anyway, barely cared for Oliver.

Anyway, one Sunday morning, Alice gets an unwelcome phone call: Pete had passed away. There was no one else around to sort the funeral, so it was down to Alice and Oliver to handle all the arrangements they gave him a decent burial, despite everything.

But then there was Petes mum to think about. She wasnt in great shape; elderly, frail, and to top it off, shed never exactly been a joy to be around. Every time Alice had to deal with her during the marriage, shed just made life more difficult.

This mother-in-law, Margaret, lived alone in a little house just outside town. After the funeral, Oliver headed back home hes got his own lot to look after. That left Alice to check in regularly on her grumpy old former mother-in-law. A couple times a week, Alice would pop in, bring over groceries (which Margaret always seemed to moan about, but scoffed down all the same), chop a bit of firewood honestly, not easy work at her age, but there was no way shed abandon an old woman whod clearly struggle on her own.

This routine went on for three months, and then, quietly, Margaret passed away too. And wouldnt you know, when Alice went through her will, it turned out Margaret left her the house and a rather tidy sum of money shed saved up over the years.

So, after all those years of grief and absolutely no thanks, thats what Margaret left Alice for her troubles the old place and a nice chunk of cash. Just goes to show, you never know how things will turn out, do you?