Simon wasn’t surprised that he didn’t inherit much from his father. All he got was the old, dilapidated holiday home that no longer had any material value. Although his father’s possessions were impressive, he had not included Simon in his will. Simon had just never been his favorite child. His brothers and sister laughed sardonically in his face. But as the saying goes: “He who laughs last laughs best”. They’ll soon stop laughing when they learn what their brother found in the old house
Erst Lacht Die Familie
The Proclamation Of The Will
Simon was reluctant to go to the proclamation of the will. His siblings wanted to talk about inheritance division at the family reunion. When he got there, he could see from his siblings that they didn’t want him here. But he was entitled to his compulsory portion and Simon was determined not to be turned away. He knew his rights and only wanted what was due to him. His siblings eventually had more than enough. His brother said with a condescending smile, “Simon, you can have the old cottage.”.
The Proclamation Of The Will
Who Laughs Last…
Six months after this meeting, Simon would see his siblings again and tell them what he had found in the old mansion. Simon felt the sense of satisfaction as he looked at their faces and saw their confused expressions. It slowly dawned on them. Just what had they done? His siblings immediately regretted their reckless decision to give the old house to Simon. But why? What had Simon found in the old cottage? And why did everyone treat Simon like the “black sheep” of the family?
Who Laughs Last…
From A Rich Family
Simon has three siblings – 2 brothers and a sister. He was the youngest child in the family. Simon and his siblings grew up in very wealthy and sheltered circumstances. His father was the manager of a large company. Business was very good and the family had everything they needed and more. His mother stayed at home and looked after the four children. In his early childhood, family life was characterized by love and harmony.
From A Rich Family
The Little Nest Stool
Simon was the family’s typical little sitter. His brothers and sister loved him more than anything. They played with him, took care of him and taught him everything they knew. Simon lacked nothing. His mother hardly left his side and lovingly cared for him. Simon didn’t see his father very often because he had to work so much. Only on family vacations, which they spent together in their holiday home, was the whole family together.
The Little Nest Stool
The Death of the Mother
Simon’s mother died suddenly when Simon was 8 years old. From that moment on, the father was like a different person. He couldn’t even look Simon in the eye anymore. Simon felt his father hated him for some inexplicable reason. But he never knew for sure what triggered his father’s change in behavior. Perhaps it was because his mother was no longer able to protect him or because he reminded his father of his mother, as he resembled her the most of all his siblings.
The Death of the Mother
The Funeral
His mother was buried a few days after her death. Simon was still too young to really understand what had happened. He missed his mother and just wanted her to come back to him. He wanted to feel her warm embrace and hear her loud laughter. But she didn’t come back. And Simon had to deal with it on his own because he couldn’t talk to anyone about his feelings. Everyone had turned away from him. His father made it clear to him that he no longer had a place in the family.
The Funeral
No Place For Simon
A day before the funeral, his father had bought all the siblings a new outfit for the occasion. Without looking at Simon, his father explained that there was only money for three new outfits and therefore he would not get any. This was the first time his father treated Simon clearly differently than his siblings. At first his siblings were confused by their father’s changed behavior, but they soon got used to it and it changed their behavior towards Simon as well.
No Place For Simon
No Education
Soon his siblings were treating Simon just as condescendingly as their father. Shut out from everything, Simon was on his own most of the time. His siblings had now moved out and were attending the best universities in the country. When Simon finished school, his father made up a flimsy excuse and told Simon that he would not get any financial support for college. Simon didn’t even ask for an explanation because he knew his father wouldn’t answer his questions.
No Education
Finally An Education
Simon was forced to look for an apprenticeship. He was happy with his job, but his job didn’t pay nearly as well as his siblings’ jobs. They had meanwhile completed their studies and worked as lawyers, businessman and doctor. As announced by his father, Simon had received no financial help and lived a modest life on his small income while his siblings lived in luxury. Simon had chosen not to hate his family, but his father’s behavior had left its mark.
Finally An Education
The Lives of the Rich and Beautiful
While Simon, like all normal people, worried about how to provide for his family and how to pay all the bills, his siblings lived in the lap of luxury. Even though they had enough money, their father gave them anything they asked for. He paid them an annual vacation, helped them buy houses, and regularly invited them to upscale events and celebrations. It wasn’t easy for Simon to watch and know that his father would never give him the same attention.
The Lives of the Rich and Beautiful
Visits From Father
Simon had meanwhile built his own life. He had leased a small farm and was trying to make ends meet. Simon loved life in the country. It was quiet and he could leave his family problems behind. He was reminded of the whole situation only once a year, and that was whenever his father came to visit. It was like a kind of mandatory event for the father and he behaved like that. Simon wondered why he was doing this at all, but he was still his son after all.
Visits From Father
A Nice Life
Anyone who thinks that Simon is lost in self-pity is wrong. He didn’t want to give his family that satisfaction. He made a conscious decision to make the best of his life. And so he married the love of his life and together they had two daughters. Simon’s past had shaped him and he was determined not to make the same mistakes as his father. He loved both children equally and taught them to love each other unconditionally. Even though his life was near perfect, an aching scar from the past remained.
A Nice Life
Major Ilness
The years rolled by. Simon was happy to see his daughters grow up to be sensitive and sincere people. He and his wife had done everything right. One day Simon got a call from his brother. He immediately suspected that it was about his father and he was right. His brother informed him that his father had passed away. Simon was the last to hear the news, which didn’t surprise him much. His relationship with his father had grown so cold that he felt no sadness when he found out about his deathnear perfect, an aching scar from the past remained.
Major Ilness
A Surprising Invitation
Despite not having a good relationship with his father, he and his wife decided to attend the funeral anyway. He knew that it would have been important to his mother that he pays his last respects to his father. At the funeral he was approached by his siblings. They asked him to attend a family reunion the next day to discuss his father’s legacy. Simon was surprised. Why did they want him there? He was sure his father had left him out of the will
A Surprising Invitation
Doubt
Simon thought back and forth for a long time. Should he really go and meet his siblings? For all these years they had treated him like “dirt” and suddenly they invited him over to talk about the inheritance? He was sure that his father hadn’t mentioned him in his will. But then the scales fell from his eyes. Even in this case he was still entitled to a mandatory share. Simon knew he had to take the chance and at least try to get as much as he could. Not for himself, but for the sake of his children!
Doubt
His Behavior
His siblings met in his father’s old office. As soon as Simon entered the room, he regretted his decision to come. The atmosphere was negative and his siblings didn’t even look at him. Everyone acted like he wasn’t there. Simon could hear from the conversation that his siblings had already split up most of the fortune. So why was he here? His brother condescendingly explained that Simon would get the old holiday home. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back…
His Behavior
Enough Is Enough
Simon had developed a thick skin in recent years. Nothing could faze him that easily. He knew how to protect himself from being hurt by his father and siblings, but now he was at a loss. He felt humiliated. A heated discussion broke out between him and his siblings. Simon didn’t mince his words and finally said everything that he had been eating over the years. It was good to finally get everything off my chest, even if his outburst of anger didn’t particularly impress his siblings.
Enough Is Enough
A Malicious Plan
After Simon had calmed down a little, they explained to him that they had divided the fortune equally. In doing so, however, they had paid attention to the value of the properties at the time they were bought. The holiday home had been worth a great deal at the time. But nothing was left of the value and the siblings knew that all too well. On paper, however, it looked as if Simon had received more than the mandatory share. Thanks to their evil plan, his siblings didn’t even have to pay him the compulsory share.
A Malicious Plan
Simon’s Legacy
Simon no longer had the energy to argue with his siblings. He didn’t stand a chance against the three anyway. He decided to do the only thing he could do: take the house, put the past behind him, and never see his siblings again. On the same day, Simon drove to the old holiday home that stood lonely and deserted on the beach. It was in terrible condition. Nevertheless, Simon associated many fond memories of his mother and the holidays together with this place.
Simon’s Legacy
Trip To The Past
As Simon stood in front of the old house, the memories came alive. He closed his eyes and breathed in the salty sea air. He remembered the times when his mother was still alive. How she would push him on the swing or walk him hand in hand along the beach. He could hear her laughing as they sat together at the breakfast table and told funny stories. Simon felt tears welling up in his eyes. He wondered what his life would be like if his mother had not died.
Trip To The Past
The Interior Of The House
Simon took a deep breath and walked down the narrow path to the front door. He’d been given the key at the family reunion. It was a mess. Simon wonders if there might have been a break-in here or if youngsters had made fun of vandalizing the old house. It broke Simon’s heart to see the house in this condition. Before he looked around any further, he wanted to take a closer look at his old roof.
The Interior Of The House
Simons Old Woman
Heart pounding, Simon climbed the stairs to the first floor. He walked cautiously down the hallway. Back left – that was his old room. Not surprisingly, the intruders hadn’t stopped at his room either. But even in the chaos he could recognize something. His gaze wandered around the room and settled on his bed. Suddenly a thought shot through his head, a long forgotten memory. Could it really be possible that it’s still there?
Simons Old Woman
Desperate Search
Simon froze. He hadn’t thought about it for decades, but suddenly this old story came back to him. What had happened back then exactly? He didn’t remember all the details, but it had to be around here somewhere. His hope mixed with the fear that maybe it wasn’t there anymore. Simon tried to calm down and not let the panic overwhelm him. If he found it, he could get back at his siblings for their contemptuous behavior. He could just imagine her facial expression. And then it occurred to him again…
Desperate Search
Under His Bed
It had to be something to do with his bed. The bed had finally evoked the flashback in him again. The memory slowly came back. Under the bed! He had to look there first. He carefully moved the bed away from the wall, revealing the wooden floorboards underneath. It didn’t look like anyone had tried to move the bed in years. This fact gave Simon hope. He couldn’t remember the exact spot, but after some trying and pulling he was able to loosen one of the wooden boards.
Under His Bed
A Small Chest
Simon almost didn’t dare to look. Was it really still there? He groped his hands in the cavity. Simon let out a whoop of joy. It was actually still there. And that’s more than 30 years later. He could hardly believe his luck. It was like a huge weight had fallen from his shoulder. He carefully pulled out the small chest. Devoutly he wiped the dust off and solemnly held them in his hands. Just as he was about to open it, something unexpected happened…
A Small Chest
Someone’s Knocking At The Door
He had his hand on the latch when he suddenly heard a loud knock on the door. Who could it be? Had his siblings changed their minds after all? Simon quickly pushed the box back into the cavity, secured the board in place and pushed the bed back against the wall. Heart pounding, he descended the stairs and opened the door. To his great surprise, there were two police officers there who didn’t seem happy about Simon’s presence.
Someone’s Knocking At The Door
The Interrogation
Simon had not reckoned with the police. While he was relieved that it wasn’t his siblings, he wondered if they might have been joking and set the cops after him. The two officers eyed Simon critically from head to toe. Before Simon could even say a word, the two officers were talking to him. They asked him one question after another without really giving him a chance to answer them. Who are you? What are you doing here? How did you get into the house?
The Interrogation
Explanation
Simon waited patiently for the officers to calm down and then answered all questions truthfully and as calmly as possible. Simon had done nothing wrong and he knew he was right. He told officials that the house had been in the family for decades and that he inherited it after his father’s death. After his explanations, the officials relaxed. It turned out that they were called by the neighbors who saw Simon enter the house. That struck them as very suspicious.
Explanation
The House Was Confiscated
The police understood Simon and they said they would not press charges. However, they also had to tell him that the government had been trying to confiscate the house for years. The reason was that the house had been empty for decades and it was to be used as living space again. So far they hadn’t been successful because Simon’s father wasn’t officially registered as the owner and they couldn’t confiscate the house until they knew who the owner of the house was
The House Was Confiscated
No Turning Back
Simon had expected a lot, but this news came as a complete surprise to him. But he could understand the government, because his father had completely neglected the property and living space was now in high demand. He asked the police to enter the house again to take some personal belongings out of the house. But the response from officials was disappointing. They said that the moment they informed Simon of what had happened, the house had been legally confiscated and they were not allowed to let him back into the house. Those were their rules.
No Turning Back
Panic
Simon felt a pang of panic at that answer. He just wanted to take his little chest with him. He wasn’t very interested in the house anyway. He tried to convince the officers to let him in for a few more minutes, but the officers stood firm. They couldn’t be convinced. Simon prayed inwardly that no one would find the chest. The content could change his life. Quite apart from that, he was finally able to pay his siblings back for years of humiliation.
Panic
Lawyer Search
Officials informed Simon of the official deadline. He had a few days to take legal action against this decision. If he won the court, the house would be his again. But who should he commission with this sensitive case? Simon didn’t know anything about these things and actually couldn’t afford a lawyer. At least not yet. The only lawyer who might help him was his brother! Of course he wouldn’t do it out of the goodness of his heart, but he certainly wouldn’t miss the chance to squeeze more money out of Simon.
Lawyer Search
The Lawyer Peter
Simon had to take a deep breath and prepare emotionally for the conversation with Peter, his brother and lawyer. He knew he had to control his temper no matter how derogatory Peter treated him. Even if his brother would feel like a winner at that moment, it was he who really won if his plan worked. He had nothing to lose, so Simon picked up the phone with a trembling hand. Peter laughed for five minutes when he heard the story. Simon needed all his strength to control himself.
The Lawyer Peter
One Of Many
Once Peter had calmed down, he began talking matter-of-factly to Simon about the legal aspects of the case. For Peter, Simon was just a new case, one of many. Simon had hoped that Peter would at least give him a small family discount. Of course he didn’t. He enjoyed his superiority and made it clear to Simon during the conversation that he didn’t see him as his brother, but just another customer. Simon had no other choice. He needed Peter because he knew Peter was one of the best lawyers.
One Of Many
In Court
Peter got to work immediately and appealed the government’s decision. After a few weeks, the matter went to court. The negotiation was anything but easy, but Peter understood his subject and won. He had done everything to prove to Simon how good he was. Luckily for Simon! Now the house was officially his again. The only condition the court set was that Simon had to renovate the house within six months. Should it then be uninhabitable, the government would repossess the property.
In Court
The Home Winner
Simon didn’t care about the condition, all that mattered to him was that he had won the month-long legal battle! The house rightfully belonged to him and so did the contents of the house. When Peter handed him the bill for his legal fees, he laughed openly in Simon’s face. He believed the house was not worth much more than his work. Simon swallowed hard when he saw that the whole process had cost him €5,000. 150 euros per hour is not exactly a “family tariff”. But soon that wouldn’t matter anymore…
The Home Winner
A Family Outing
Simon couldn’t wait to get home and break the good news to his wife. He ran into the house and told his wife and children that the house was finally theirs. To celebrate, Simon wanted to take her to the house. Simon’s wife no longer understood the world. Why was her husband so excited about owning a property that wasn’t worth much more than the legal fees? But she trusted her husband completely and got ready for the family trip together.
A Family Outing
Trust
Of course, Simon’s wife had many questions. She had seen the bill the lawyer had given them. She and Simon had bought the small farm last year and yet they already had so much debt. How was her husband going to do it? The house wasn’t worth much after all and the court had now imposed the condition on him to renovate it. Those were expenses they couldn’t afford. What was her husband up to? And why was he so relieved and happy? She hadn’t seen him like this for a long time. But in the end, trust was a choice and her husband had never let her down!
Trust
The Solution To All Problems
On the way, Simon’s wife tried to find out more about Simon. But Simon wanted to wait with his explanation. He preferred to show it to his wife. Everything would make sense if he handed her the contents of the chest. While Simon was relieved to have won the house back, he was very tense at the same time. What if it was gone? His whole plan depended on the chest. If she were gone, he would have to disappoint his family and sell the house to pay off the debt. All the work and effort would then have been in vain…
The Solution To All Problems
Is The Chest Still There?
As soon as they arrived at the house, Simon jumped out of the car and ran to the house. With shaking hands he opened the door and sprinted up the stairs. He stopped in front of his old room door and took a deep breath in and out. Then he opened the door. His forehead was sweating with excitement. He pushed the bed aside and lifted the floorboard. The chest was still there! Tears of friends and relief ran down Simon’s face. Nobody had entered the house since his last visit.
Is The Chest Still There?
An Old Ad
A huge burden fell from him. He took the chest in his hands and carefully carried it downstairs, where his family was waiting curiously for him. He placed the chest on an old table and slowly opened the lid. All eyes were intently on the chest. Nobody knew exactly what to expect. Simon hadn’t checked the content himself either. Was it still there? Inside was something wrapped in velvet. Simon carefully pushed back the velvet and everyone gasped when they saw it…
An Old Ad
A Treasure
They couldn’t believe it, there were actually four gold watches in the velvet. They hadn’t been touched in years and were therefore in perfect condition. The watches were of the Rolex brand and were among the most expensive watches on the market. Even those who knew nothing about watches could see at first glance that the watches were worth a fortune. But where did the clocks come from? What were they doing under Simon’s bed? Simon put the watches aside and finally told his family the full story.
A Treasure
A Petty Thief
He talked about the family vacations together in the holiday home. About his beautiful childhood and his mother. Then he brought up the fateful day when he and his father got into a big fight. It was only a small matter, but the then 8-year-old Simon was badly injured and decided to take revenge on his father. The most valuable thing his father owned was the collection of these watches. So he would sneak into his father’s safe at night and put it in the chest and hid it under his bed.
A Petty Thief
Out Of Fear
Actually, Simon just wanted to scare his father and return the watches the next day. But he hadn’t expected his father’s reaction. He was beside himself when he noticed the “theft” and immediately called the police. At the time, Simon didn’t know how much the watches were actually worth. A small family quarrel turned into a big story involving forensic investigators, police officers and detectives. Little Simon was completely intimidated by what was happening and too scared to admit that he had taken it.
Out Of Fear
Forgotten
A few weeks after the incident at the holiday home, Simon’s mother died unexpectedly and Simon had other problems to think about than the clocks. He completely forgot the clocks had ever existed and were hidden under his bed. Until the day he stood in front of his old room door. Today he was aware of the value of the watches. His father never believed in money as an investment and therefore invested his fortune in real estate and Rolex watches. The watches were now worth millions. If he were to sell just one of these watches, he could easily pay off his farm debts, legal fees, and home renovations!
Forgotten
A New Meeting
In the meantime, 6 months had passed since the proclamation of the will and the humiliating family reunion with his siblings. They had tried to take away from Simon himself what was due to him by giving him the old holiday home. Now it was finally time for Simon to triumph and celebrate his victory. He called his siblings and asked them to come to the old cottage. His siblings were surprised by the call, but they were sure that Simon had bad news. He probably hadn’t managed the renovation and needed help again.
A New Meeting
Simons New Life
Simon’s siblings had trouble finding the house because they couldn’t believe that the new house could really belong to Simon. In the place where the old cottage used to stand, there was a house that put every cottage in the neighborhood to shame. That just could not be the case?! How did her brother pay for that? The poor bastard couldn’t afford that, could he?! They stood helplessly in front of the beautiful new house. But where was Simon? They looked around and when they saw him they were shocked…
Simons New Life
His Secret
Simon drove up in a brand new, expensive sports car. Simon couldn’t help but grin when he saw his siblings. He didn’t even bother to get out. He pressed an envelope with 5,000 euros into Peter’s hand and drove away without a word. He wasn’t going to tell his siblings about the clocks. The satisfaction that they would not find out until the end of their lives where he suddenly had so much money was priceless. Can he and his children finally lead a carefree and happy life? However, it turned out differently..
His Secret
New Wealth
Finally, Simon and his family had paid off all their debts. It was an incredibly good feeling. They even had some money left over and decided to go on vacation with the family. Finally they could afford the nicest hotels. But was everything too good to be true?
New Wealth