Years of Hard Work
Without a college degree or financial safety net, Eugene found work in construction. The job was physically demanding, but he showed up every day, working long hours without complaint.
Some nights, after a grueling shift, he would take out the envelope and stare at it. He had no idea what was inside. A letter? A message? A last piece of advice?
But a promise was a promise.
Then, the day finally arrived—the tenth anniversary of his father’s passing.
That evening, Eugene sat at his small kitchen table, staring at the envelope. After a deep breath, he carefully tore it open.
Inside was a single slip of paper. Four words.
“Meet my lawyer. —Dad”
An Unexpected Gift
Confused but intrigued, Eugene followed the instructions. At the law office, he met Mr. Calloway, the attorney his father had entrusted with the message.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” Mr. Calloway said with a knowing smile.
Eugene sat stiffly in the chair, his heart pounding.
“Your father came to me before he passed,” the lawyer explained. “He set up something for you—a test, in a way.”
He slid a folder across the desk. Eugene opened it.
Inside was a savings account balance—an amount that left him speechless.
$400,000.
His father had saved every penny he could and left it to Eugene. But there had been one condition—Eugene could only access the money if he worked hard for ten years.
“If you had opened the envelope early,” Mr. Calloway said, “you would have received nothing.”
His father had wanted to ensure he valued hard work before receiving the gift.
A Legacy That Lasts
As Eugene held the letter from his father, his chest tightened with emotion.
“I am proud of you. Now you know the value of this money.”
Stepping outside into the fresh air, he knew this money could change his life. But he wouldn’t stop working—his father had made sure of that.
Looking up at the sky, he smiled.
“Thanks, Dad.”