“Your mother sold her house to someone a week before her death,” the lawyer told the two men. “How could she do that?” one of them growled before the lawyer handed a sealed envelope to the brothers. “Here, read this. It’s a letter from your late mom,” he said.

Mark and Peter were surprised to learn their mother had sold her house for $1. “One dollar? Is this some kind of joke?” Mark asked. The lawyer handed them a letter from their mother.

“Dear sons, I know you must be reading this letter… Mark and Peter, you are my only children, and I love you with all my heart… I believe I have failed. After our last interaction, I realized my upbringing didn’t teach my sons to be compassionate. Instead, I spoiled you and made you arrogant.”

Their mother, Ruth, had felt abandoned when they left her at a nursing home. She sold her house to Samantha, a nurse at the home who had no family. “I want you to buy my house from me for $1,” Ruth told Samantha. “Don’t let my sons know about this plan until I die.”

Reflecting on their actions, Mark said, “It’s all because of what we did with her in the past few months.” They remembered how they left their mother at the nursing home and lied about her condition. Ruth found solace in Samantha’s care, leading her to change her will.

Family is more important than money. Mark and Peter realized this too late. Samantha’s kindness was rewarded when she became the owner of Ruth’s house.