Inheritance Unveiled: The Hidden Secrets of a Run-down House
While Sister Inherits Mansion, Brother Gets Run-down House and Finds a Hidden Floor There
When their parents’ will was read and an unequal distribution of their properties was discovered, Freddy and Hazel’s sibling relationship fell apart. However, once he settled into the abandoned house he was given, Freddy found a trap door that opened to a secret room and explained why he had been granted it.
As the lawyer read his parents’ will, Freddy tightened his fists next to his sister Hazel and her smug fiancé, Mark.
Fidgeting in her chair, Hazel broke off, “Mr. Schneider, but why did I get the main house?”
With slightly lifted lips, Mark spoke up and said, “Your parents met me.” They are aware that we intended to get married and start a family. Given that Freddy enjoys traveling and has never brought a girlfriend home, a prospective family should rightfully inherit the large house.”
“Really?” Sarcastically, Freddy shot back, but only because he was annoyed by Mark’s constant attitude.
“Obviously, your parents agree,” Mark laughed. This is what they did. Not me.
“Mark, that’s not fair,” tremblingly added Hazel.
“Baby, it’s more than fair,” her fiancé said.
Mark and Freddy were locked in a heated exchange of stares. Breaking the tense pause, Mark hinted that Freddy’s way of life was the reason behind his parents’ choice.
Mark interrupted Hazel as she tried to defend her brother, saying they should have been given the mansion instead of the abandoned house.
When Freddy confronted his sister about their parents’ antiquated opinions—especially with relation to his own life decisions—his voice broke.
Though she acknowledged that their parents found it difficult to accept some parts of Freddy’s existence, Hazel shook her head.
Their generation experienced things differently. She pursed her lips and remarked, “They never knew if you would or could ever have children.”
Freddy gave a sarcastic laugh. “Hazel, this is the 21st century. They may observe how technology functions by watching TV and movies.” He went on to say that his parents noticed his tendencies and began to treat him differently.
“Stop it!” Hazel scowled. “I will not allow you to talk about them this way.” Mark grinned more as she finally told her brother to respect their parents’ choice.
Freddy hung his head, nodded to Mr. Schneider, accepted the will, and left the attorney’s office with his shoulder hunched.
As soon as he got the keys, Freddy moved into the abandoned house. It exceeded his expectations in quality. Although his father had paid a respectable sum for it, they moved into the large mansion that Hazel had received after he married Doreen.
The fact that his parents didn’t think he was worthy of it still hurt. Hell, I’m not worthy of sharing fairly in their estate. However, it was no longer relevant. It was his home now, and he needed to make the most of it.
Freddy evaluated all the things that needed to be fixed on the first day and decided to redesign the kitchen and bathrooms. But he let out a heavy sigh after looking up the price of renovations online. Restoring the place to a livable state would cost thousands of dollars, and that figure only included labor expenses.
He shrugged and reached for his laptop once more, saying, “I could learn how to do it myself.” “How hard could it be?”
Warning: There was some spoilery content. Freddy, a former theater student who is now a globetrotting photographer, accepted this challenge as his most difficult undertaking. By posting updates about the repair progress on social media, he aimed to dispel misconceptions about his ability.
Freddy completed the kitchen and proceeded to the toilets after a span of two weeks. Nevertheless, he sighed as he gazed at the primary one for a while. The bathroom seemed more difficult to renovate than just replacing a few cupboards and the tiles, and it was a lot of labor. Maybe he ought to spend some cash on qualified remodelers.
He thought to himself as he strolled about the home, “Hmm, maybe I can do something else.” “It’s obvious that the bedrooms need new paint. as well as the ground. Hold on, what’s that?”
It seems like Freddy had just entered a small room meant for a home office. However, it was the first time he noticed an odd protrusion in a corner. “Don’t tell me that this floor is rotten or anything, please. “How much will that cost?” he bemoaned, assuming he would have to use the remainder of his fortune for actual construction projects.
Remarkably, his fingers passed through the floor when he bent down to touch the odd unevenness on the floors. “Ew! It’s rotten “Freddy wiped his hands and said. But as his attention returned, he saw an odd emptiness that wasn’t there.
“What?” Muttering to himself, Freddy picked up his phone. He peered more closely with his flashlight and noticed stairs leading into the shadows.
His hand penetrated the ground. “NOPE! NOPE! NOPE!” Freddy’s hand scurried to seal the opening and cover it with a blanket.
He asked Mr. Schneider about the floor plans of the house a few days later. He hesitated to investigate the hidden stairway and inquired, “How do I find the floor plans for this house?”
Mr. Schneider recommended that you check the local office. You know, we were unaware of the bomb shelter located in my father’s former home until his passing. Correctly constructed during World War I.”
The attorney promised to look into the matter further and get back to him. When Freddy received the floor blueprints a few days later, he was able to verify that the house did, in fact, have a basement concealed beneath a trap door.
Though Freddy was aware that he didn’t need to peek down there, his curiosity was aroused and he began to wonder if his parents had given him the house because of this hidden area.
With a slash hammer, he proceeded to demolish every piece of rotted wood that matched the size of the trap door. The remainder of the floor appeared quite typical. “Oh, dude. “I’m sure it’s flooded down there,” mumbled Freddy as he descended.
He was able to detect the strong smell of mildew and dampness in the air while using the flashlight on his phone. As he got to the foot of the steps, he muttered, “Great, this will be more money.” As far as he could determine, it was an ordinary room.
However, there was an antique typewriter and a desk strewn with papers in the center. “Interesting, but a little scary,” mumbled Freddy, rolling his eyes at the thought of having been the standard horror movie heroine.
However, I found this to be really fascinating. Was Dad aware of this location? His hands stretched for one of the sheets on the desk that contained a little poem, and he wondered as he noticed the name Milton at the bottom of the page.
He discovered poetry his father had signed among the documents. God, oh God! Dad wrote and was a poet. Penetrating further, Freddy found, under the papers, an elaborate box.
He hurried upstairs and read the poetry with great anticipation, admiring their profundity and elegance. He instantly realized the papers he found inside the elaborate box were from a novel, a story about the love affair between two guys.
“Is that why they kept this place?” He pondered and recalled the final words his father had said to him prior to his departure from the house:
“One day, you’ll understand.”
Freddy was struck with the revelation that his father had concealed a large portion of who he was, possibly out of jealousy of his own constraints in contrast to Freddy’s freedom in the contemporary world.
Despite the late hour, he called Hazel, eager to tell her about this finding.
He hurriedly responded, “Hazel, I need to show you what I just discovered.” “Please visit my home tomorrow. Without his presence. It’s important that we keep this between us for the time being.
Mark’s encroachment broke up their chat, but Freddy insisted on keeping it between siblings.
To Freddy’s amazement, Hazel showed up by herself the following day. He showed her the novel he found, the poetry, the elaborate box, and the hidden basement. “It’s a love story between two men who go to war,” he said.
Hazel struggled to reconcile this with their father’s acknowledged biases and was taken aback. In order to learn more about this event, Freddy expressed his theory, which postulated that their father may have had identity issues of his own.
She paced the room in shock as she took in the information. It’s just absurd! How about Mom? “
She should read the novel, Freddy insisted. “I believe that Dad was going through a lot, and because of the times, he had to live a secret existence. I believe he projected his entire being, including his self-loathing, upon me since I had the freedom to do as I pleased.”
She gave a brief nod, her confused smile turning into a small smile. But before she could get the pages, the front door slammed open violently.
The figure of Mark had now moved into Freddy’s living room, and he was demanding, “What are you trying to make my wife hide from me?!” in a loud, irritating voice.
He said Freddy was keeping something important hidden. “Or, he’s trying to convince you to dump me!”
Freddy sighed and rolled his eyes. “Hazie, tell me you’re not falling for that bull,” he said. “I wouldn’t have invited him today even if you were seeing a really nice guy. It is too valuable for anyone else to know this secret.”
He is attempting to take advantage of us once more as he did with the house. Mark pointed confidently and smirked, “He’s getting you to hide something from me so I won’t act in your best interest.”
Hazel said nothing, her mind appearing to wander.
Mark whispered to Hazel, “You know I’m right, babe,” his tone becoming enticing and kind. Because you love me more than he does, he has always loathed me. He’s attempting to keep us apart.”
“Mark, please stop! Finally yanking her wrists up, Hazel declared, “If Freddy found anything here, it would be his legally.”
Mark put his arms around her and tried to insist, but Hazel was done.
“ENOUGH!” With a scream, Hazel shoved Mark away. “Oh my god, you’re so boring! All that ever concerned you was money! You’ve never really loved me. Mark, we’re done! I’m shocked that I disregarded every warning sign!”
Freddy sighed in relief.
“You’re breaking up with me over this?” Mark spluttered, shocked expression on his face.
Indeed, Mark. It’s finished. With crossed arms, she cried, “I want my life back.”
He turned to beg with Freddy. “Freddy, tell her she’s making a mistake.”
“Mark, Freddy won’t assist you. Hazel replied, moving to the door, “He’s been trying to open my eyes to your true colors for years.” “Get out of here and out of my house!”
“It’s my house, too!”
“We’re not married!”
“I’ll fight you on this!”
Freddy said, “I’ll get Mr. Schneider on the phone right now,” and he quickly called their attorney to clarify the circumstances.
Desperate now, Mark yelled, “I want my ring back!”
“Mark, that ring belonged to my grandmother. I’m keeping it with me. In response, Hazel escorted Mark out of the house with force. With tears of relief in her eyes, she turned to face Freddy after he had left. “I think I need to stay here for a while.”
Warmly embracing her, Freddy said, “You’re welcome to stay as long as you need.”
She withdrew after a few moment, a tiny smile on her lips. “May we place a Chinese food order? I can’t wait to read Dad’s book.”
“Definitely,” Freddy replied, experiencing a release of tension.
Releasing their father’s book turned out to be simpler than anticipated. Friends in the LGBTQ+ publishing scene were happy to provide a hand to Freddy. Touched by the narrative, Hazel requested that Freddy keep all of the royalties.
After dealing with Mark, Mr. Schneider promised him not to disturb them ever again. Mark had apparently left town, but Freddy didn’t seem to mind. His priorities were making his sister happy and carrying on their father’s legacy.
Freddy eventually had the itch to go traveling once more. After renting out his home, he embarked on a brand-new journey. He was thrilled to discover Hazel contentedly dating a kind, prosperous man who genuinely loved her when he returned.
Although it wasn’t a blockbuster, the book got great reviews. Freddy made the decision to publish his father’s poetry as a result, along with a prologue that described their father’s secret life. It was an ode to acceptance, love, and the value of being true to oneself.
