My parents told me «You’re adopted, you get nothing when we die.» Then grandma’s lawyer called: «She left you $2 million… and a letter about your parents’ lies.» I drove to their house with a smile…

The lawyer’s phone call came on a Tuesday morning while I was eating cereal before my shift at the auto parts store. I almost didn’t answer. Unknown numbers usually meant debt collectors or telemarketers, and I had enough problems without dealing with either, but something made me pick up on the fourth ring.

Is this Austin Caldwell? The voice was professional formal. Yeah, that’s me. Mr. Caldwell, this is Margaret Stevens from Stevens, Bradley & Associates.

I’m calling regarding the estate of Eleanor Caldwell. I believe she was your grandmother? My spoon clattered into my bowl. Grandma Eleanor had passed away six months ago, and I hadn’t been allowed at the funeral.

My parents, David and Susan Caldwell, had made it clear that I wasn’t welcome. Yes, she was my grandmother, I said carefully. I need to schedule a meeting with you, Mr. Caldwell.

There are some matters regarding her will that require your immediate attention. I think there’s been a mistake, I said. My parents told me I wasn’t included in her will.

They said she left everything to them and my brother. There was a pause on the other end of the line. Mr. Caldwell, I think we definitely need to meet.

Are you available this afternoon? Two hours later, I was sitting in a leather chair in Margaret Stevens’ law office, staring at documents that made no sense. According to the papers in front of me, my grandmother had left me $2.1 million dollars, her house, and several investment accounts. There must be some mistake.

I repeated for the third time. My parents said I was adopted. They said Grandma Eleanor wasn’t really my grandmother, that she had no obligation to me.

Margaret Stevens, a woman in her sixties with kind eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses, looked at me with something that might have been pity. Mr. Caldwell, your grandmother was very specific in her instructions. She wanted me to give you this letter personally.

She handed me an envelope with my name written in Grandma Eleanor’s careful handwriting. My hands shook as I opened it. My dearest Austin, if you’re reading this, then I’m gone and Margaret has finally been able to reach you.

I’ve been trying to see you for the past three years, but your parents have made that impossible. I need you to know the truth about everything because the lies your parents have told you are cruel and completely false. You are not adopted.

You are my biological grandson, the son of my beloved daughter Jennifer. Jennifer was your father David’s first wife, and she died in a car accident when you were two years old. David remarried Susan six months later, and Susan never wanted to acknowledge that you existed.

She wanted David to give you up for adoption so they could start fresh with their own children. David, to his shame, went along with this plan. But I fought for you, Austin….