At just 15, Eugene lost his father, leaving him completely alone. His mother had abandoned them years earlier, and as he sat beside his father’s hospital bed, social workers waited outside to take him away.
“Promise me you’ll be strong,” his father whispered.
“I promise to be just like you,” Eugene replied, holding his father’s hand tightly.
His father had one more request—an envelope on the table was meant for Eugene, but he was not to open it for exactly ten years. With a heavy heart, Eugene made the promise and said his final goodbye.
Life after that was tough. He faced loneliness, struggle, and poverty, but he never forgot his promise.
Ten years later, Eugene, now a construction worker, finally opened the long-awaited envelope. Inside was a short note from his father:
“Meet my lawyer. —Dad”
Confused but curious, Eugene followed the instructions and met Mr. Calloway, his father’s lawyer. The lawyer revealed that Eugene’s father had set up a savings account for him—every penny he could spare had been invested, and after years of interest, it had grown to $400,000.
However, there was a condition. Eugene could only receive the money because he had worked hard for ten years, proving he understood its value. If he had opened the envelope early, he would have received nothing.
Mr. Calloway handed him one final letter from his father. Eugene opened it and read the words that meant more to him than any amount of money:
“I am proud of you. Now you know the value of this money.”
With tears in his eyes, Eugene knew this was more than just an inheritance—it was a lesson. Instead of quitting work, he decided to use the money to build something of his own, honoring his father’s legacy.