Mary and George adored their granddaughter Ellie from the moment she was born. They spoiled her, supported her, and dreamed of seeing her off to college. But one Sunday morning, Ellie arrived with a shocking request — they should sell their house, move in with her parents, and give the money to her boyfriend Tom for his “big renewable energy startup.”

George was stunned. Their home held decades of memories, and Tom’s idea sounded more like a gamble than an investment. Mary suspected the young man’s intentions weren’t pure, but they knew confronting Ellie outright would only push her closer to him.

Instead, George devised a harmless but revealing test. With the help of a tech-savvy neighbor, they sent Tom a fake “winning” lottery ticket. Within days, Ellie returned in tears — Tom had vanished to the Caribbean, chasing his “new life” without her.

Heartbroken, Ellie admitted she’d been blind to his true nature. Mary and George comforted her, relieved she’d learned the truth before they sacrificed their home. In time, Ellie healed, bringing her art supplies over and spending weekends with them again — older, wiser, and more cautious with her trust.