A Quick Call to the Seller

Jake didn’t want to keep the money. It felt wrong. He tracked down the seller’s contact info and called her. When he explained what he’d found, there was a long silence on the other end. Then, the mom let out a quiet gasp. She asked Jake to please bring it back right away. There was something about her tone — urgent, but also shaken — that told him this wasn’t just some innocent mistake. Something deeper was going on.

The Mom Breaks Down in Tears

When Jake returned with the envelope, the mom was already waiting at the door. As soon as she saw it, she broke down crying. She explained that the money had belonged to her late husband — a savings stash he kept hidden from everyone, even her. After he passed away, she didn’t know where it had gone. She’d searched the house endlessly. Now, three years later, it had been under her daughter’s bed all along — untouched, forgotten, buried in grief.