The address led him to a massive, elegant mansion. A maid opened the door. “I’d like to speak to Dory or May Dakkar, please,” he said.

“You mean Mrs. Dakkar or Mrs. Henderson,” she corrected him, then showed him into a grand sitting room.

May soon entered—composed, graceful, and unsurprised. “May, my baby…” Nick said, stepping forward.

“What do you want, father?” she asked evenly.

“I came to see you and Grandma Dory. I’ve missed you,” he said.

Dory walked in, calm and youthful despite her age. “Nick,” she said. “Why are you here?”

“I hoped to see my family again. I thought I’d be welcomed,” he said.

“You left me,” May replied. “You want warmth now?”

“Mom, Donna… she made me choose,” Nick stammered.

“Oh? But you’re here alone. So I guess Donna left—and so did the money?” Dory said knowingly.

Looking around enviously, Nick muttered, “You seem well off… maybe you could spare something. I’m unemployed… struggling.”

May’s voice was steady. “You abandoned us when we needed you most. But we survived. My husband and I are fine now.”

“I’m still your father!” he protested.

“You’re nothing to me,” May replied, but she gently took her grandmother’s hand. “But for Grandma Dory’s sake, I’ll help you.”

She unlocked a desk drawer, pulled out a set of house keys, and placed $5,000 in an envelope.

“These are for the old house,” she said. “And this money? It’s all you’ll get. Don’t come back.”

She walked away with Dory, leaving the maid to escort Nick out before he could grab anything.

Sitting in his car, Nick stared at the grand estate. “I did what I had to do,” he muttered. “Why doesn’t anyone see how I’ve suffered? There’s just no gratitude anymore…”