My wealthy uncle, Walter, took me in after my parents abandoned me at 13. Fifteen years later, they showed up at his funeral, expecting an inheritance—only to be exposed for the greedy frauds they were.
I am Dela, 28, sitting in a law firm’s waiting room, still raw from Walter’s funeral. There are my parents, Frank and Elaine, smug and adorned in cheap knockoffs, unaware they were about to face the consequences of their abandonment.
My childhood in Pittsburgh was harsh—run-down apartments, absent parents, and nights caring for my younger brother Tommy. Dad gambled, Mom chased a life of luxury, and food was scarce. I learned to survive and protect Tommy, stretching meager resources, hiding tears, and excelling at school.
When I was 10, Uncle Walter arrived, offering support, gifts, and hope. Over the years, he fought to reunite us after our parents abandoned us with a stranger, navigating foster care and legal battles. By 13, Tommy and I were in Walter’s custody in Chicago, our lives transformed by his love and resources.
Under Walter’s guidance, I thrived academically and professionally. Tommy flourished artistically. Walter taught us business, provided stability, and became the father we never had. Even when diagnosed with terminal cancer, he ensured we were equipped for life—emotionally, financially, and morally.
At Walter’s funeral, my parents appeared, only to learn his will left them a single dollar each. Walter’s lawyer revealed their years of extortion and fraud, now exposed to the FBI. My inheritance and legacy passed to Tommy and me, the children Walter truly raised.
Walter’s love shaped us. Tommy and I honored him by establishing a foundation for siblings separated by foster care. We rebuilt our lives, thriving in careers, family, and philanthropy. My parents’ reappearance mattered little—they were strangers in DNA only.