When Connie and Jim’s granddaughter, Mae, just got married, they decided to contribute to her honeymoon. But when they reveal their choice of hotel, Mae responds with entitlement, saying that they ruined everything for her. Instead of retaliating, the couple decides to teach her a lesson.
I’ve always been the doting grandmother. It was something that I looked forward to after having my children. I didn’t think that I’d share my story here, but this was too outrageous to keep to myself. This is how my husband, Jim, and I taught our youngest granddaughter a lesson she won’t soon forget.
An elderly couple at the beach | Source: Pexels
Our youngest granddaughter, Mae, is getting married. She’s always been a bit of a princess, expecting the best of everything.
“I’m high maintenance, Gran,” she would tell me, often while painting her nails or doing something of the sort.
A woman painting her nails | Source: Pexels
But because she’s the youngest, Jim and I got to spend the most time with her after we began slowing down with our jobs. So, when her boyfriend, Nathan, proposed, we were cautiously optimistic.
“I don’t think she’s rushing into it,” Jim told me as we sat down to breakfast one morning. “But I just wish that she would wait a little longer, you know, give us time to get involved in the wedding.”
A breakfast setting on a wooden table | Source: Pexels
Jim loved Mae. And despite us having so many other grandchildren, she was definitely his favorite. He would move mountains for her just because she asked.
So, when her wedding rolled around, we were more than happy to oblige when she came to us asking if we could help pay for her honeymoon.
A grandfather and his granddaughter | Source: Pexels
We wanted to give her a memorable gift, and this was the best way we could contribute, knowing that she would love it. And more than that, it would be a lovely way for her to start her new life with Nathan.
“We’ll do what we can,” I told her when she picked me up so that we could go to her final dress fitting together.
A woman driving a car | Source: Pexels
“But really, Gran,” she said enthusiastically. “It’s going to be great! And the fact that you and Grandad are doing it for me, that’s going to make it a lot more special.”
We got into the store and I watched my granddaughter change into her gown.
She looked absolutely stunning. I couldn’t believe that our youngest granddaughter was about to embark on one of the greatest adventures of her life.
A woman in her wedding gown | Source: Midjourney
Afterward, Mae came home with me.
“I’m going off all carbs from next week, Gran,” she said. “But I’d kill for your fried chicken and mashed potatoes.”
“Coming right up, honey,” I said.
Fried chicken on a tray | Source: Unsplash
As she made herself at home, I began to make my way around the kitchen. When Jim got in, Mae pulled out her phone and began scrolling.
“I’ve had some ideas about the honeymoon,” she said, showing us her phone.
“Right!” Jim exclaimed. “Show us what you have in mind.”
A woman holding a phone | Source: Unsplash
Of course, knowing our granddaughter, it was going to be something lavish.
Mae showed us a luxurious resort in the Caribbean. The place was stunning but incredibly expensive.
“I’m sorry, honey,” Jim told her while I tossed the chicken in the hot oil. “But we just don’t have that kind of money.”
A person eating fried chicken | Source: Pexels
Mae pouted, her eyes wide.
“But don’t fret!” Jim said quickly. “We’ll sort something out.”
I knew that even though Jim wanted to give Mae everything, there was no way that we could get Mae and Nathan to the Caribbean. But he just wouldn’t want to disappoint her.
A wooden deck over water | Source: Pexels
Mae left our home after eating with us, the topic of the honeymoon long forgotten as I did the dishes.
“We can’t afford it, Connie,” Jim told me as he poured himself another glass of juice.
“Then, we have to be open and honest with Mae,” I said. “She knows that we can’t spend a ridiculous amount of money just for her honeymoon. It’s not going to work.”
A person pouring juice | Source: Pexels
“But I can’t disappoint her,” Jim said solemnly. “So, I’m going to look for something with the same aesthetic.”
My husband sat with his laptop for hours. Two cups of tea and hundreds of hotels later, we finally found one that had excellent reviews and was within our budget.
An elderly man using a laptop | Source: Pexels
We booked it and surprised Mae with the news over the phone.
“It’s all sorted! Your honeymoon is all booked and ready to go!” Jim said.
“That’s great, Grandad,” she said. “Send me the links and I’ll look at it in the morning.”
An elderly man on the phone | Source: Pexels
I thought that she seemed grateful, but that didn’t last very long.
The next morning, as I was stirring oatmeal, Mae came over in a rage, her tone dripping with entitlement.
“Grandma, Grandpa,” she said. “I looked up the hotel you booked for Nathan and I. It’s just a joke, right?”
A bowl of oatmeal | Source: Unsplash
Jim and I looked at each other, he frowned slightly.
Mae, on the other hand, continued to speak through the silence.
“This place is a dump compared to what I showed you. Why would you choose such a disgusting hotel? Are you really trying to ruin my honeymoon?”
An elderly man covering his mouth | Source: Pexels
I was completely taken aback by Mae. Yes, she was spoiled. But she hadn’t been raised like this at all.
We had spent a lot of time finding a nice place and spent a significant amount of money on the hotel. I explained that we thought it was a beautiful hotel and that it had great reviews.
“Well, I guess it’s fine if you don’t care about making my honeymoon special. Thanks for nothing.”
An elderly woman covering her face | Source: Pexels
I was furious. I felt a sense of disappointment that I had never felt before. We all knew that Mae behaved a certain way, but I was so sure that she would have changed her ways silently.
She was on the threshold of becoming a wife.
“I don’t think she meant it,” Jim said, trying to make up for Mae’s attitude.
A close-up of a woman | Source: Pexels
“Stop, Jim,” I said. “Stop trying to make Mae seem like someone she’s not. We need to teach her a lesson.”
It took my husband some convincing, but he eventually gave in when he realized that he couldn’t change anything about Mae.
We started by calling the hotel and canceling the reservation completely. Then we moved on to the next phase of our plan.
An elderly woman on the phone | Source: Pexels
“It’s an upgrade, darling,” I said to Mae on the phone while Jim made us some hot chocolate one evening, a week before the wedding.
“It’s going to be better than the hotel we showed you!”
“Thanks, Gran!” Mae said.
Two mugs of hot chocolate | Source: Unsplash
She said she was thrilled and couldn’t stop gushing about how grateful she was that Jim and I had finally changed the honeymoon plans for her.
On the day of the wedding, Jim handed her the envelope with the details. Inside, we included fake reservation documents for an extravagant resort that didn’t actually exist.
A white envelope on a table | Source: Midjourney
Thanks to an editing site on the internet, the documents looked professional and real. We also included a note that said:
Enjoy your dream honeymoon, Mae.
Love, Gran and Grandad.
A person using a laptop | Source: Unsplash
The rest of their reception went well, with Mae and Nathan dancing along to three songs.
“Three, because we couldn’t decide on just one for the first dance,” Mae explained after.
Eventually, the cake was cut and the evening began to wind down with the bridal car ready and parked at the entrance of the venue.
A couple cutting their wedding cake | Source: Unsplash
Nathan and Mae got in, not knowing that when they got to their honeymoon destination a few hours away, there wouldn’t be a reservation.
On cue, Mae called us later, fuming.
“What did you do? There is no reservation! Just a motel that looks like it needs to be fumigated! We’re stranded. How could you do this to me?”
An angry bride | Source: Unsplash
“Oh, darling,” I said. “It looks like maybe there was a mix-up. Maybe you should have appreciated the original gift.”
She was livid, but there was nothing she could do. They had to scramble for a room at the motel, and it wasn’t anything near the luxury she had expected.
They returned two days later, after Nathan had convinced her to make the most of their trip. Mae was still fuming, but we knew that she had learned a valuable lesson about gratitude and entitlement.
A rundown seaside motel | Source: Midjourney
She came over and asked me to bake her some cookies while we had a long conversation about her behavior.
“I’m sorry, Gran,” she said. “I know that I’m a lot, and I didn’t mean to be ungrateful. It was a humbling experience.”
Sometimes the best way to teach someone a lesson is with a bit of creative revenge.
Cookies on a plate | Source: Unsplash
What would you have done?
My Family Left Grandpa at the Hotel to Avoid Paying — They Didn’t Realize I Was the Wrong Grandson to Mess With
As the front doors slid open and my feet touched the tile, I spotted him—my grandfather—standing behind the counter.
His shoulders drooped, and his hands trembled slightly as he held a thick sheet of paper.
Just two months before, he had retired at 74, after spending 52 years working as a machinist. He’d never missed a day unless he was genuinely sick—and even then, he still called in to check on things.
Grandpa was the quiet, dependable type. Every birthday, he’d show up with a card and some money inside. He never missed one. Always giving. Never asking for anything in return.
So when my aunt, his daughter, suggested we do something meaningful for his birthday, my cousin Ashley jumped at the chance. Everyone agreed. The plan? A weeklong, all-inclusive beach resort trip. Ashley handled all the arrangements—booked five rooms, even reserved a suite with a private balcony just for Grandpa.
He was told not to worry about the cost.
So he packed his one suitcase, brought along his old fishing hat, and wore sandals for the first time in a decade. Off they went.
I couldn’t join until the final day—work obligations kept me in the city—but I booked a one-way ticket to help Grandpa get home. He hated airports. Said they made him feel disoriented.
When I arrived, the sun was out, and palm trees swayed in the breeze.
I walked into the hotel smiling.
That smile disappeared fast.
Grandpa stood alone. His suitcase was packed. The bill was in his hands. Everyone else was gone.
“They said everything was paid for,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He nodded. “That’s what I believed too. But this morning, they all got ready, said checkout was noon, and left for the airport.”
“I didn’t want to cause any trouble,” he added. “What matters is… they had a good time.”
I looked at him, then down at that bill. My fists clenched.
“I’ll be right back,” I said.
I stepped outside and pulled out my phone. I called Ashley. She answered on the second ring.
My voice was calm but cold. “Why did you leave Grandpa with a $12,000 bill?”
She hesitated, then laughed.
“We figured he could cover it,” she said casually. “He’s retired. Doesn’t support the family anymore. It was like… a thank-you trip. From him to us.”
“You figured?” I said, my voice tightening. “You figured it was fine to stick a seventy-four-year-old man with a $12,000 bill without asking?”
I stared at the road in front of the hotel, phone clenched in my hand, while laughter drifted over from the pool.
“Let me be clear,” I said flatly. “He’s not the one who looks foolish. You are.”
Inside, I could still hear Grandpa trying to explain things at the front desk, still apologizing for something he didn’t cause.
I went back in and paid the entire bill myself. The manager printed the receipt, and I asked for a detailed breakdown by room. She promised to email it within the hour.
That night, I called an old college friend who’s now a lawyer. Sharp, meticulous.
By morning, we had:
A full itemized invoice, with each relative’s charges clearly outlined.
Security footage from the lobby shows them checking out, no goodbyes, no hesitation.
Written confirmation from staff that Grandpa had been left behind and told he was responsible for the charges.
We drafted formal letters:
“You are responsible for the charges listed below. Payment is expected within 14 days. If not received, I will pursue reimbursement in small claims court for fraud, financial abuse of a senior, and abandonment.”
Each envelope contained the invoice with their charges highlighted in yellow.
Three days later, Ashley paid in full. No apology. Just a bank transfer with a sour-faced emoji in the memo. Her brother followed, then my aunt. One by one, the money came back.
In two weeks, all $12,000 had been reimbursed—except for Grandpa’s part.
I told the lawyer to leave that untouched.
Thanksgiving passed in silence. No calls. No invites.
Grandpa didn’t seem surprised.
But he’s different now—lighter, happier. He laughs more freely. In a strange way, that awful trip gave him something priceless: closure. A clean slate. A brand-new chapter.
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