...

On the other side of the living room, Mr. and Mrs. Williams were sitting on the floor, their legs folded beneath them as they sifted through the boxes that were clearly marked with their names. Each package had a note attached to it, and the couple had separated the boxes into small piles, each one designated for "Mom" or "Dad."

Mrs. Williams opened a box labeled "To my mom" and gasped in delight as she uncovered a collection of designer clothes, shoes, and accessories. Names like Maison d'Étoile, Vera Lux, and Aurora Elegance adorned the tags, and the fabrics felt impossibly soft against her fingers. There were flowing dresses, elegant blouses, and sleek, stylish shoes, all in colors that complemented her perfectly.

"This is incredible," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't believe her son had gone to such lengths to pick out items that she would adore. Accessories like silk scarves, jeweled necklaces, and luxury handbags completed the collection, each piece as exquisite as the last.

Mr. Williams, meanwhile, was experiencing his own wave of disbelief as he opened his boxes. Like his wife, he found designer clothes from top brands, including Castello d'Oro suits and Marchese dress shoes. There were even polished leather belts and sleek wallets that spoke of timeless sophistication. He ran his hands over the fine materials, unable to wrap his head around the sheer value of everything.

But then he spotted a few more boxes stacked together, with a cheeky note attached that read, "For Dad 😉."

With a raised eyebrow, he carefully opened one of these boxes, and his eyes lit up when he saw what was inside. Cartons of drinks—luxury wines, rare whiskeys, craft beers, and more—were arranged neatly, each bottle bearing the name of an expensive and well-known brand. The packaging was so exquisite that it seemed almost criminal to open them.

"Look at these!" Mr. Williams said, a gleeful smile spreading across his face. He held up a bottle of Château de Lumière, one of the most sought-after wines in the world, and then a finely aged whiskey from Highland Sovereign. He was like a child in a candy store, inspecting each name with growing excitement.

However, his joy was short-lived when he suddenly felt a cold chill run down his spine. He stiffened, his back going rigid, and he turned slowly to see his wife standing behind him, arms crossed and a sly smile on her face.

"Drinks, hmm?" Mrs. Williams said, her tone deceptively sweet. She didn't allow him to drink often, and they both knew it well.

Mr. Williams gulped, but he couldn't hide the hopeful gleam in his eyes as he looked back at the bottles. "Now, honey," he began, scrambling to explain. "It would be a real shame if these just sat around collecting dust. I mean, look at them! Based on all the other expensive gifts, you know these drinks must be... exceptional."

...

But his words did little to change her mind. Mrs. Williams stood there with her arms firmly crossed over her chest, her gaze unyielding. "Then just give them to our relatives if there's ever a chance," she said flatly.

Mr. Williams's jaw dropped. "But... these were all given to me by our son!" he protested, his voice rising in pitch. "I can't just give them away! It would be disrespectful."

Mrs. Williams didn't even blink. "I don't care," she said, her voice steady and uncompromising. "If I ever catch you sneaking even a sip, you'll be sleeping on the porch. And you know how chilly it gets out there."

The father's shoulders sagged in defeat. He knew from years of marriage that arguing with his wife when she used that tone was a lost cause. He forced a smile, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Alright, alright. I know when I'm beat," he said, resigned but still holding onto a small, secret hope that he'd find a way to try at least one of those exquisite drinks without ending up in trouble.

...

Finally, after all the boxes were opened and the gifts marveled at, the family's attention turned to four briefcases stacked neatly in a pile. The cases were sleek, polished, and each had a small note attached. The notes weren't elaborate—each one simply displayed a birthday: one for the mother, one for the father, one for Maria, and one for Lily. The birthday dates were also the passwords needed to unlock the cases.

Excitement buzzed in the air as they each took a briefcase and prepared to open them. Mr. Williams was already stepping toward the door, eager to examine his case outside under better lighting, but he was interrupted by a loud shout.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Wait! Stop!" Lily exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with a mischievous idea.

Mr. Williams paused mid-step, turning back to his youngest daughter. "What is it, Lily?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Lily, grinning widely, suggested, "Let's all open them at the same time! It'll be more fun that way!"

Under the curious and slightly amused gazes of the rest of the family, Mr. Williams relented. "Alright," he agreed, his mood already lifted. "Let's do it your way."

Mrs. Williams chuckled, and even Maria's eyes sparkled with anticipation. They all gathered around and held their briefcases in front of them, a sense of shared excitement filling the room. Lily took charge of the countdown, her voice brimming with energy.

"Three... two... one!"

In unison, they opened the briefcases, and gasps of astonishment filled the room.

...

Mrs. Williams's briefcase was a dazzling sight. On the left side, neat stacks of crisp cash lay arranged perfectly, shimmering under the living room lights. The bills were new and unblemished, a sight she had only ever dreamed of seeing. But the right side of the case held something even more impressive: two gold-plated, exquisitely designed cards. One card had a note attached that read "Mom's pocket money," and the other said "Family expenses."

Her hands trembled as she took in the sight. Tears pooled in her eyes, not from sadness but from being overwhelmed. "Pocket money...?" she whispered, her voice cracking. She gently touched one of the cards, as if it might disappear if she wasn't careful. "This... this is too much. Our son... he's outdone himself."

Mrs. Williams wiped away a stray tear, her heart swelling with gratitude. She couldn't fathom how Zastan had managed to earn enough to provide such a gift, but in that moment, all she felt was pride and love for her son.

...

On Mr. Williams's side, he opened his case to find a similar arrangement. Stacks of cash sat on one side, and on the other, a gleaming gold-plated card was nestled beside something unexpected: a car key. He picked up the key gingerly, staring at it as if it might bite him.

"A car key?" he murmured, disbelief coloring his tone. His eyes grew wide as he recognized the emblem engraved on the key. It was a luxury car brand, one that he had always admired from a distance but never dreamed of owning. His hands shook slightly, and a grin broke out on his face.

"Our son bought me... a car?" he said, his voice cracking with a mix of joy and astonishment. He looked at his wife, who was still admiring her own briefcase's contents, and then back at the key. "I can't believe this. I'm speechless."

For a moment, he thought he might faint from happiness, but the stern look his wife shot him when she noticed his giddiness made him rein it in. He composed himself, but the excitement bubbling inside him couldn't be contained.

...

Maria's briefcase was next, and she opened it with an eager but slightly nervous anticipation. Inside, she found an array of cards lined up in a neat row, each one emblazoned with the names of luxury stores she had only dreamed of shopping at: Saint Dominique, Aurora Elegance, Fiamma Couture, and more. Each card came with an amount: $10,000 vouchers, $5,000 vouchers, and several others. Her heart raced as she counted them.

"Oh my God," Maria breathed out, her hands flying to her mouth. "These are... these are shopping vouchers for all the top brands!" She could already imagine herself walking into those exclusive boutiques, the salespeople treating her like royalty.

And just like her parents, there was a gold-plated card nestled in the case with a note beside it that read, "Older sister's pocket money."

Her eyes welled up with happy tears, and she let out a delighted laugh. "He really thought of everything," she whispered. "I knew he wouldn't forget about me."

...

Lily, the youngest, was last. She opened her briefcase and let out a squeal of delight when she saw the card waiting inside for her. It was gold-plated, just like the others, and the note attached read, "Little sister's monthly pocket money."

Lily clutched the card to her chest, her eyes sparkling with pure joy. She immediately started skipping around the room, shouting, "Yay! Yay! My brother loves me so much!" Her laughter filled the living room, her joy infectious as she danced around with the card in hand.

But as she passed her mother, the card suddenly vanished from her grasp. Lily halted in her tracks, stunned, and turned to see her mother holding the card high in the air, a mischievous smile on her face.

"Hey! Give it back!" Lily protested, running back to her mother and jumping frantically to try and snatch the card. Her small size worked against her, and no matter how many times she leapt, she couldn't reach it.

Mrs. Williams watched her youngest daughter with a raised eyebrow, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "No way," she said firmly. "You'll get spoiled if you get this now."

Lily's face scrunched up in frustration. She stomped her feet and let out a loud "Hmph!" before crossing her arms and plopping down on the couch, pouting. She gave her mother a pitiful, wide-eyed look, hoping to guilt her into relenting.

But Mrs. Williams was just as steadfast with her daughter as she had been with her husband. "Don't give me that look," she said. "You need to promise me that you won't be one of those arrogant people who flaunt their wealth and belittle others."

Lily's pout deepened, but she knew she had no choice. She sighed dramatically and nodded. "Fine! I promise I won't be like that."

Mrs. Williams's stern expression softened, and she finally lowered the card. She placed it gently in her daughter's hands. "Good girl," she said with a smile. "Just remember, being kind and humble is what truly makes you special."

Lily's face lit up, and she hugged the card tightly. "Thank you, Mommy!" she chirped, her earlier frustration forgotten.

The three adults in the room exchanged amused glances. Mr. Williams let out a chuckle, and Mrs. Williams sighed, shaking her head. "This kid," she murmured, but her eyes were filled with affection.

...