Woman Irate After Stepsister Tries To Trick Her Into Gifting Her Late Dad's Painting To Sell It

Being the executor and sole beneficiary of a parent’s estate may sound glamorous at first, but it isn’t without its challenges. Redditor Such-Date89 recently found this out first-hand after her father passed away. The Original Poster (OP) found themselves in charge of a valuable - both monetarily and emotionally - piece of artwork that her late father had gifted to her late stepmother. The OP was approached by their stepsister about receiving the piece which ultimately led her to subReddit “Am I the A**hole?” (AITA). Here she revealed her quandary.

“AITA for refusing to give my stepsister a piece of art after finding out she was planning to sell it?”

She went on to tell her story.“My [26-year-old Female] dad passed away a few months ago. He and my mother were divorced, and his second wife passed away a couple of years ago, so I was the sole beneficiary of his will.” “Among his possessions was a painting which was chosen by his late wife to decorate their marital home, it was something of a wedding celebration present.” “His wife didn't work, my father bought the painting, the paperwork was all in his name etc. so it was included as part of his estate.” “His late wife had a daughter, "Ellie" [27-year-old Female].” “Ellie contacted me some time ago asking if there was any way I would consider letting her have the painting since her mother loved it so much and it had sentimental value to her.” “I was a little suspicious of this because if this was the case, surely she could have asked my father for it after her mother's passing, but nevertheless I considered it.” “The piece is worth - by most standards - a lot of money and it's beautiful, so I wasn't pleased to part with it but since I never planned to sell it and it was not a piece that held any special significance to me amongst my father's collection, I decided I would gift it to her.” “I let her know I would make the arrangements to have it shipped, and straighten out all the paperwork.” “About a week ago, I got a call from a friend of mine, who works at the gallery where my father purchased a lot of his art (she was his dealer, that is how we became friends).” “She let me know that Ellie had contacted her, looking for a valuation and information on selling the artwork that I was going to give her.” “My friend called me because she didn't know who Ellie was, but she knew the piece belonged to my father and it is one of a kind, so she was concerned about someone trying to fence it.” “This made me feel like a complete idiot, because I thought I was gifting Ellie what she considered a piece of her mother, to essentially gifting her a large sum of money got by subterfuge.” “I called Ellie to ask her what was going on and she reluctantly confirmed that she was planning to sell it.” “I said I wouldn't feel good about giving her one of my father's possessions just so she can sell it (especially after being lied to) and she said that was none of my business, and I should give it to her anyway since that money would mean more to her than the painting ever had to me.” “Everyone I've asked for advice on what to do has some skin in the game, so to speak, so I just want an outside opinion.”

“AITA for not giving her the painting?”

“EDIT- everyone is asking if Ellie got any inheritance from her mother. She received her mother’s small life insurance policy, and all her mother’s personal belongings.”