Despite their initial temptation, the students knew they couldn’t keep the money. Their parents supported their decision to find the rightful owner. In order to protect the treasure from potential theft, the parents advised their children to keep it a secret. The Reunion: Returning the Fortune With the help of Werkhoven’s mother, the students embarked on a diligent search to find the woman whose name was on the envelope. After flipping through the phone book, they finally found her contact information. Werkhoven mustered the courage to make the call, unsure of how the woman would react. When he told her about the couch, she couldn’t believe her ears. “Oh my God,” she exclaimed, “I left a lot of money in that couch.” Werkhoven then revealed, “I found something that I think is yours.” It was an emotional moment for both parties as they realized the incredible chain of events that had unfolded. The Woman’s Story: A Hidden Fortune The elderly woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, revealed a heartwarming story to her newfound friends. She shared that her late husband had secretly stashed the money in the couch to secure her future after his passing. With no other place to hide it, she carefully concealed her savings in the couch cushions, unknowingly passing it on to a new generation. In recent years, the woman had undergone back surgery and spent months in a rehabilitation facility. Her doctors advised her children to replace the old couch to alleviate her back pain, leading to its donation to the Salvation Army. Little did she know, her fortune remained hidden within the cushions until those college students stumbled upon it.