They had no idea what was coming.

I paused at Alice’s door, cracking it open to check on her.

She slept peacefully, innocent and unaware of the storm brewing around her.

My sweet granddaughter, caught between greedy parents and a grandmother she’d tried to warn.

In that moment, I made a promise—not just to protect my assets, but to protect Alice.

Whatever I did next, I would do with her future in mind.