“You are not taking my grandson anywhere without my permission.”

“He has a high fever,” Elena begged. “Please, Diane. He needs a doctor.”

My mother struck her across the face.

Chloe took Elena’s phone and threw it onto the tile. “Daniel is tired of your constant need for attention,” she said. “We’re recording everything for the custody case.”

The next video gave me the reason.

My mother, on a phone call in the living room: “Once Daniel believes she can’t safely care for the baby, he’ll sign the guardianship documents. Then the trust stays under the control of the blood family.”