Losing my parents didn’t just hurt—it shattered my whole world. But it wasn’t until the lawyer read the will that I realized just how truly alone I was. I thought grief would hit like a storm—loud, fast, violent, all at once. But for me, it came in drops, slow and relentless. First, a voicemail from a stranger. Then a sterile hospital waiting room that smelled like bleach and sadness. And finally, two police officers who couldn’t even look me in the eye when they told me my parents weren’t coming

We just wanted a little time away. A quiet trip to celebrate our anniversary—just John and me—seemed simple enough. But what started as a calm getaway turned into something we never imagined. John and I had been planning this trip for months. We needed it—time to relax, laugh, and remember why we fell in love. But before we could leave, we had to make sure my father would be safe. He still lived in the house where I grew up, the one he and my late mother built from scratch.

Alice’s son, Jeremy, had always been a happy, cheerful child. His laughter used to fill the house, and his playful energy never seemed to run out. But lately, something had changed. Whenever her new husband, Sam, entered the room, Jeremy would shrink back. His shoulders would tighten, and sometimes he’d even burst into tears for no reason. At first, Alice dismissed it. Maybe he’s just being fussy, she thought. But soon, her son told her something about Sam that sent a cold shiver racing down her spine. The Beginning of