My parents told Grandma they were taking her out to lunch. Three hours later, a nursing facility called me. Her suitcase was sitting in their lobby, and my parents were nowhere to be found. I drove 190 miles to bring her back with me. She clicked her seatbelt into place, looked straight at me, and said, “Don’t call them. I’ll tell you exactly where we’re going.”

I stared at the shattered door frame of my apartment on the glowing screen.

"They broke into my home," I choked out, barely able to breathe.

Grandma Eleanor did not even flinch at the terrifying news.

"They are looking for the original deed because they know their forged transfer is vulnerable," she explained calmly.

"We need to go to the bank right now," I said while grabbing her arm gently.

We rushed out of the courthouse and drove recklessly across town to the First National Branch.

The bank manager recognized my grandmother immediately and ushered us into his glass office.

"Eleanor, it is so wonderful to see you," the manager said with a fake, nervous smile.

"Cut the garbage, Richard," Grandma snapped as she sat down in the leather chair.

"I need an immediate freeze placed on all of my checking and savings accounts."

Richard swallowed hard and nervously adjusted his expensive silk tie.

"I am afraid I cannot do that for you today, Eleanor."

"And why exactly is that?" she demanded.

Richard pulled a thin manila folder out of his desk drawer and slid it across the table.

"Your son came in this morning with his power of attorney documents."

I leaned over to look at the paperwork inside the folder.

"He closed all of your accounts and withdrew the entire remaining balance in cashier's checks," Richard explained.

Grandma closed her eyes and took a deep, shaky breath.

"He took everything," I muttered in shock.

Richard cleared his throat and looked directly at me with a pitiful expression.

"That is not the only reason you are here, is it, Daniel?" the manager asked.

I frowned at him in total confusion.

"What do you mean?" I asked cautiously.

Richard flipped to the second page of the file.

"Your father also used the property as collateral to take out a massive commercial loan."

My grandmother opened her eyes and glared at the man.

"How could he take a loan on a house he just stole?" she asked.

Richard tapped a freshly inked signature at the bottom of the loan agreement.

"He did not take out the loan in his own name."

He pushed the paper directly toward my chest.

"He took out a two-hundred-thousand-dollar loan in Daniel's name, and the funds have already been wired offshore."

I was officially on the hook for a massive fortune I had never seen.

When my newborn 'passed away,' my mother-in-law leaned in and said

My Husband Left Me Alone in My Car While I Was in Labor

“You’re Dead When We Get Home,” He Snapped

Before I could even process the financial ruin, the glass door to the office clicked locked from the outside.

Two massive security guards were suddenly standing blocking the only exit.

Chapter 2 - The Empty Vault