Pretending To Be In A Tight Spot, I Asked For One Safe Night Indoors. My Well-Off Kids Said It Wouldn’t Work. Only My Youngest Son, A Teacher, Took Me In, Ready To Sell His Wedding Ring To Cover Groceries. Next Morning, My Lawyer Arrived With A $100m Check, And Their Expressions Changed…

I opened it again and clicked purchase on the flight to Lisbon. The confirmation email arrived immediately. Seat 3A.

Departing tomorrow night. No return ticket. My phone buzzed with a text from Miguel.

“Have you thought about what we discussed?”

“I’m coming.” I typed back. “Flight arrives Thursday afternoon.”

The response came immediately. “I’ll be waiting.

And Elena, you’re making the right choice.”

I spent the rest of the night in a peculiar state of calm efficiency. I’d always been a planner, someone who thought three steps ahead. Now I was thinking three countries ahead, and the mental gymnastics required were strangely soothing.

First, I called my attorneys emergency line. Robert Steinberg had been handling my legal affairs for 15 years, and I trusted him implicitly. He answered on the second ring, his voice thick with sleep.

“Annie, what’s wrong?”

“I need to execute some documents immediately. Tonight, if possible.”

“What kind of documents?”

“Power of attorney revocation. Will changes and I need to establish some offshore accounts.

Can you meet me at your office in 2 hours?”

There was a pause. “Annie, it’s 1:00 in the morning. Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m feeling like myself for the first time in years.

Are you available or not?”

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