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…

“That’s why you have those contacts in the Cayman Islands, isn’t it?

The ones you’ve used for your other clients who needed privacy.”

Robert had the grace to look embarrassed. “Those are legitimate business structures and this is legitimate personal protection. My daughter is planning to have me declared incompetent so she can control my finances.

I have documentation of her intentions, recordings of conversations. What I’m doing is protecting myself from financial abuse and the money from the business sale already being transferred. I’ve set up accounts in three different countries, all perfectly legal.

The money will be out of US jurisdiction by the time Sandra realizes what’s happening.”

“What about your medical care?”

“Portugal has excellent private hospitals. Miguel has connections with the best oncologists in Lisbon. I’ll receive better care there than I would in my daughter’s spare bedroom.”

Robert rubbed his temples.

“This is a lot to process. You’re essentially disappearing and leaving behind everyone you know.”

“I’m leaving behind people who see me as a resource to be managed, not a person to be loved. There’s a difference.”

He studied me for a long moment.

“You’re sure about this?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“Then let’s get started.”

We worked until dawn, drafting documents that would protect me from Sandra’s minations while giving me the freedom to disappear. The power of attorney I’d given her years earlier was revoked. My will was changed to leave everything to a series of charitable trusts.

Most importantly, we established a complex web of legal structures that would make it impossible for anyone to locate or access my assets. “The beauty of this setup,” Robert explained as we finished, “is that it’s completely legal. You’re not hiding money from the government.

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