At my son’s wedding in Seattle, the bride looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Starting tomorrow, you’re no longer part of this family. I’m the boss now—not you.” I smiled, walked away like it didn’t hurt, and canceled the $80,000 I’d promised for their first home—right there at the reception, while the music was still playing.

Ruth took a breath, then kept going.

“And Helen, there’s more. I found out Amanda dated other men before Daniel. Successful men with money. She got engaged to two of them. Both engagements broke off right before the weddings… and both men filed restraining orders against her.”

My hands clamped down on the wheel.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“I’m looking at the court documents right now. One man’s name is Steven Wright. The other is Marcus Lee. Both of them are around Daniel’s age. Both work in tech jobs. Both have money.”

Ruth’s voice went quiet, deadly serious.

“Helen, I think your son was targeted on purpose.”

I pulled my car over to the side of the road.

I felt sick.

“There it is,” I said quietly. “The proof. The pattern.”

“Amanda isn’t just controlling,” I said. “She’s dangerous.”

“What are you going to do?” Ruth asked.