After my husband’s funeral, I went to my sister’s son’s first birthday party, and she announced, “My son is your husband’s child, so…””Inheritance, I’m going to take half of your $800,000 house.” She even showed me her will. I said, “Oh, I see,” and tried to stifle a laugh. BECAUSE MY HUSBAND…

That night, Adam and I decided to create distance from Cassandra. We avoided situations where they might be alone, and Adam blocked her number after a particularly suggestive message.

Then came a medical issue that changed everything. Adam had been experiencing pain, leading to a diagnosis of varicocele. During the surgery, due to the extensive nature of the condition, his doctor recommended a vasectomy. It was a difficult decision, given our infertility struggles, but we agreed it was best for his health. The vasectomy was performed two years before Lucas was conceived. We kept this private.

After his recovery, Adam made a prescient prediction: “Cassandra is not done. I have a feeling she might try something more drastic one day.” He then scheduled an appointment with our family attorney, James Wilson. I accompanied him as he detailed Cassandra’s behavior and his recent vasectomy. James advised us to document everything. We created a comprehensive file. Adam also updated his will, ensuring everything went to me. Copies were held by James, and the originals were stored in a safety deposit box.

The morning after Lucas’s birthday party, I drove straight to the bank. Inside our “disaster preparation kit” were Adam’s legitimate will, medical records detailing his vasectomy (making Lucas’s paternity biologically impossible), a journal documenting Cassandra’s inappropriate interactions, and printouts of her texts. There was also a sealed envelope addressed to me in Adam’s handwriting.

“My dearest Bridget, if you are reading this, something has happened to me, and you have needed to access these documents… I hope it is many years from now… But if not, if the worst has happened and she has tried to hurt you in my absence, please know that I tried to prepare for every possibility. Use these documents to protect yourself… I love you beyond words, beyond time. Whatever happens, know that, Adam.”

Tears streamed down my face. My thoughtful husband had anticipated this. I gathered the necessary copies and called James Wilson.

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James Wilson’s office exuded discretion. He was saddened by Adam’s passing. I explained Cassandra’s actions, showing him the forged will. “This is an amateurish forgery,” he confirmed, “The language is all wrong, and the signature would never stand up to expert analysis. But the fact that she created this is deeply troubling.”