When Jason’s estranged parents arrived demanding his house, Alice was caught off guard. Grieving, she agreed to consider their claim if they could answer a question that haunted Jason until his death.

At 17, Jason had shown up at Alice’s door, abandoned by his parents with nothing but a backpack. Her mother welcomed him into their family, and they grew close. Jason excelled in tech while Alice worked in HR. Their bond deepened as they faced his bone cancer diagnosis and his eventual death.

A month after Jason’s funeral, his parents, Susan and Charles, showed up demanding the house. Their lawyer claimed they had a legal right, but Alice stood firm. She offered to sell the house to them at the price she paid, plus the mortgage she’d covered.

Alice presented Jason’s final letter, which revealed his forgiveness but not his assets. His parents were left with nothing but their own guilt and an empty house.