She and Jason had been just 17 when he appeared at her doorstep, eyes swollen from crying, carrying only a backpack and the weight of abandonment. His parents had cast him out without warning or explanation. Alice’s mother welcomed him instantly, and from that moment on, he was part of their family. Over the years, Alice and Jason became inseparable. She pursued a career in HR, drawn to the challenge of understanding people, while Jason excelled in tech, always unraveling digital problems with ease. They supported each other through college, adulthood, and eventually, a shared life. Four years before his death, Jason was diagnosed with bone cancer. The news was devastating, but they faced it together. Alice worked longer hours and took over the mortgage on the house Jason had bought. Despite everything, Jason quietly clung to the hope that his parents might reconcile with him. They never