I froze. My father had never taken the dog’s collar off; he always said it was “special.” The doctor removed the tiny device and handed it to me.

When I got home and plugged the flash drive into my laptop, my father’s face appeared on the screen. He was sitting in his office, pale and tired, but his voice was steady.

“My daughter… if you’re watching this video, it means I’m no longer alive. But know this: I have always loved you more than anything. Don’t believe what you saw in the will. I didn’t leave you less — I was forced. Your brother and sister threatened me. They made me sign documents that left me powerless, then forced me to transfer everything to them. I knew that if I left you anything directly, your life would be in danger.