My son Michael recently surprised me with what he called a cottage in the countryside, but it was actually a trick. I later discovered that he had sold my house and put me in a nursing home without my consent. I’m Richard, 68, and a single father since my wife, Emma, passed away when Michael was ten. We’ve always been close, so this betrayal hit hard.

Michael had been a good kid—kind, hardworking, and successful. But when I overheard nurses discussing a resident’s son who sold his father’s house to cover gambling debts, my heart sank. Could Michael have done the same?

An old friend, Jack, a lawyer, visited and was shocked to find me in the nursing home. He helped me uncover that the sale of my house had been rushed, with legal corners cut. After a long legal battle, I got my home back, and Michael was forced to return the money.

Now, Michael is begging for forgiveness. He confessed to gambling to cope with stress and believed selling my house was the best solution. He’s seeking help and wants to make things right. Part of me wants to forgive him—we’re all we have—but how can I trust him again after such a deep betrayal?