When my 16-year-old son offered to spend the summer caring for his disabled grandmother, I felt a rare flicker of hope. He’d always been difficult—defiant, impulsive, full of teenage rage—but maybe this was his turning point. He even said, “You can let the caregiver go, Mom. I’ll help her out. Save some money.” I wanted to believe he meant it. But weeks into the arrangement, something felt off. Every time I called, he answered quickly. “Grandma’s asleep,” he’d say. “She’s fine, just tired. I’ll tell her you called.” His tone was cheerful—too cheerful. I brushed the worry aside, convinced I was being paranoid. Then one night,
