After my wife passed away, I don’t get to see my daughter as frequently, but we make sure to chat every single day. For my 80th birthday, all I wanted was to surprise her with a visit. So, I drove to her home, eager to see the look on her face. When she opened the door, her expression was a mix of surprise and worry.

«Dad, what are you doing here?» she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

«I wanted to spend my birthday with you,» I said, smiling warmly.

Her expression shifted, and she seemed hesitant. «Dad, now isn’t a good time. I’m really tied up with something.»

Trying to hide my disappointment, I replied, «That’s okay. I can just sit on the sofa and wait until you’re free.»

But she became more anxious, almost ushering me out. «No, Dad, you really need to go.»

As I walked back to my car, a sense of unease crept over me. Suddenly, I noticed some movement through her living room window. Peering inside, I saw two unfamiliar people moving around in a panic. My heart skipped a beat. What was happening? Who were they, and why was my daughter acting this way?

Alarmed, I called the police. Within minutes, officers arrived and carefully approached the house. After a tense standoff, they emerged with the strangers in handcuffs. My daughter followed behind, tears streaming down her face.

“Dad, I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, embracing me tightly. “Those men broke in just before you arrived. I didn’t want them to harm you, so I tried to keep you away.”

Relief washed over me, and I hugged her even tighter. «It’s okay, my dear. The main thing is that you’re safe.»

After giving our statements to the police, who assured us the intruders would be held accountable, we finally sat down together on the very sofa I had planned to wait on. We spent the rest of the day together, and despite the scare, it turned out to be the most memorable birthday I could’ve asked for, knowing just how much my daughter would do to protect me.