I’m Goldie, 65, and I raised my granddaughters, Emily and Rachel, after their parents divorced. Life wasn’t easy—I didn’t have much money—but I gave them everything I could: a stable home, warm meals, bedtime stories, and unconditional love. Emily was always the bold, ambitious one, while Rachel was quieter, more observant. I loved them both fiercely.

When Emily got engaged, she came to me full of excitement, asking for help with her dream wedding. I didn’t hesitate. I dipped into my savings to buy her a $4,000 wedding dress, booked the makeup artist she wanted, paid for the custom shoes, and even agreed to let her set the wedding date on my birthday. I told myself it was just a date—what mattered most was her happiness. But on the big day, dressed and ready to attend, I was blindsided. Emily pulled me aside and told me, bluntly, that I wasn’t invited. “You’re too old,”…