I stride into my uncle’s office. The sight that greets me isn’t far from what I expected. Aunt Ava sits rigidly in her chair, her foot tapping an angry staccato against the polished hardwood floor. Uncle Leo, in contrast, appears outwardly calm, his expression inscrutable as he waits for me to take a seat and explain the situation.

Steeling myself, I sink into the chair opposite Uncle Leo, acutely aware of Ava’s seething presence beside me. The tension in the room is palpable. I can see ...