PART 1 — THE FAMILY DECISION
The first thing Sophia noticed that Sunday evening was not her father’s expression.
It was the empty space her mother had deliberately cleared beside his plate.
Important things always appeared there.
Bills.
School forms.
Problems someone expected Sophia to solve.
When she was younger, she often sat across from that same spot and waited to hear what part of her future the family needed her to sacrifice next.
This time, however, the most important thing in the room was inside her own handbag.
A thick folder rested near her feet, secured with a silver binder clip. It contained legal records, ownership documents, and protections her parents had never imagined she would prepare.
The roast chicken smelled of garlic and rosemary.
