Among the guests were my siblings, their children, and my parents. Ava had a close bond with her cousins, and they soon disappeared into her room to play. The house was alive with the sounds of children giggling, adults chatting, and music playing softly in the background.

As the evening progressed, Ava came running up to me, her face pale, her eyes wide with worry. “Mom,” she whispered urgently, pulling me aside. “My money is gone.”