The news spread like wildfire through the family, sparking disbelief and panic. Javier’s relatives, who had taken up residence in various wings of the sprawling estate over the years, reacted with a mix of shock and outrage. His mother, a formidable woman with a penchant for control, was particularly incensed. She summoned me to the grand living room, her eyes blazing with fury.
“So my 12 relatives are going to be homeless?” she screamed, her voice echoing off the walls that had witnessed countless family gatherings and celebrations. Her words dripped with accusation, as if I were committing some grave injustice against them all.
