Maya’s hands trembled as she held onto the rail of the grand staircase. The quiet thud of her footsteps echoed in the hall, each step heavier than the last. Down below, she could see the Carter family gathered with her parents. The long dining table glittered with silver and crystal, but the sparkle did nothing to hide the thick tension in the air.

Elias’s eyes found her first. His expression softened, relief flickering across his face as though the sight of her eased something heavy inside him. Catherine turned slightly, whispering to Ava, who clutched her mother’s skirt. Grandma Carter, however, stood stiff with her cane, her gaze sharp as...