The lawyer motioned toward the screen at the head of the room. The lights dimmed, and the room filled with the soft whir of the projector. The screen flickered and then resolved into the familiar image of my father, seated in his favorite armchair, the backdrop of his study lending an air of gravitas. His eyes, though clouded with the passage of time, held a clarity that I hadn’t seen in years.

“Hello, family,” he started, his voice carrying the same authority that had once shaped my world. There was a pause, as if he was gathering his thoughts. “If you’re watching this, it means I’ve left this earth and you’re all here, probably expecting to hear what I’ve left behind.”Karen shifted in her seat, her impatience poorly concealed. Uncle Rick’s gaze was locked on the screen, his expression inscrutable.

“I’ve made my share of mistakes,” my father admitted. “But the biggest was allowing bitterness to cloud my judgment regarding my own daughter.” He paused, and I felt Eli’s hand slide into mine, his grip firm and reassuring.“I want to make amends, albeit too late,” he continued. “To my beloved daughter, Lila, and my grandson Eli, I leave the family home and a letter explaining everything. I hope they can forgive an old man’s stubborn pride.”