The Heirloom They Shattered

At a family dinner, Katherine Dickerson's nephew Dylan rolls on the floor until her sister-in-law Carol promises him gifts—and expects Katherine to pay. When Katherine refuses, the whole family calls her stingy. So at Carol's parents' graduation party, Katherine hands Dylan a cracked bowl and tells him to kneel to each wealthy relative for ten grand a head. The boy drops at the feet of Carol's bragging brother, and the relatives' jeers turn on Carol herself.

Back at the apartment Katherine paid for, her father, mother and brother Howard are waiting. They demand she sign an agreement: fifty thousand to Carol and a gold pendant worth no less than fifty thousand, or they will shame her at her company. Katherine tears it up and calls 911, and they flee—but Carol vows revenge.

The next morning, her family is already making a scene in her office lobby.