The representative explained which instructions were stopped and which previously authorized payments might still clear.

She also confirmed that I could not simply reverse money already sent.

I thanked her and wrote everything down.

Next I scheduled an appointment with my financial adviser, a patient woman named Teresa Park who had warned me twice about the amount I was giving away.

I had dismissed her concerns because family was different, I thought.

The word family had become my way of refusing to look at uncomfortable facts.

Teresa asked me to bring records of the household gifts, the business assistance, and any loan documents.