The aftermath of Cassandra\u2019s funeral was defined not by grief, but by a predatory scramble for her substantial estate, which she had built through a lifetime of self-reliance. While Meredith\u2019s mother and siblings mocked her nursing career as a lowly pursuit compared to their own materialistic ambitions, they were stunned when the family lawyer, Mr. Johnson, announced that the will left no direct inheritance to any of Cassandra\u2019s children. In a final display of coldness, the family suggested euthanizing Berta, the grandmother\u2019s elderly and grieving dog, simply because the animal offered no financial utility. Meredith, motivated by genuine love for the woman who had been her only true supporter, was the only one to step forward and adopt the pet, effectively inheriting a \u201cburden\u201d in the eyes of her greedy relatives.<\/p>\n