ke stale coffee. I read every single page. Julian's lawyers had done their homework. They claimed I had concealed the pregn

nt me as a crazy woman.

knocking. He was holding a cup of b

ng. She's tough. Doesn't like games. Julian's lawyer is a shark named

m try,"

throw money at this. This is a family court. They care about optics. They

y showing. Just a slight curve un

prov

. It smelled like floor wax and old paper. I sat at the pe

ted. Dark circles framed his eyes. Victoria was sitting behind him in the gall

ith sharp eyes and gray hair pulled back in a t

et's get started. Mr. V

ncerned for the welfare of his unborn child. Ms. Vance concealed her pregnancy, fled the state, and is currently running

Vance has been under severe emotional distress. She has no stable home

d at me. "Ms. Vance.

ched my elbow, a silen

e papers. I didn't tell him because I knew he didn't want the child. He made that very clear. I le

otes. "The founder of the Vancourt Group. A company with an e

Your H

rtroom. Julian shifted in his

Ms. Vance is unfit. But Ms. Vance has a stable home in London, a multi-billion dol

ow about the money. "Your Honor, my client is simply asking f

cutting through the air. "He told me he would sign away his paren

oom went d

or. He leaned over and whisp

oked at me. "You

ag me through the courts and make sure I never saw my child again unless I gave him co

ly. "That's a lie! She

udge Holloway sna

was tight. He looked like

om his forehead. "Your Honor, a

this state allow recording if there is a threat of extortion

ve contains the falsified records Julian's team used to threaten me. It also contains p

ive. She looked at Julian.

iven me a lot to review. I'm going to c

mmed he

over to my table. His face was red. He g

ere and humiliate me?" he hissed.

etween us. "Back

er. His eyes were wild. "You think you'v

him. I did

t is,"

for him by the doors. She grabbed his arm, but he

d. But he's right. It's not over.

p my purse

se. Julian's mother just arrived. Sh

ouse. She had always hated me. She had called me a gold digger at my ow

talk to you,

her I'

ut the baby," Marcus said quietly

stomach tightened.

wouldn't tell me. She'

eps, Julian's mother, Eleanor Sterling, stood in a black coat.

d forward. Her heels

Her voice was hoars

ng to say to

He's not just trying to take your company. He's trying to take your baby because he'

air leave

" I wh

cold. "Your baby isn't just a w