“Then you should not have lied to the press,” I said.

“I am demanding that you issue a public clarification,” Helen said.

She pointed a manicured finger at the tablet in my hand.

“You will release a statement within the hour confirming your advisory role.”

“No,” I said.

“If you do not,” Helen said, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper.

“If you let that denial go out, you are dead to this family.”

“I mean it, Sarah,” she said.

“We will strip your name from the family trust.”

“We will claw back every cent of the seed funding we gave to your research.”

“And I will personally call the dean of the engineering school tonight,” she added.

I felt a cold sweat break out along my collarbone.

The air in the room felt thick and hard to breathe.

Priya stood frozen near the door, her eyes wide.

“The dean knows the truth about my work,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“The dean knows who signs the checks for the new physics wing,” Helen countered.

She smiled, but her eyes remained completely dead.