“It was locked in my maiden name long before we ever signed our marriage license.”

Mia took a step closer, looking over my shoulder at the signature line.

“The funds are entirely independent of Hayes Enterprises,” I explained, looking directly at Preston.

“And they are entirely independent of any joint accounts you think you control.”

Preston snatched the document off the desk, his movements sudden and violent.

His eyes darted across the pages, searching for a loophole, his reading glasses slipping slightly down his nose.

The color began to drain from his face, leaving his cheeks a blotchy, uneven red under the harsh office lights.

“This is a draft,” he lied, though his voice lacked its previous volume.

“It’s the executed original,” I said, gesturing to the notary’s stamp at the bottom.

“The trustees approved the disbursement for Mia’s tuition three days ago.”

“The bank has already wired the first year’s fees directly to the Yale registrar.”

Mia let out a sob, but this time it was a sound of pure relief.

She wrapped her arms tight around my waist from behind, burying her face in my shoulder.