He picked up his phone, holding it close to his mouth.

“Harrison, I am sending the digital copies of the birth certificate and the DNA registry now.”

“My daughter, Lily, is the sole direct beneficiary of the third-generation trust.”

“According to my grandfather’s will, her existence automatically triggers a reallocation of the voting shares.”

“My father’s personal holding is reduced to twelve percent.”

“He no longer has the authority to sign this agreement.”

“He no longer has the authority to be in this room.”

The silence that followed was heavy.

I looked down at the silver pen on the table.

It looked so small, yet it had almost cost us everything.

“Nathan,” Richard said, his voice shaking. “Do not do this.”

“Think of the family name.”

“I am thinking of my daughter,” Nathan said.

“The daughter you tried to erase.”

He turned to me then.

For the first time since we had entered the vault, his eyes softened.

The gray in his eyes looked like the sea before a storm.

“Are you alright, Emily?” he asked.

I tried to speak, but my throat was too dry.