“Her signature is the only one that can ratify the freezing of the trust assets.”

I felt the weight of the entire room shift onto my shoulders.

I was just a mother who wanted to protect her baby.

Now, I was being asked to sign a document that would dismantle one of the largest family fortunes in the city.

“Is it safe for Lily?” I asked.

“Yes,” Mr. Hayes said.

“The lawyers have already secured the house in Westchester.”

“Your daughter is there now with the private security team Nathan hired.”

“She is completely safe, Emily.”

I took a deep breath.

I looked at Nathan.

“Let’s do it,” I said.

We walked toward the elevator, leaving Richard standing alone in the hallway.

The two security guards remained by the vault door, their faces like stone.

As the elevator doors began to slide shut, I saw Richard reach into his pocket for his own phone.

His hands were shaking so badly he dropped it.

The sound of the plastic hitting the tile floor was the last thing I heard before the lift started to move.