Nathan sank back into his seat, his hands resting on the edge of the table.

He looked up at the board members.

The room was completely silent.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Manhattan skyline was blurred by heavy grey rain.

The twelve men and women around the table were looking at the documents Hayes had laid out.

They were looking at the proof of Richard’s secret offshore accounts.

They were looking at the forged signatures that had kept Lily’s birth a secret from Nathan.

“This is a crime,” said Mrs. Vance, the oldest member of the board.

She adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses and looked directly at Mr. Hayes.

“Are you certain of these transactions, Marcus?” she asked.

“The digital signatures are verified,” Mr. Hayes said, adjusting his tie.

“Richard Whitmore used corporate funds to secure the medical records of Emily’s pregnancy.”

“He used those same funds to pay off the clinic staff to keep the records sealed.”

“He did this to prevent Nathan from claiming his rightful share of the inheritance as a father.”