“We will have this filed with the surrogate’s court in the morning.”

I walked over to the armchair and picked up Lily’s carrier.

She stirred, her small fist pressing against her cheek, but she didn’t wake.

I looked at Margaret one last time.

She was standing by the desk, looking down at the empty space where the document had been.

She looked very small in the massive, high-ceilinged room.

“We are going to New York,” I said.

“The board meeting is at ten,” Margaret said, her voice cold.

“I expect you to be there.”

“I will be,” I said.

We walked down the long, carpeted hallway of the estate.

The family portraits on the walls seemed to stare down at us, silent and disapproving.

But they didn’t matter anymore.

Outside, a black town car was waiting in the gravel driveway.

The rain was starting to fall faster, smearing the yellow headlights of the car.

Grace climbed into the front seat, while I settled Lily into the back.

The leather of the seat was cold against my legs.

“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Grace asked, turning her head to look at me.