Vance ignored me entirely, keeping his eyes on Ethan.

“If you fight this, Ethan, the scandal will destroy the merger,” Vance said. “And I will not let you ruin my life’s work for some girl from your past.”

“She is my daughter,” Ethan said, the words coming out raw and strained.

“Then she is an expensive mistake,” Vance said.

Ethan’s fist clenched, but he didn’t strike.

He stood there, chest heaving, looking at his partner of fifteen years.

“I have a legal team ready to file the paperwork,” Vance said. “We will challenge your fitness as a guardian based on Brenner’s reports.”

He tapped the paper in his hand against his other palm.

“Sign the release, Ethan,” Vance said. “Walk away. Let the child go into the state system where she belongs.”

“No,” Ethan said.

“Think about your empire,” Vance said. “Because by tomorrow morning, you might not have one.”

Vance handed the paper to his assistant, who slid it back into the briefcase.

“You have until eight o’clock tonight,” Vance said.

He turned on his heel and walked back toward the elevators.