“We will look at this later,” Julian said, his voice flat and dangerous.

Vance didn’t flinch, merely adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses.

“That is a formal notice of intent,” Vance said.

“We are filing for emergency temporary custody of Sophie Caldwell tomorrow morning.”

The chapel seemed to grow colder, the drafts from the stained-glass windows biting through my coat.

“On what grounds?” Julian demanded, his jaw tight.

“Fitness of the mother,” Vance replied smoothly.

“And collusion to commit corporate espionage with a competitor.”

I stared at Ethan, disbelief turning into a hard, burning anger.

“You are lying,” I whispered.

“We will prove whatever we need to prove, Grace,” Ethan said, a smug grin spreading across his face.

“You brought this on yourself when you decided to walk out on me.”

Margaret nodded in agreement, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

“You should have stayed in your place, Grace,” Margaret said.

“Now, you will lose everything.”

Julian gripped my elbow, his touch firm and reassuring through the thick fabric of my sleeve.

“We are leaving,” Julian said.

He glared at his mother and brother, his eyes dark with a lifetime of resentment.