Margaret straightened her spine, her eyes turning cold and calculating as she looked at Julian, then at me.

“You think you’ve won, don’t you?” Margaret said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

Ethan stood up, brushing off his suit, his expression turning equally dark.

“You won’t get a dime of Caldwell Innovations, Julian,” Ethan said, stepping closer to his mother. “And neither will Grace.”

Margaret pointed a long, manicured finger at me.

“We will tie you up in court for the rest of your life, Grace,” Margaret said. “We will sue you for sole custody of Sophie.”

My heart hammered against my ribs, a cold dread washing over me. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try us,” Ethan sneered. “We’ll tell the judge you and Julian conspired to ruin this family and steal our company.”

Julian stepped in front of me, his shadow falling over Margaret.

“You can try,” Julian said.

Just then, my phone vibrated violently in my coat pocket.

I slipped my hand into my pocket and pulled out the screen.

It was Mrs. Ramirez.

My thumb hovered over the decline button, my heart hammering against my ribs.