“Elena did not hide her,” Dominic said, his voice rising.

“You forced her out.”

“You paid the doctors to tell me she had aborted the child.”

“You lied to me for half a decade.”

“I did what was necessary for the empire,” Caterina said.

“You were soft, Dominic.”

“You were ready to give up your inheritance for a girl who smelled of cheap paper and old glue.”

“I saved you.”

“And now, I will save your daughter from the same mediocre fate.”

“We have already drafted the custody petition,” Judge Whitmore said.

“On behalf of the Valenti estate.”

“Due to the mother’s unstable living conditions and lack of visible means of support.”

“We will have temporary custody by the end of the day.”

“I will fight you in every court in this state,” Dominic said.

“You don’t have the time, Dominic,” Caterina said.

“By the time you hire your lawyers, the child will already be in our care.”

“You think you can just snatch her?” Dominic asked.

“We won’t have to,” Caterina said.

“The authorities will do it for us.”