Sophia stood near the sideboard, her fingers clutching her designer purse so hard her knuckles turned white.

She looked at Daniel, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and sudden realization.

“Daniel,” Sophia said, her voice thin. “You told me she refused to sign the funding papers months ago.”

Daniel did not look at her.

“You told me she was holding your business hostage because she was bitter,” she said.

“Sophia, please,” Daniel muttered, rubbing his forehead. “Not now.”

“You said the Mercedes was a gift from the board,” Sophia said, her voice rising.

I leaned back against the edge of the dining table and crossed my arms.

“The board didn’t approve it, Sophia,” I said. “Because the board didn’t know about it.”

Sophia looked from Daniel to me, then back to Daniel.

“You lied to me,” Sophia said.

“I was trying to protect us,” Daniel said, reaching out to touch her arm.

Sophia stepped back, pulling her arm away.

“You don’t have the money,” she said.

“I have resources,” Daniel insisted. “This is just a temporary setback.”

“You don’t have anything,” Sophia said.