“And you didn’t want that,” I said.

“Legitimacy doesn’t pay nearly as well,” Elaine said. “Apex needed leverage. They needed something to keep Damon under control. And then, you walked into my clinic in Chicago, pregnant with his child.”

“So you saw an opportunity,” I said.

“I saw a gold mine,” Elaine said. “A child who would inherit half of the Vale empire. If Apex controlled the child, they controlled the future of the company.”

“But I ran,” I said.

“Yes, you ran,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “Which actually worked in our favor. It took Damon years to find you, and during that time, we were able to lay the groundwork. But now, the game is ending.”

“And what happens to Leo?” I asked, my voice cracking. “What did you plan to do with my son?”

“Leo would have been taken care of,” Elaine said, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “He would have been raised with the best of everything. But Damon would have signed over his voting shares in the syndicate’s front companies to keep him safe.”