“The system flagged her admission under her real identity, Sarah Vance.”

“The injunction from five years ago is still active, and she is in direct violation of it.”

My heart hammered against my ribs, the hospital monitor beside my bed quickening its beep.

I pulled the thin, rough hospital blanket up to my chin, feeling smaller than I ever had.

Lucas stirred on the cot near the window, murmuring in his sleep, but he did not wake.

“I don’t care about the injunction,” Daniel said, stepping directly between the lawyer and my bed.

“The board of the estate cares,” Sterling replied, tapping his leather briefcase.

“And if the press finds out that the woman who legally gave up her parental rights has been living in your house as a maid, the scandal will ruin the firm’s upcoming merger.”

“She didn’t give them up,” Daniel said, his fists clenching at his sides.

“She was forced.”

“She signed the paperwork, Daniel. We have her signature, and we have the ledger of payments made to her account.”

“I never touched that money,” I whispered, my throat dry and raspy.