“I paid for it out of my own pocket.”

“I knew your father was a greedy man, Daniel.”

“And I knew Vance would do anything to keep the Whitmore money flowing into his firm.”

Vance’s face went completely pale.

The smug look vanished from his eyes.

“That is a fake,” Vance whispered.

“It has the original raised seal, Vance,” Ruth said, holding it out so he could see.

“It has your signature as the witness.”

“And it has the clinic’s medical registration number.”

Vance stared at the blue paper.

I could see the gears turning in his head.

He looked at me, then at Ruth, and then at the paper.

He realized his leverage was completely gone.

“How much do you want?” Vance asked, his voice suddenly desperate.

“We can work this out, Daniel.”

“I can represent you.”

“We can file a private agreement.”

“No,” I said.

“There are no more agreements.”

I reached out and took the document from Ruth.

The paper felt heavy and cold in my hands.

This was the truth.

This was Claire’s motherhood, preserved in ink and paper.