“My lawyers will have this thrown out before the court closes today.”

“Your lawyers are in a different building, Mrs. Lawson,” Samuel replied.

“And they do not know that you have been using clinic funds to pay off Olivia Grant’s private debts.”

Margaret’s hand stiffened on her bag.

For the first time, a flicker of genuine alarm crossed her face.

Ethan looked from his mother to Samuel, his eyes wide.

“What debts?” Ethan asked.

“Mother, what is he talking about?”

Margaret turned her head slowly, glaring at her son.

“Be quiet, Ethan,” she snapped.

“I told you to let me handle this.”

“No,” Ethan said, his voice rising.

“I want to know.”

“You told me Olivia did this because she wanted to help us.”

“You told me she wanted to be a surrogate because she loved our family.”

I stepped around Samuel, looking directly at my ex-husband.

“She did it because she owed hundreds of thousands of dollars, Ethan,” I said.

“And your mother bought her.”

“She bought my best friend to carry my stolen child.”

Ethan shook his head, his hands trembling as he ran them through his hair.