“I didn’t know,” he whispered.

“I swear, Claire, I didn’t know about any money.”

“I just wanted a baby.”

“You wanted to please your mother,” I said, the bitterness coating my tongue.

“You always did.”

Samuel tapped his finger on the desk, drawing Ethan’s attention back to him.

“Here is your reality, Ethan,” Samuel said.

“The custody petition includes a motion for your arrest if you assist in concealing the child’s location.”

“If you walk out of this room with your mother, you are an accomplice.”

“Your assets remain frozen.”

“Your reputation in this city is finished.”

“But if you cooperate right now, I will file an immediate amendment to exclude you from the asset freeze.”

Ethan looked at the laptop screen, then at his mother.

“Ethan, do not listen to this man,” Margaret said, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous purr.

“If you speak to them, you will be cut off permanently.”

“I will remove you from the estate by the end of the business day.”

“You will have nothing.”

“Mother, I won’t have anything anyway if I’m in jail,” Ethan cried.