The money and the lake house are for the child.

They go to Natalie because she’s raising him on her own, and because my son Spencer has not asked about him one single time.”

The judge laid the page down.

Mallory’s phone slipped off her knee and clattered to the floor.

She left it there.

Patricia twisted around in her seat and stared at Spencer, her mouth hanging open.

“You have a son?” she said, and there was nothing sharp in her voice at all.

It came out small.