Amelia’s face tightened. “I am your mother.”

“And I am not your collateral.” Rebecca removed the plain silver ring from her finger. Matthew looked as though she’d struck him. She placed it on the table between them.

“I meant what I said to Lucy. I won’t disappear from her life.” Hope flickered in his eyes. “But I can’t stay married to a man who made my love an examination I didn’t know I was taking.”

“Rebecca—”

“You wanted a choice untouched by money.” Her voice broke, but she forced herself to continue. “Now I need a choice untouched by your fear.”

She walked out of the conference room. Matthew did not follow. That hurt more than if he had.