“I’m not dropping the financial fraud charges, Julian,” I said, my voice steady and clear in the quiet room.

Julian breathed out through his nose, a dry, bitter sound that rattled in his throat.

“Then you’re destroying my professional standing out of personal spite,” he said.

“No,” I said.

“Spite would be wiping your name off his birth certificate the way your mother wiped your father off yours.”

Chloe turned her head to look at me, her fountain pen stopping mid-stroke over her pad.

“Vivian,” Chloe warned in a low voice.