It had been for the boy Camila was supposed to be carrying.

The affection had been an investment, and the investment had just been flagged as fraudulent, and Teresa withdrew it on the spot, in front of everyone, without appearing to notice she was doing anything remarkable.

And somewhere under his own shock, Bryce said, a small cold thought surfaced that he has not been able to put back down since: that is how they’d have loved my daughters, if they’d let themselves.

Conditionally.