Ethan pressed the phone back to his ear, murmuring low and quick, trying to maintain composure. “It’s… complicated. She filed something.”

Morgan’s lips twitched upward. “Complicated? You promised me control, Ethan. You promised me Friday.”

I stayed still. Let her stand there. Let Ethan squirm under her gaze, under mine, under the weight of proof. The lobby had gone quiet in subtle ways, the other people sensing the tension, aware of an invisible line being drawn.

Finally, I spoke, soft, deliberate, almost casual. “Friday is still Friday. But now, the day isn’t yours alone.”