“Offer the girl forty thousand dollars in cash, let Brandon have primary custody of Hazel so the baby has a proper home, and let her move back to the countryside where she belongs,” Brenda declared arrogantly.

I remained completely silent, turning my eyes toward Russell, who was sitting calmly at the head of the long table.

He opened a thick black leather portfolio, extracted a stapled legal instrument, and slid it directly across the glass into Douglas’s hands.

“This is not a divorce mediation, Mr.

Bennett,” Russell announced in an icy, authoritative tone.

“Thirty minutes ago, our investment board formally accelerated the twelve million dollar mezzanine credit facility held against Faulkner Commercial Builders due to catastrophic corporate default.”

Brandon’s confident grin vanished instantly, replaced by a look of sheer bewilderment.