She was a grown woman making a sensible moral distinction.

She did not need her mother awarding her goodness at every turn.

“What can we do?” she asked.

“We document your claims.

We protect the rights you have.

We let the courts deal with the competing claims.”

The Vance estate was eventually among the assets dealt with under judicial supervision.

The business that had made Julian’s position possible was dismantled through the financial proceedings.