You filed because I stopped being convenient. " His eyes darkened. Sloan put a hand on his shoulder. "Julian, don't.
" It was a performance of softness. She wanted the mediator to see her, calming him. I wondered if she knew how transparent she'd become. Mr. Peterson steepled his fingers."
Miss Barlo, what would you consider reasonable? " Hope started to answer, but I touched her sleeve. She nodded. I spoke for myself."
Lilia's primary residence remains with me. Julian receives a visitation schedule that expands only after consistent attendance and proven competence in her care. No care by Miss Vaughn without me present while proceedings are ongoing. Full financial disclosure and child support according to state law.
All communication in writing. No non-disclosure agreements regarding facts relevant to custody or finances. Marcus shook his head. Those are punitive measures.
No, I said those are behavior-based measures. Julian laughed bitterly. You mean because I moved on? I stared at him.
Moved on? What a lovely phrase for abandoning your wife after childbirth with a feverish infant to get a hotel room. You didn't move on, I said. You overlapped.
The mediator's pen stopped writing. Sloan's face flushed. Julian leaned back. You want to humiliate me?
No. I want the court to see you. Clearly, and if that humbles you, you should ask yourself why. For a moment, it looked like he might shout.
Then Marcus slid another paper across the table. There's a financial offer attached to this, he said. A generous one. Hope reached for it, but Julian pushed it toward me.
I read the number. It wasn't small. Six months ago, it would have terrified me with its possibility. Rent, formula, medical bills, a cushion against the fear Julian had spent years teaching me to carry.
Now it looked exactly like what it was. Payment for silence. You'll have freedom, Julian said, his voice softening. This was when he was always most dangerous.
You can rest, hire help, get on your feet. Lilia will have both of us. Both of us? I asked.
His gaze flickered to Sloan. There was that plural again. I slid the paper back. No.
Julian's lips thinned. Don't be a fool. Hope looked up. The mediator said, "Mr. Callaway Julian ignored him."
That's more money than you'll get if you fight this. My child is not a settlement discount. You think because daddy's back in your life, you're untouchable now? " The room went silent."
Hope didn't move. I looked at Julian very carefully. How do you know I saw my father? His expression changed a fraction too late.
Sloan looked at him. Marcus closed his eyes for a second. I almost smiled. There were only a few options.
Julian had me surveilled, hired someone to track my movements, checked something he shouldn't have, or Sloan had found out through some gossip channel and told him. "Any of them worked for me. " Hope's voice was perfectly calm. "Mr. Callaway, have you been monitoring my client's movements?"
"No, " he snapped. "Then how did you know she saw her father? " I assumed. "No, you didn't, " I said.
You said it like a fact. Sloan spoke quickly. Everyone knows your father has money. It's obvious you'd run to him.
I turned to her. I thought you said he'd washed his hands of me. She snapped her mouth shut. The room tilted.
Not physically, strategically. For the first time, Marcus looked genuinely annoyed with his own side. Mr. Peterson cleared his throat. Perhaps we should take a break.
That won't be necessary, I said. I picked up Julian's pen. For a second, hope flashed in his eyes. He thought I was going to sign.
Instead, I wrote one word across the top page. Rejected. Then I dated it and pushed the agreement back. Julian's face turned red.
You will regret this tomorrow, he said. Tomorrow? I said. You'll be answering questions under oath.
Sloan stood up abruptly. This is pointless. Yes, it is. Marcus gathered his papers.
We'll see you in court. Julian stayed seated for another moment. His voice dropped so low only I could hear.
When the judge sees that video again when she sees how unstable you look, don't say I didn't try to protect you. I thought of Gail's statement. Mrs. Petrova's videos, Jenna's testimony, Beatrice's recording, Sloan's admission in the coffee shop, the bank statements, my father in the back row, my mother's trust. I looked Julian dead in the eye.
You have never tried to protect me, I said. You have only ever tried to control me. He stared at me as if he'd only just realized they weren't the same thing. I walked out with hope.
In the hallway, my knees felt weak. Not from fear, but from the adrenaline crash. Hope touched my elbow. You did well.
I wanted to throw the water pitcher at him, Wanting to do it was free. Not doing it was strategy. I laughed because if I didn't, I would have cried.
Outside, my father's driver was waiting. He had insisted after learning Julian might be having me followed. I had resisted for 10 minutes, then agreed because pride isn't safety and Lilia needed me safe. As I got in the car, a text came through from Julian.