Christian’s expression tightened.

“Because if Julian knew you controlled Vance Global, he might have questioned why his mother encouraged him to place company expenses through Mercer Luxury.”

The irregularities extended beyond the genetics lab.

Home renovations.

Private travel.

Household staff.

Eleanor had used subsidiary accounts as if they were personal inheritance.

Julian approved many of the expenses.

Some knowingly.

Others through bundles of documents he barely read.

The same arrogance that made him dismiss my work made him careless in his own.

“Did he know she knew?” I asked.

“Nothing indicates that.”

“He was a tool.”

“That does not remove his responsibility.”

It complicated it.

That was all.

By noon, family attorney Maya Chen arrived.

She was direct, practical, and uninterested in the emotional appeal of billion-dollar drama.

She listened to the porch incident, reviewed the texts, and examined the paternity document.

“Temporary supervised contact is reasonable,” she said.

“Supervised by whom?”

“A neutral professional. Not you. Not Eleanor. Not corporate security.”

“Julian will likely request immediate access.”

“He can request it.”

Maya nodded.

“The twins’ best interests control. Given their age, visits should be short and structured.”

“I want him to see them if he is sober.”

“You are not obligated to make that easy today.”

“I’m not doing it for him.”

She studied me.

The question caught me.

“What does that mean?”

“You are ten days postpartum. You were expelled into a snowstorm. You discovered your husband doubted paternity and your mother-in-law may have committed financial fraud. You are already managing everyone else’s future.”

I looked down at Eli.

“What should I do instead?”

“Recover.”

The word sounded almost foreign.

“I don’t know how.”

“Then begin by not attending every meeting.”

“I own the company.”

“Your company has executives.”

“I am the executive.”

“You also have stitches.”

Christian looked away to hide a smile.

I frowned at both of them.

Maya continued.

“You can protect your children without personally controlling every document.”

The truth struck deeper than I expected.

Am avut ani în care mi-am ascuns identitatea pentru că voiam dragoste neatinsă de putere.

Dar secretul a creat o altă dezechilibru.

Am gestionat totul singură.

Julian credea că conduce pentru că i-am permis să vadă doar părțile din viața mea care păreau mai mici.

El era responsabil pentru ceea ce a făcut cu acea credință.

Dar eu eram responsabilă pentru a înțelege de ce am dispărut în interiorul propriei căsnicii.

„Voi face un pas înapoi pentru douăzeci și patru de ore,” am spus.

„Patruzeci și opt,” a răspuns Maya.

Prima vizită supravegheată a avut loc două zile mai târziu într-un centru familial privat.

Julian a sosit într-un pulover simplu bleumarin.