I listened in silence until she finished her tirade, then replied, my voice flat and cold. "You want me to leave with nothing? Tell William to come talk to me himself."

I hung up.

At ten that night, William actually showed up at the estate.

He had no idea it was Ashford property. He assumed I'd rented some upscale bed-and-breakfast with whatever savings I had left.

He stood in the living room, looking at me in my loose silk robe, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.

There was anger in his expression, and a trace of concern he probably hadn't even noticed himself. But more than anything, there was the unmistakable air of a man bestowing charity from on high.

"Seraphina, are you done throwing your tantrum?" William sighed, softening his tone in a deliberate display of what he considered tenderness. "I've already had everything online taken down. I know you're upset, but Alma saved my life. Her reputation is in ruins. I can't just stand by and do nothing."

He stepped forward and reached for my hand. I pulled away without a word.

Something dark flickered through his eyes, but he pressed on. "Stephens Group goes public next week. There can't be any scandals right now. All you have to do is swallow your pride and sign over that neuro-degenerative therapy patent to Alma, free of charge. She enters the company as a technical shareholder, restores her reputation, and in return, I guarantee the position of Mrs. Stephens will always be yours."

I stared at the man standing in front of me and almost laughed.

"So you knew the prenatal report was fake. You went along with it anyway, helped her drag my name through the mud, used my child as a bargaining chip, all to force me to hand over the patent and pave the way for your so-called savior?"

William's brow furrowed, irritation creeping into his voice. "Why do you have to twist everything? That patent is wasted sitting in your hands. What's wrong with giving it to Alma? Didn't I just make you that chicken soup you love the other day? Cooked it myself to help with the pregnancy? Seraphina, you matter to me. But I owe Alma my life, and I have to repay that debt. Can you just be reasonable for once?"

"Chicken soup?"

A cold laugh escaped me. He had made that soup before the argument at the hospital. At the time, I'd actually believed he was finally learning to care. I drank most of the pot.

Now the memory made my stomach turn.