Daniel said:
“What is it?”
“I’ll show you in person.”
Simone stepped forward.
“No.”
Daniel stared.
Her fear returned stronger.
“What document, Simone?”
“I don’t know.”
Andre said:
“I think she does.”
The call ended.
Daniel lowered the phone.
Neither spoke.
Then Simone said:
“Your attorney hates me.”
“He barely knows you.”
“He has judged me from the beginning.”
“Why would he?”
“Because Maya chose him.”
Daniel went very still.
“Do not bring Maya into this.”
“There. That.”
“What?”
“I have spent three years living with a dead woman.”
Daniel stared.
Simone’s voice rose.
“Her photographs are everywhere.”
“Because Lily deserves pictures of her mother.”
“Her trust controls decisions.”
“No, it protects Lily.”
“Her family attorney calls whenever I ask basic questions.”
“Because you were asking about taking control of millions of dollars.”
“I am supposed to become your wife!”
“That does not make you Lily’s owner.”
“I never said it did!”
The connecting door opened.
Camille stood there.
Her expression was murderous.
“Keep your voice down.”
Simone turned.
“This is between me and Daniel.”
“No.”
Camille stepped into the room.
“Not after what you did to my niece.”
Daniel glanced past her.
Lily was not visible.
“Where is she?”
“With Mom.”
Their mother had arrived.
Good.
Daniel released a breath he had not realized he was holding.
Camille looked at the hair on the carpet.
Then at Simone.
“You cut it?”
Simone closed her eyes.
“Not now.”
Camille stepped closer.
“My niece is crying next door because you told her she embarrasses you.”
“That is not what happened.”
“She told me exactly what happened.”
“She’s seven.”
Daniel watched Simone say it again.
As though seven meant unreliable.
As though seven meant consent did not matter.
As though seven meant adult interpretation could erase a child's experience.
Camille said:
“That sentence isn’t helping you.”
Simone’s phone began ringing.
She checked it.
Her mother.
She declined.
It rang again.
The ceremony was unraveling downstairs.
Simone looked at Daniel.
“Please.”
Her voice had changed.
Soft now.