My husband assumed I couldn't understand German, so he announced in front of his whole family that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant with his baby. They chuckled while I quietly served dinner, convinced I was clueless. Then his mother smiled and said, “Don’t worry. We’ll make her raise this child.”

The room went completely still.

Julian frowned, setting his glass down. "What are you talking about, Claire? We aren't expecting anyone else. It's just us."

"Oh, but Julian," I said, a soft, polite smile touching my lips. "A family celebration wouldn't be complete without the mother of your unborn child."

Right on cue, the heavy oak doors of the dining room swung open.

Sophie walked into the room. She was wearing a simple dark blue dress that clearly accentuated her pregnant belly. Behind her stood Marcus Sterling, carrying a thick leather briefcase, and two uniformed officers from the Lake Forest Police Department.

Helga gasped, dropping her crystal glass onto the Persian rug, where it shattered into dozens of glittering pieces.

Klaus stood up so fast his heavy armchair scraped violently against the hardwood floor. "What is the meaning of this?!"

Julian jumped out of his seat, his face flushing deep red with a mixture of shock and fury. "Sophie?! What the hell are you doing here?! Who told you to come to my parents' house?!"

Sophie didn't look at him. She looked directly at me, drawing strength from the solidarity we had built over the last four days.

"Claire invited me," Sophie said clearly.

Julian whipped his head around to face me, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Claire... what is she talking about? This woman is insane! She’s an old acquaintance who—"

"Save your breath, Julian," I interrupted, my voice dropping into a register so cold and commanding that it silenced the entire room.

I reached into my handbag, pulled out the sleek silver flash drive, and laid it directly next to Klaus's dinner plate.