did David keep this?”
“According to him, at first he wanted to use it against the Ducas.”
“Then?”
“He was angry.”
“Reasonable.”
“Later, after learning Marco died, he felt releasing the emails would look like attacking a dead man.”
“Less reasonable.”
“He knows that now.”
“And he still didn’t tell me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Shame.”
Of course.
Everyone in this story had enough shame to power Manhattan.
I closed the folder.
“What does he want me to do with it?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why send it now?”
“Because the company publicly corrected his employment history.”
I waited.
“And?”
“He believes the file belongs to you because Marco named you.”
That was fair.
“Will he consent to the paternity test?”
“Yes.”
“Support order?”
“He is willing.”
“I’m not asking about willing.”
Priya almost smiled.
“We’ll calculate formal support under state guidelines.”
“Good.”
“Trust settlement?”
“If paternity confirms, I want Mia’s portion funded.”
“No
