“This evidence is undeniable.”

Sandra’s voice echoed through the meeting room at Hartford & Partners Law Firm in Tokyo. On the screen in front of her, digital medical records from three different hospitals were displayed. In the bottom corner of the screen was the metadata of the ultrasound Clarissa had previously claimed as her own—now proven to belong to another patient.

William stood beside Sandra, his expression cold. Across from them, Clarissa sat with clenched fists and shallow breaths. On her side sat their parents—one of whom was William’s father, maintaining an impassive expression.

“So,” William said softly but cuttingly, “you wanted to trap me for life just to keep...