There was no point pretending anymore. "It wouldn't hurt to try. Worst case, I lose my worthless life and get to be with my child in the end. That's not the worst thing I can imagine."
Zachary's frown deepened. He glanced sideways at Cameron and dropped his voice. "Harming a child? Since when did you become capable of something like that?"
Cameron looked genuinely stricken at being confronted directly. "Zachary, do you have any idea how much Rebecca has had to suffer? I couldn't keep watching our daughter go through pain she didn't deserve."
"That is no excuse." His voice went hard. "You'll destroy her by giving her everything without consequence."
Cameron dropped her gaze, her eyes going red at the edges. "We have both owed her more than we can ever repay. You know that."
Zachary exhaled slowly and turned back to me. "Ms. Stovall, what's done cannot be undone now. Tell us what you want. We'll do everything in our power to compensate you for the harm that was caused."
