Aria looks at Marcus, who's moved closer to hear the conversation.
"What if I refuse?"
"Then they'll subpoena you. And refusing to testify in a federal fraud case doesn't look good for someone trying to maintain custody of their child."
The threat is subtle but clear.
"How long?"
"The trial could last weeks. Maybe months."
Aria closes her eyes, feeling the life she's built starting to crumble at the edges.
"There's something else," James continues. "Leon's lawyers are claiming he was coerced into terminating his parental rights. They're suggesting you manipulated him while he was mentally unstable."
"That's ridiculous."
"I know that. But they're going to use the trial as a platform to rehabilitate his image. Make him look like the victim."
Marcus takes the phone from her hands.
