My daughter cut into her gender reveal cake and immediately started crying.

Two weeks later, Sarah Lin convened an emergency hearing at the Cook County Probate Court.

Sitting on the defense side of the courtroom was Spencer’s father, Thomas Parker, along with the corporate trustees representing the twelve-million-dollar Parker Family Trust.

Thomas Parker was a cold, arrogant man in his late sixties who had spent thirty years looking down his nose at my family. He sat at the polished wooden table wearing a thousand-dollar suit, scowling at Chloe as she walked into the gallery wearing a dark maternity dress, her hand holding mine.

"Your Honor," Sarah Lin announced, standing before the judge’s bench. "We are requesting an immediate, permanent injunction to freeze all capital distributions from the Parker Family Irrevocable Trust under the state’s Slayer Statute and fraud protection acts."

Thomas Parker’s attorney stood up instantly. "Objection! My client's son, Spencer, has not been convicted of a crime yet! The trust is an independent legal entity created by Arthur Parker in 1988! Mrs. Parker has no legal standing to freeze trust assets!"

"Your Honor," Sarah continued smoothly, handing a thick blue binder to the bailiff to pass to the judge. "We offer into evidence Exhibit A: Certified financial records proving that Spencer Parker utilized trust line-of-credit funds to pay over seventy thousand dollars in bribes to Dr. Michael Aris for the explicit purpose of terminating female fetuses to satisfy the trust’s male-heir clause."

The judge, a stern woman named Judge Henderson, read through the documents, her face hardening into an expression of absolute disgust.

"Furthermore," Sarah added, "we have filed a class-action civil fraud suit on behalf of Chloe Parker and Julianna Vance, seeking the total liquidation of the trust assets to satisfy civil damages for physical assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and fraud."

Thomas Parker stood up from his chair, his face flushing dark red. "That money belongs to the Parker family! You can't take my father's legacy because of a domestic dispute!"

Judge Henderson slammed her gavel down with a thunderous CRACK.

"Sit down, Mr. Parker!" Judge Henderson ordered, her voice echoing off the high wood-paneled walls. "If one cent of this trust was utilized to finance a criminal conspiracy involving forced medical procedures and fetal homicide, this entire trust is tainted by illegal activity!"

She signed the order on her desk without a moment's hesitation.

"I am issuing a total freeze on all Parker Family Trust accounts effective immediately," Judge Henderson declared. "A court-appointed receiver will take control of all commercial real estate properties in Indiana and Illinois, and all income generated will be impounded pending the outcome of the criminal trial."

Thomas Parker collapsed back into his seat, staring at Chloe with pure, unadulterated hatred.