I looked at him.
“Then speak to me as your mother.”
He swallowed.
“You’re going to ruin everything.”
The words struck harder than I expected.
“Everything?”
“The project.
My career.
Vanessa’s family.”
I waited.
He ran a hand through his hair.
“Mom, people have already invested millions.”
“Based on what they were told.”
“You don’t understand how complicated it is.”
“I understand that someone used your father’s name on a document he didn’t sign.”
Jared went pale.
I watched the change in his face.
For the first time, I knew beyond any doubt that he understood the seriousness of what had happened.
He whispered, “You don’t know the whole story.”
“Then tell me.”
He looked toward Eleanor.
“Not here.”
“Why not?”
“Because it could destroy me.”
I felt a terrible sadness.
“Jared, you’ve spent weeks asking me to sacrifice my home to protect your future.”
