The house felt different now. The expensive furniture, the framed photographs, the carefully arranged decorations—all the things that had seemed to represent success suddenly looked fragile.

I thought about the birthday party.

The balloons.

The cake.

The six candles.

Had Holly been planning her escape even then? Had she looked at me standing on the doorstep and seen a potential source of money, someone she could shame into silence before Robert asked me for help?

I didn’t know.

I wasn’t going to pretend I did.

What I knew was that my son had finally begun to ask questions.

And the answers were making it impossible for him to return to the life he had been living.

Later that evening, Robert came into the kitchen carrying a glass of water.

“The attorney says we need a complete financial review before we make any decisions.””

“That sounds sensible.””

“He also says the condominium agreement may have implications for the house, but he needs to review the title and the financing documents.””

I nodded.

“Then let him.””

Robert sat across from me.

“Mom, I have to ask you something.””

“Go ahead.””

“If everything falls apart, will you let Ethan stay with you?””

My heart tightened.

“Of course I will. But why are you asking?””

“Because I don’t know what happens next.””

I reached across the table and took his hand.

“Whatever happens, we will make sure Ethan is safe. But you need to understand something, Robert. I can help you through a difficult time. I cannot take responsibility for every decision you make.””

He nodded slowly.

“I know.””

For once, I believed he was trying to understand.

At midnight, he went upstairs to check his email.

I stayed at the kitchen table, reviewing the documents Rebecca had helped me organize.

Then my phone rang.

An unfamiliar number.

I answered.

“Hello?””

A man’s voice came through the speaker.

“Mrs. Johnson, this is Daniel.””

I hadn’t heard my former husband’s voice in more than two decades.

It sounded older, rougher, but unmistakably his.

“Daniel.””

“I understand you’ve been asking questions about my consulting company.””

“I’ve been asking questions about money taken from my son’s business.””

He exhaled.

“Robert has no idea how complicated this is.””

“Then explain it.””

“Not over the phone.””

“Send the documents to his attorney.””

“This isn’t just about the money, Ellena. There’s something Robert needs to know about the business.””

“What?””

He hesitated.

Then he said, “The company wasn’t in trouble when I first approached him. But I discovered something about his finances that changed everything.””

I gripped the phone.

“What did you discover?””

His voice dropped.

“Your son isn’t just at risk of losing his company. He may already have signed away control of it.””

I stood up so quickly that my chair scraped against the floor.

“What are you talking about?””

“Ask Robert about the agreement he signed last year.””

The line went dead.

I stared at the phone.

Then I heard Robert’s footsteps coming down the stairs.

“Mom? Who was that?””

I looked at my son.

“Your father.””

Robert’s face went pale.

“What did he want?””

I took a breath.

“He says you signed an agreement last year that may have given someone else control of your company.””

Robert stared at me.

Then he whispered, “No. That’s impossible.””

He rushed to his bag, pulled out a folder, and began searching through the papers.

A moment later, he stopped.

His hands were shaking.

“Mom,” he said, “I think I know which agreement he means.””