“Mama rich?”
I choke on a laugh.
“I—” I start.
I don’t even know how to answer that.
Because for the first time in years?—
The math in my head changes.
Rent.
Food.
Childcare.
All those numbers that have been pressing in on me, tightening like a vise?—
They loosen.
Just a little.
Enough to breathe.
Brautigaum continues talking on the screen, something about corporate responsibility and future initiatives and leveraging momentum, but I barely hear him anymore.
Because I’m looking at Jesse.
At his bright, curious eyes.
At the way he clings to me like I’m the center of his world.
And for the first time since he was born?—
I feel like I might actually be able to give him what he deserves.
Stability.
Safety.
A future that isn’t built on constant fear of the next bill, the next problem, the next thing breaking that I can’t afford to fix.
My throat tightens.
“Oh,” I whisper.
Fenn watches me quietly.
“Yeah,” he says.
I look back at the screen.
At Bron.
At the man who stood in front of a monster and didn’t run.
“You did that,” I murmur softly.
