“I never meant—”
“I know.”
That stopped her.
He spoke more quietly.
“I believe you.”
Renee stared.
“I believe you did not sit down in January and decide to hurt our children.”
Tears moved down her face.
“I believe every step probably sounded reasonable when you took it.”
She nodded.
“That’s what scares me.”
He looked at the chart.
“Because you kept going.”
Renee sat at the kitchen table.
For the first time since he arrived, she looked exhausted rather than defensive.
Damon remained standing.
“Why a platform?”
She did not answer.
“Money?”
She laughed bitterly.
“You think I need money?”
Damon’s net worth made the question absurd.
“Then what?”
Renee looked at him.
“My name.”
He frowned.
“I have a name.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You have Damon Brooks.”
He stared.
“The company has your name.”
Silence.
“The foundation has your name.”
She pointed upward as if the children were physically above them.
“The school knows me as Noah and Ava’s mom.”
Damon said nothing.
“Your investors know me as your wife.”
Her voice broke.
“Do you know what I was before this?”
“Yes.”
“Say it.”
He hesitated.
Renee laughed.
“Exactly.”
“I know.”
“Say it.”
“You were senior strategy director at Halcyon Brands.”
“For eight years.”
“Yes.”
“I had forty-two people reporting to me.”
“I know.”
“I left when Ava was born.”
“We agreed.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes hardened.
“We agreed because your work could not slow down.”
Damon looked away.
There were truths he did not enjoy.
Renee continued.
“You said it would be temporary.”
“I remember.”
“Then Ava had feeding issues.”
“She was premature.”
“Then Noah changed schools.”
“Yes.”
“Then your company expanded.”
“Yes.”
“And suddenly my temporary break became five years.”
Damon swallowed.
“That was not fair.”
“No.”
“I should have—”
“Stop.”
She sounded tired.
“I am not asking you to confess.”
He stared.
Renee continued.
“I wanted something that was mine.”
“Then build something.”
“I did.”
She pointed toward the chart.
Damon closed his eyes.
“That.”
“Yes.”
“Using them.”
“They’re my children.”
“They are not your case study.”
Her face tightened.
“I didn’t publish anything.”
“Yet.”
“No.”
“What stage?”
Silence.
“Renee.”
She looked down.
“Pilot.”
His stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
“Six families.”
Damon stared.