“Mom,” he whispered, “we have FIVE MINUTES to put my plan into action.”
“What plan?” My heart raced as I searched his eyes for reassurance that this was just the wedding high talking. But Caleb’s expression was serious, almost frantic.
“I need to tell you something about Valerie,” he said, glancing around to ensure no one was listening. “There’s something in her past… something she’s been hiding from you, from us.”
The music faded into the background, and the jubilant laughter of guests blurred into a distant echo. “What do you mean?” I pressed, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I found out she has a connection to our family that changes everything. It explains so much about what happened.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “She’s not the villain I once thought she was.”
I felt a shiver run down my spine. Was it possible? “What do you mean a connection? How?”
Caleb inhaled deeply, a flicker of fear in his eyes. “I can’t explain it all now. But trust me, Mom. I need you to trust me.”
My stomach twisted. Trust was a fragile thing—it had been shattered years ago. But here was my son, pleading for understanding. “Okay,” I said hesitantly. “What do we do?”
