Two Million Was What My Son's Life Cost

Adrienne’s POV

The biggest regret of my life was letting my son intern at our family company.

Jonah had barely started his internship when another intern named Presley Shaw accused him of sexual assault. Of course, the security cameras on that floor just happened to be down for maintenance that day.

I panicked. I listened to my husband, Curtis, and privately paid Presley two million dollars to keep quiet. I thought money could buy us peace.

Instead, she posted the transfer records and a recording of our conversation online, accusing us of paying her to make the accusation disappear.

The backlash was overwhelming. My son, who wouldn’t hurt a fly and spent most of his time painting alone in his studio, was doxxed. Obscenities were spray-painted across our front door. The police took him away, and while he was being held in jail awaiting trial, the pressure kept mounting until he saw no way out.

In the end, he slit his wrists, believing it was the only way left to prove his innocence.

The company collapsed into bankruptcy. In the chaos, Curtis drained our accounts and ran off with Presley.

Only then did I understand. From the beginning, they had set the whole thing up to destroy my son and me.

On the anniversary of Jonah’s death, I jumped from the roof of our company building.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Jonah was supposed to begin his internship.

This time, I would never let my son go anywhere near that hell again.

“Mom? Mom, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me!”

A frantic voice reached me as someone shook me hard by the shoulders.

My eyes flew open, and I dragged in one breath after another.

Jonah’s young, worried face was the first thing I saw. He wasn’t pale. There was no blood. There was still a spark in his eyes.

I looked around.

I was sitting in the back seat of our car. Familiar streets passed outside the window as our driver moved steadily through traffic.

My gaze fell on the folder resting on Jonah’s lap.

I understood.

I was back on the day Jonah was supposed to start his internship at the company. The day the nightmare had begun.

“Mom, is it your low blood sugar again?” Jonah reached over to feel my forehead. “We’re almost at the office. Dad’s waiting to help me with the onboarding paperwork.”

I grabbed his hand. Tears spilled from my eyes without warning.

“Jonah…”

I pulled him into my arms and held him as tightly as I could, as if I never wanted to let him go.

“Mom, what’s going on?” I was holding him so tightly he could barely breathe, but he still patted my back gently. “Did something happen at the company?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, forcing the despair back down.

When I opened them again, I was cold and clearheaded.

I released him and took the folder from his lap.

Jonah watched in shock as I pulled out the employment documents and tore them in half without hesitation.

“Mom! What are you doing?”

“Go home, or go to your studio. Either way, you’re never setting foot in Vance Group as an intern.”

Jonah looked completely lost. He scratched his head, unsure what to say.

“But… Dad and Grandma said that as the oldest son, I have to start at the bottom and learn how to take over the company someday. You agreed with them.”

“That was before.” I cut him off and gently touched the dark shadows beneath his eyes. “Jonah, I know you’ve never liked finance. You’ve always loved painting. Your room is full of canvases and paint, and you look miserable every time you have to read a financial report.”

Jonah lowered his head, his eyes turning red.

He had always been a good kid who did what was expected of him. In my previous life, he had given up what he loved because he didn’t want me caught between him, his father, and his grandmother. He had clipped his own wings, put away his paintbrushes, worn suits he hated, and forced himself to study things he couldn’t stand.

“I don’t want to force you anymore.” I fought back my tears. “Go paint. Put on your own show. Follow your dream. Whatever happens, I’ll handle it.”

Jonah stared at me in disbelief, joy and emotion filling his eyes.

“Mom, are you serious? You’re really going to let me paint?”

“I am. All I want is for you to be safe and happy.” I smiled and ran a hand over his hair.

Then I turned to the driver.

“Turn around. We’re going home.”

The car turned around and headed back toward Greenwich.

The moment I stepped through the front door, a coffee mug came flying straight at my head.

“Adrienne! What the hell are you trying to pull?”