I stayed silent.

She leaned back in her chair. “Howard, protecting a child from ruin is love. Financing a grown man’s refusal to grow up is not love. It’s maintenance.

Very expensive maintenance.”

Her words landed harder than I expected.

“Your wife asked you to protect your son,” Valerie continued. “She didn’t ask you to become the financial foundation for his dishonesty.”

I lowered my gaze to my hands.