Marcus turned sharply.
"I'm asking my son a question."
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Let him perform."
Jordan began crying quietly.
Marcus looked back at him.
"Son, did you eat lunch at school yesterday?"
The little boy shook his head.
"What about Monday?"
Another shake.
Marcus felt something cold moving through his chest.
"How long has this been happening?"
Jordan looked toward Vanessa.
She was watching him.
Her face had become completely expressionless.
The boy swallowed.
Then whispered something Marcus would remember for the rest of his life.
"Dad, I'm used to going hungry every day."
The kitchen went silent.
Marcus stared at him.
"What?"
Jordan's voice trembled.
"Since before Christmas."
Marcus slowly straightened.
It was April.
Four months.
His son was telling him that he'd been going hungry for four months.
Vanessa immediately laughed.
"Oh, please. That is ridiculous."
Marcus ignored her.
He crouched in front of Jordan again.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The boy started crying harder.
"Because she said you'd think I was lying."
Marcus felt his throat tighten.
Jordan reached into his pocket.
His small fingers were trembling as he pulled out an old black smartphone with a cracked corner.
Then he looked up.
"Dad?"
"Yes, buddy?"
"Please don't get mad at me."
Marcus shook his head.
"I'm not mad at you."
Jordan held out the phone.
"There's something you need to see."
Vanessa's face changed.
The smug expression disappeared.
Her eyes widened.
"Jordan, put that phone away."
The boy stepped closer to his father.
Vanessa moved around the kitchen island.
"Marcus, he has been recording people without permission. I've told him how inappropriate that is."
Marcus took the phone.
Vanessa's voice became sharper.
"Don't watch that. He edits things to make me look bad."
Marcus looked toward her.
Then slowly lowered his eyes to the screen.
A video was already open.
The thumbnail showed their kitchen.
The date was January 9.
The time was 6:51 a.m.
Marcus tapped play.
For the first few seconds, he saw the same kitchen island where he was standing.
Three lunchboxes.
A plate of sandwiches.
Vanessa's hands moving across the counter.
Then he watched her place food inside Jordan's lunchbox.