Renee Jennings froze, forcing a smile onto her face. Her voice sounded as if it were being squeezed through clenched teeth. "Nathan, stop playing these little games with me. Who taught you these tricks for getting out of things? This isn't good. A truly good boy wouldn't act like this..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Nathan Lynch collapse.
"Nathan!"
Renee Jennings rushed forward to catch him, brushing the dirt from his sleeves. Her heart ached for the custom-made outfit he was wearing. She had run herself ragged getting a master designer from abroad to tailor it for him.
Nathan Lynch's eyes were half-open. "Mommy, I'm so tired... I need to rest for a bit..."
Having spent the last six months with him, Renee Jennings knew Nathan Lynch quite well. She knew he wasn't a good liar—for instance, his little hands were now clenched into tight fists.
She snapped, "Nathan, stop pretending! You really think I can't tell? Who taught you to lie and led you astray?!"
