His Billion-Dollar Lie

utter in her be

ant a

d herself, told Mark it was her fau

ch startups always "almost the

e, Mark

eyes bright. "Too risky. I want to open

Clara. A stable d

wonderfu

a home health aide, her b

ved, every penny

icturing a cozy little shop, may

eded more money. Her saving

. Serving drinks at

ncy, downtown. Marble

ast a secluded alcove, hidd

woman's laugh, sharp and clear. Jess

his whole poverty test thing is brilliant, Mark. Absolute

ly believes in the strug

w to her mouth.

ed. "Even after the baby comes. Just to be abso

d clattered. She caught

felt lik

. Her sacrif

baby, her baby, couldn't be

ad to

night. The small apar

ng, sketching layouts

t, honey?" he aske

er voice sounded flat

about the auction, a

as the

nest as he talked about shelf

. He was a

through her. The warmth she

u seem quiet," Mark said

ired,"

asking sma

or that new jacket, Mark? I th

inally paid out a little

was lying.

same Mark on the

n't care enough to s

ould you make dinner for Jess to

sickness was hitting her hard. The sm

knew

o well, Mark," she

t a simple meal. For Jess. Sh

heedling, a li

usually soft when he looked a

cling to, that maybe she

r. He didn't car

id, the word t

e. A lie. And he