Chapter 2: The First Lie
Roy didn't ask who I had called.
He asked a different question.
"Why are you standing in the dark?""
I nearly dropped my phone.
He walked toward me, rubbing one hand over his face.
"I couldn't sleep.""
"Neither could I.""
He glanced at my phone.
"Everything okay?""
"Yes.""
It was the first lie I'd ever told my husband.
His eyes remained on mine.
"Who was that?""
"Work.""
"At two in the morning?""
I shrugged.
"Doctor Mason.""
Roy went still.
Only for a fraction of a second.
But I saw it.
"Why were you calling Mason?""
"I had a question about a patient.""
"Which patient?""
"Harold Vance.""
His expression changed.
"Why?""
"Why are you asking why?""
"Because Harold was my patient.""
"I know.""
Roy stepped closer.
"Vanessa, what exactly did Mason tell you?""
There was something in his voice I had never heard before.
Not anger.
Fear.
"I didn't get an answer.""
"About what?""
"I interrupted the call.""
"Why?""
"Because you came into the kitchen.""
His jaw tightened.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he reached for my hand.
"Come back to bed.""
I looked at his fingers around mine.
"Roy.""
"Yeah?""
"Did you alter Harold Vance's surgical chart?""
His hand released mine.
The silence that followed was so complete I could hear the refrigerator motor kick on.
"No.""
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
I studied him.
"Are you sure?""
His face hardened.
"Why would you ask me that?""
"Because I saw photographs.""
"Photographs of what?""
"Charts.""
He stared at me.
Then something strange happened.
He laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because he was buying time.
"You went through my phone.""
"I asked you a question.""
"You went through my phone.""
"Yes.""
His voice dropped.
"Vanessa, you had no right.""
"And you had no right to hide this.""
"I'm not hiding anything.""
"Then tell me what D.M. means.""
His face went pale.
That was the moment I knew.
Whatever was happening, Roy had been hiding something.
But it wasn't Tessa.
"Where did you hear that name?"" he asked.
"Answer me.""
"Vanessa.""
"Who is D.M.?""
He looked toward the bedroom.
Then back at me.
"I can't tell you.""
I felt something crack inside my chest.
"Can't?""
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
"Because it's dangerous.""
I stared at him.
"Dangerous?""
"Yes.""
"For who?""
"For you.""
I stepped backward.
"You don't get to tell me that after keeping me in the dark.""
"I'm trying to protect you.""
"From what?""
He didn't answer.
I shook my head.
"You know what I thought when that woman came into my office?""
Roy's eyes narrowed.
"What woman?""
"Tessa.""
He froze.
"Tessa?""
"Yes.""
"I don't know anyone named Tessa.""
"She says she's pregnant with your baby.""
For the first time that night, Roy looked genuinely shocked.
"What?""
"She came to my office.""
"Why?""
"To tell me to divorce you.""
He stared at me.
Then he said quietly, "Vanessa, I swear to you, I've never met that woman.""
I wanted to believe him.
God, I wanted to.
But trust becomes complicated when the person you love has secrets.
"Then why is she threatening my marriage?""
"I don't know.""
"You expect me to believe that?""
"I expect you to believe what I'm telling you.""
"Then tell me the truth about D.M.""
He closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, they were full of exhaustion.
"I need until tomorrow.""
"No.""
"Vanessa—"
"No.""
"I can't explain everything tonight.""
"Then don't sleep.""
He stared at me.
I walked past him.
"Where are you going?""
"To the guest room.""
"Vanessa.""
I stopped at the doorway.
He said, "I love you.""
I turned around.
"Then stop making me afraid of you.""
I shut the door.
At 6:50 the next morning, I was at the hospital.
I went straight to Dr. Mason's office.
He was already there.
The blinds were closed.
The door locked.
He pushed a file toward me.
"You're not going to like this.""
I opened it.
Harold Vance's original surgical record was missing.
"What?""
"The hospital database shows the file was accessed three times after his death.""
"By whom?""
"Your husband.""
I looked up.
"Mason.""
"Wait.""
He pulled out another page.
"Roy wasn't the only one.""
There were four names.
One belonged to a senior administrator.
One belonged to the hospital's legal department.
One belonged to a surgeon I'd known for years.
And the fourth name was unfamiliar.
*Daniel Mercer.*
D.M.
My mouth went dry.
"Who's Daniel Mercer?""
Mason leaned back.
"That's the problem.""
"What problem?""
"We don't have an employee by that name.""
I stared at the page.
"Then why does he have access?""
"That's what Roy has been investigating.""
A knock sounded at the door.
Mason immediately closed the file.
"Who is it?""
A woman's voice answered.
"Dr. Mason? It's Tessa.""
I looked at him.
His face had gone white.
The door opened.
Tessa stepped inside.
Her pregnant belly was still there.
But the frightened woman from yesterday was gone.
She closed the door behind her.
Then she looked directly at me.
"I need to talk to you.""
I stood.
"You already did.""
"No.""
She swallowed.
"Yesterday, I was lying.""
Mason rose slowly.
"Lying about what?""
Tessa looked at me.
"Everything except the pregnancy.""
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"Whose baby is it?""
She reached into her purse.
Pulled out a sealed envelope.
And placed it on the desk.
"It's Roy's.""
May you like
Then she whispered:
"But I'm not the woman you think I am.""
