Chapter 4: The Second Secret
The next morning, I woke up to thirty-seven missed calls.
News had already spread.
The engagement party disaster was everywhere.
People were asking questions.
Friends who once congratulated me were now sending messages.
Some apologized.
Others wanted details.
I ignored all of them.
The only thing that mattered was finding out the truth.
Emily sat at the kitchen table while Lily drew beside her.
For the first time in years, my daughter looked peaceful.
That hurt more than anything.
Because I realized how much she had needed her mother.
I poured coffee.
Emily looked at me.
“You haven’t slept.””
“Neither have you.””
She smiled sadly.
“No.””
For a moment, we were just two people remembering who we used to be.
Then the front door opened.
Vanessa walked in.
I immediately stood.
“What are you doing here?””
She held a folder.
“I came to explain.””
Emily stood too.
“You don’t get to explain.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“You always were dramatic.””
My jaw tightened.
“Leave.””
She ignored me.
Instead, she placed the folder on the table.
“Open it.””
I didn’t move.
“What is it?””
“Proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“That Emily was planning to leave.””
Emily laughed.
A broken laugh.
“You’re still doing this?””
Vanessa opened the folder.
Inside were printed messages.
Photos.
Documents.
She pushed them toward me.
“Look.””
I picked them up.
The documents showed Emily had searched for apartments.
Had looked at travel information.
Had contacted a lawyer.
My heart sank.
But then Emily spoke.
“Look at the dates.””
I checked.
My eyes narrowed.
The dates were after Emily disappeared.
Someone had created them.
Vanessa’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
“You forged these.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Then she leaned closer.
“You really think I’m the villain?””
Her voice softened.
“I saved you.””
I stared.
“What?””
“You were broken when Emily left.””
Emily stepped forward.
“She didn’t leave.””
Vanessa ignored her.
“You had a daughter who needed stability. I gave you that.””
The anger inside me burned.
“You trapped my wife.””
Vanessa’s eyes hardened.
“You loved me.””
The room went silent.
Then Lily spoke.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
The little girl stood there holding her drawing.
“You loved the idea of my mommy being gone.””
Vanessa’s face changed.
For the first time…
She looked afraid.
The doorbell rang.
A detective entered.
“Ms. Vanessa Reed?””
She turned.
“Yes?””
“You need to come with us.””
Her lawyer stepped forward.
“On what grounds?””
The detective held up a document.
“Fraud. Kidnapping. And conspiracy.””
Vanessa looked at me.
But there was no sadness.
No regret.
Only anger.
“You think this ends with me?””
The detective moved closer.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Ask Daniel who helped me.””
Everyone froze.
My phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
One sentence.
From the unknown number.
“Your father knew.””
May you like
I stared at the screen.
Because my father had died six years ago.
