Chapter 2: The Woman Behind the Smile
The next morning, the rain stopped.
But inside the Bellamy house, the storm had only begun.
Grant sat at the kitchen table while Lila ate toast beside him. Owen slept upstairs after the doctor confirmed he was suffering from exposure and exhaustion.
Vanessa hadn't spoken since midnight.
She sat across from Grant, perfectly dressed, as if she were preparing for a business meeting instead of defending herself.
"You called a lawyer," she said.
Grant looked up.
"You were hiding financial documents involving my children.""
"I was trying to help them.""
"No.""
His answer came immediately.
"You were trying to control them.""
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"There it is.""
"What?""
"The way you look at me now.""
Grant frowned.
"You locked my daughter outside.""
"And you believed her instantly.""
"Because she was telling the truth.""
Vanessa stood.
"You think Fiona was perfect?""
The name stopped him.
Nobody talked about Fiona casually.
Not even after nine months.
"What does Fiona have to do with this?""
Vanessa leaned against the counter.
"Everything.""
She looked toward the hallway.
"Lila still thinks her mother left her some magical secrets.""
Grant went still.
"What secrets?""
Vanessa said nothing.
That silence was an answer.
Grant pushed back his chair.
"What do you know about Fiona's blue box?""
Vanessa's eyes flickered.
Only briefly.
But again, he saw it.
Fear.
"You asked Lila about it.""
"Because I was curious.""
"You punished her because she wouldn't tell you.""
Vanessa laughed softly.
"You make everything sound terrible.""
"It was terrible.""
She walked closer.
"Grant, do you know what Fiona did?""
He didn't respond.
"She didn't trust you.""
The words hit harder than he expected.
"That's a lie.""
"Is it?""
Vanessa reached into her purse and pulled out a photograph.
She placed it on the table.
Grant stared.
It was Fiona.
Standing outside a lawyer's office.
With Daniel Cross.
The date was written on the back.
Three weeks before Fiona died.
"She was planning something," Vanessa said.
Grant picked up the picture.
"What?""
"I don't know.""
"But you found out.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Maybe Lila does.""
Upstairs, a floorboard creaked.
Grant looked toward the stairs.
Lila stood there.
Pale.
She had heard everything.
"Daddy?""
He immediately stood.
"Sweetheart.""
She walked down slowly.
"Mommy didn't hate you.""
Grant's chest tightened.
Vanessa watched her carefully.
"Lila, maybe you should tell your father the truth.""
Lila shook her head.
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because Mommy told me not to.""
Grant knelt.
"Not to tell me what?""
Lila looked at Vanessa.
The fear in her eyes was unmistakable.
"About the box.""
Vanessa took a step forward.
"Lila.""
Grant stood between them.
"Don't.""
The room became silent.
Then Lila whispered:
"Mommy said if anything happened to her, I had to give the blue box to Daddy only when I knew he was safe.""
Grant felt his heart stop.
"Safe from who?""
Lila looked directly at Vanessa.
And whispered:
"From you.""
Vanessa smiled.
But this time, nobody believed it.
That afternoon, Grant drove Lila to the old storage shed behind the house.
She held his hand as they walked.
"I didn't want to hide it forever," she said.
"I know.""
"Mommy said adults can lie better than children.""
Grant swallowed.
"Where is it?""
Lila pointed beneath an old wooden floorboard.
Grant pulled it open.
Inside was a small blue box covered in dust.
But when he lifted the lid, he found something that made his blood run cold.
A letter.
Addressed to him.
Dated the day before Fiona died.
May you like
And the first sentence read:
Grant, if Vanessa is reading this, our children are already in danger.
