Chapter 8: The Witness Who Ran
The moment the person turned toward the exit, Marcus moved.
"Hey!""
The entire ballroom followed his eyes.
The person stopped.
For one second, nobody knew what to do.
Then Richard spoke.
"Claire?""
Vanessa's sister froze.
Her face drained of color.
The woman who had spent the entire night standing quietly behind the guests suddenly became the center of everything.
Claire looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
Then at the door.
She knew she had been caught.
"You need to explain," I said.
Claire forced a laugh.
"This is ridiculous.""
Nobody laughed with her.
"You were there," Rachel said.
Claire looked at her.
"Don't start.""
"You were there when she talked about Emma.""
"That was years ago.""
"And you helped her.""
Claire's expression hardened.
"Watch your words.""
Andrew stepped forward.
"I have the bank records.""
Claire went silent.
Vanessa looked at her.
"You said nobody would find out.""
The sentence left her mouth before she realized what she had done.
Everyone heard it.
Claire stared at her.
"You idiot.""
The ballroom erupted again.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I looked between them.
"How long?""
Neither answered.
"How long have you both been planning this?""
Claire shook her head.
"We weren't planning to hurt anyone.""
I looked at Emma.
My daughter was still holding the phone.
Still listening to her mother breathe.
"You call this not hurting anyone?""
Claire looked uncomfortable.
"Vanessa was desperate.""
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"She was greedy.""
Vanessa flinched.
Claire immediately defended her.
"You don't know what she went through.""
I almost couldn't believe it.
"My daughter was the one sitting on the floor tonight.""
Claire looked away.
Because she knew.
She had no answer.
Andrew placed the documents on the table.
"The account used to pay for the relocation service belonged to a company owned by Claire.""
Richard looked horrified.
"My family...""
He stopped.
He couldn't finish.
Claire looked at her father.
"You don't understand.""
"No," Richard said quietly.
"I understand exactly.""
Vanessa started crying.
"Derek, please.""
I looked at her.
The woman I almost married.
The woman who had smiled beside me during our ceremony.
The woman who had promised to love my daughter.
"What?""
She wiped her tears.
"I made mistakes.""
"Mistakes?""
She nodded desperately.
"I was scared.""
"You planned a fake school enrollment.""
"I thought it was better.""
"You hid Emma's mother.""
"I thought I was protecting our family.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
My voice became softer.
"You were protecting yourself.""
She looked down.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Emma handed me the phone.
"Daddy.""
I looked at her.
"Mommy wants to talk to you.""
I put the phone to my ear.
"Derek.""
Her voice was weak.
But real.
"I'm sorry you found out this way.""
I swallowed.
"I don't understand anything anymore.""
"I know.""
"Why didn't you come back?""
A long pause.
Then:
"Because Vanessa convinced me you didn't want me near Emma.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She closed her eyes.
"She told me you had moved on. She told me Emma was happy. She told me coming back would destroy her life.""
My jaw tightened.
"She lied.""
"I know.""
The pain in her voice was obvious.
"I should have checked. I should have fought harder.""
I looked at Emma.
She was watching me.
Waiting.
"Derek...""
I turned back.
Andrew was holding another envelope.
This time, his expression was different.
Not serious.
Concerned.
"What is that?"" I asked.
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
"Something your father kept hidden.""
My heart sank.
"Another secret?""
Andrew nodded.
"Your father knew Emma's mother might return one day.""
I frowned.
"How?""
"He had evidence.""
"Of what?""
Andrew opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
I picked it up.
My hands went cold.
It wasn't a photo of Vanessa.
It wasn't a photo of Emma's mother.
It was a photo of someone else.
Someone standing beside Vanessa five years ago.
Someone who had been part of the original plan.
Someone I recognized immediately.
Because I had trusted him.
May you like
My eyes moved to the name written on the back.
And I realized Vanessa's betrayal was only the beginning. :::
