Chapter 13: The Woman He Chose to Replace Me
I stared at the photograph in Detective Harris’s hand.
The words blurred.
*FAMILY RESTRUCTURE PLAN*
It sounded like something from a business meeting.
Not a family.
Not my life.
Not my daughter.
“Who is listed as Maya’s guardian?”” I asked.
Detective Harris didn’t answer immediately.
That was the moment I knew I already hated the answer.
She placed the photograph on the table.
At the bottom of the page was a name.
*Rachel Morgan.*
I frowned.
The name meant nothing.
“Who is she?””
Detective Harris watched my reaction.
“You don’t know her?””
“No.””
She exchanged a glance with Linda.
“Mrs. Hale, Rachel Morgan has been working with your husband for almost a year.””
My stomach tightened.
“Working with him?””
“Yes.””
“In what capacity?””
Detective Harris opened another file.
“She was introduced as a family consultant.””
I felt a strange chill.
“Family consultant?””
“That’s what Robert told people.””
I looked at Maya.
She was listening quietly from the bed.
“Did you know her?”” I asked.
Maya shook her head.
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
She looked confused.
“I’ve never heard that name before.””
Detective Harris nodded.
“That’s important.””
She turned another page.
“We found communication between Robert and Rachel.””
My hands tightened.
“What kind of communication?””
“Frequent.””
“How frequent?””
“Daily.””
The word landed like a punch.
Daily.
My husband had been speaking with another woman every day while telling me I was overreacting.
I forced myself to stay calm.
“Was there a relationship?””
Detective Harris looked at the file.
“We’re still investigating.””
That answer hurt more than a yes.
Because it meant there was more.
There was always more.
Maya looked down.
“Mom…”
I turned to her.
“What?””
“Is she the reason Dad said things would change?””
My blood ran cold.
“What things?””
Maya hesitated.
“Before everything happened, he told me we wouldn’t have to live like this forever.””
I sat down.
“What did he mean?””
“He said soon there would be a better home.””
My heart stopped.
“A better home?””
She nodded.
“He said there would be someone who understood me.””
I felt anger rise.
“He was talking about her.””
Maya’s eyes filled with tears.
“I thought he meant you.””
That broke me.
Because even after everything, my daughter had still been hoping for safety.
She had still been hoping her father was trying to help.
Not hurt.
Detective Harris closed the folder.
“We need to find Rachel.””
“Why?””
“Because if Robert was planning to make her Maya’s guardian, she may know what he intended.””
I stood.
“Where is she?””
“We’re working on that.””
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Everyone looked at me.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice spoke.
“Emma?””
My body went still.
“You’re Rachel.””
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.””
Maya looked at me.
Detective Harris immediately turned on the recorder.
I stepped away from the bed.
“Why are you calling me?””
Rachel’s voice shook.
“Because I know what Robert did.””
My jaw tightened.
“You worked with him.””
“I know.””
“You helped him.””
“No.””
The answer came quickly.
“I thought I was helping Maya.””
I closed my eyes.
“How?””
Rachel took a breath.
“He told me you were unstable.””
I almost laughed.
Of course.
“He said you had become obsessed with Maya’s health. He said you were making her dependent on you.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“And you believed him?””
“I did.””
A pause.
“Until I met her.””
“Met who?””
“Maya.””
I looked at my daughter.
“When?””
“Three months ago.””
My heart dropped.
“Maya never told me she met you.””
“She didn’t know who I was.””
I felt sick.
“What did you tell her?””
“Nothing bad.””
Rachel sounded desperate.
“I promise.””
“Then why are you calling?””
Her voice lowered.
“Because I found out Robert wasn’t trying to help Maya.””
“Then what was he doing?””
A long silence.
Then:
“He was preparing to make Maya dependent on him.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means he wanted her to believe he was the only person who could protect her.””
My blood went cold.
Rachel continued.
“He wanted to separate her from everyone else.””
Including me.
Especially me.
“Why?””
Her voice cracked.
“Because once Maya believed nobody else cared about her…”
A pause.
“He knew she would never leave him.””
The call went silent.
Then Rachel whispered:
“Emma, there’s something else.””
“What?””
“I found the first version of his plan.””
My heart pounded.
“Where?””
“In my apartment.””
“Why is it there?””
May you like
Rachel’s voice became terrified.
“Because Robert was supposed to come get it tonight.””
