Chapter 12: The Woman Who Wanted My Life
When I returned to Zoe’s apartment, Ethan was waiting outside.
I almost walked past him.
Almost.
But then I remembered his message.
“You know where Vanessa got the video?””
He nodded.
“She kept copies.””
“Why?””
“Because she always prepares for the worst.””
I looked at him.
“No. She prepares to control people.””
He didn’t argue.
That told me enough.
“Where did she get it?””
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
“She had access to my old phone backups.””
“Your phone?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because before you and I married, she managed everything.””
My stomach turned.
“She had that much control?””
“Yes.””
“And you let her?””
He looked down.
“I was weak.””
I wanted to yell.
I wanted to tell him weakness was not an excuse.
But for the first time, he wasn’t trying to defend himself.
He was admitting it.
“So what now?””
He looked at me.
“Now I tell you the last thing I hid.””
I crossed my arms.
“What?””
Ethan took a deep breath.
“When Vanessa showed up at the hospital, she wasn’t just threatening me.””
“What else?””
“She wanted to meet Lily.””
My face changed.
“Why?””
“Because she wanted to convince herself something.””
“What?””
“That you would fail.””
I frowned.
“She thought I couldn’t be a good mother?””
“No.””
His voice became quiet.
“She thought if she could prove you were unstable, she could make me leave you.””
My heart pounded.
“She was building a case?””
“Yes.””
“For seven years?””
“Yes.””
I felt sick.
All those moments.
All those comments.
All those little attacks.
They weren’t random.
They were pieces of a plan.
“She wanted custody.””
Ethan nodded.
“She wanted control.””
I looked away.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Did you ever love her?””
Ethan froze.
The silence was painful.
Finally, he answered.
“No.””
“Then why?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of her?””
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“You chose fear over us.””
He lowered his head.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
But it mattered.
Before I could respond, Zoe rushed into the room.
“Chloe.””
Something about her voice made me turn.
“What happened?””
She held her phone.
“I found something.””
“What?””
She placed it on the table.
A news article.
Seven years old.
The headline made my blood run cold.
*LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER IN HIT-AND-RUN INVESTIGATION AFTER MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE*
I read the name.
My hands went numb.
The victim wasn’t just Ethan’s business partner.
He was someone I knew.
Someone who had attended my wedding.
Someone who had held baby Lily the day she was born.
I looked at Ethan.
“You told me Vanessa hit your business partner.””
“Yes.””
“You never told me who.””
His face went pale.
“I thought it was safer.””
“Who was he?””
Ethan closed his eyes.
Then whispered:
“Your father.””
The room stopped.
I couldn’t hear anything.
Not Zoe.
Not the traffic outside.
Not even my own breathing.
“My father died before Lily was born.””
Ethan looked at me.
“No.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
“He didn’t die.””
I stared at him.
“He survived.””
A terrible silence filled the room.
“Then why did everyone tell me he was gone?””
Ethan looked toward the window.
“Because Vanessa made sure you never found out.””
And before I could ask why…
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man’s voice came through.
“Chloe?””
I froze.
Because I knew that voice.
A voice I hadn’t heard in seven years.
May you like
A voice I thought I would never hear again.
“Dad?””
