Chapter 7: The Daughter Vanessa Buried
I stared at Daniel as if he had spoken another language.
“Her own daughter?””
The words didn’t make sense.
Vanessa didn’t have a daughter.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
For years, Vanessa had told the same story.
Her baby had died shortly after birth.
A tragedy.
A wound that never healed.
She used that pain to explain everything.
Her bitterness.
Her anger.
The way she looked at other people’s happiness like it was something stolen from her.
But now Daniel was telling me the story was a lie.
I looked down at the documents in my hand.
The old hospital records.
The birth certificate.
The name printed clearly across the page.
A daughter who was supposed to be gone.
“Who is she?”” I asked.
Daniel didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me more than anything.
Because Daniel always had answers.
Excuses.
Explanations.
But this time, he looked afraid.
“Her name is Ava,” he finally said.
I felt a strange chill.
“Ava?””
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I don’t know.””
I stared at him.
“You don’t know?””
“I found records showing she existed. I found proof Vanessa lied. But I never found Ava.””
I looked back at the papers.
“Then why did Vanessa hurt Lily?””
Daniel walked closer.
“Because she believed Lily took something from her.””
“What?””
He hesitated.
“Michael.””
The name hit me like a wave.
My first husband.
The man who supposedly died.
The man who was apparently alive.
The man connected to every secret in my life.
“I don’t understand.””
Daniel sat on the edge of the bed.
“Before the accident, before you lost your memories, Michael and Vanessa knew each other.””
My stomach tightened.
“How?””
“I don’t know exactly.””
“That’s not good enough.””
Daniel looked frustrated.
“I’m trying to put it together too.””
I wanted to scream.
Everyone was always trying.
Trying to understand.
Trying to fix things.
But while everyone was searching for answers, my daughter was being hurt.
I walked out of the room.
“I’m finding Vanessa.””
Daniel followed.
“Emma, wait.””
“No.””
I turned around.
“For four years, people have made decisions about my life without me.””
My voice shook.
“You don’t get to stop me now.””
I found Vanessa at a small apartment she had been staying in after leaving our house.
The moment she opened the door and saw me, her expression changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Like she knew this moment was coming.
“You found out,” she whispered.
I stepped inside.
“Tell me about Ava.””
Vanessa froze.
For the first time since I had known her, she looked vulnerable.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
“Tell me.””
Her eyes moved toward the window.
“She was my baby.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
Her voice cracked.
“You don’t know anything.””
I felt anger rise.
“My daughter was terrified of you.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I never wanted to hurt Lily.””
I almost laughed.
“You hit her.””
“I lost control.””
“You don’t get to call that losing control.””
She looked at me.
And for a moment, I saw something unexpected.
Regret.
Real regret.
“She reminded me of Ava.””
The room went quiet.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa sat down slowly.
“When Ava was born, I lost everything.””
“What does Michael have to do with this?””
Her face changed.
“You remember him?””
“No.””
“Then maybe he was right.””
My heart stopped.
“Right about what?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“About keeping you away from the truth.””
I stepped closer.
“Explain.””
She wiped her eyes.
“Michael didn’t die.””
“I know.””
Her expression changed.
“You know?””
“Yes.””
Vanessa looked terrified.
“Then you know he came back.””
“What are you talking about?””
She stood.
“Emma, Michael didn’t leave because he wanted to.””
“Then why?””
“Because Ava disappeared.””
I stared.
“What?””
Vanessa’s voice dropped.
“Someone took my daughter.””
The silence that followed felt endless.
“Who?””
Vanessa looked directly at me.
And the answer made my blood run cold.
“Your husband.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Daniel found out about Ava.””
“No.””
“He knew Michael was alive.””
“No.””
“He knew everything.””
I backed away.
Because I wanted to believe she was lying.
I needed her to be lying.
But then Vanessa reached into a drawer.
She pulled out a photograph.
A picture of Daniel.
Standing beside a young girl.
A girl who looked about four years old.
A girl with the same eyes as Lily.
On the back of the photograph was a date.
Four years ago.
The same month Lily was born.
And underneath the date was a handwritten message.
“Found her. She is safe.””
I looked at Vanessa.
My voice barely worked.
“Where did you get this?””
May you like
She whispered:
“From the man who took my daughter.””
