Chapter 4: The Truth Vanessa Buried
I spent the entire night searching through every document Claire gave me.
Every answer created another question.
But one thing was clear.
Vanessa had lied.
The only thing I didn’t know was why.
The next morning, I met Claire again.
“You knew this would happen,” I said.
She looked guilty.
“I hoped Sarah was wrong.””
“But she wasn’t.””
“No.””
I looked at her.
“Tell me everything.””
Claire took a deep breath.
“Years ago, before Sarah met you, Vanessa was involved with someone.””
“Who?””
Claire opened a file.
A name was written inside.
Ethan Carter.
I stared at it.
“Ethan?””
Claire nodded.
“They were together.””
My stomach turned.
“The man who was in my house?””
“Yes.””
I couldn’t speak.
Everything from that night came back.
Ethan’s fear.
Vanessa standing behind him.
The way they looked at each other.
I felt sick.
When I returned home, Vanessa was waiting.
Alone.
Emily was still with Rachel.
“You know,” she said.
It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.””
She sat down slowly.
“I never wanted you to find out like this.””
“Like what? Through lies? Through my daughter being afraid?””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I made mistakes.””
“You destroyed my family.””
“No, James.””
She stood.
“I protected Emily.””
I laughed bitterly.
“From what?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“From losing you.””
I stared.
“What does that mean?””
She took a deep breath.
“Emily’s mother wasn’t the person you thought she was.””
“Don’t talk about Sarah.””
“You don’t know everything.””
“Then tell me.””
Vanessa looked away.
“Sarah and I knew each other before you.””
“I know.””
Her face changed.
“And Ethan?””
I watched her reaction.
She knew.
“You were all connected.””
Vanessa sat down.
“When Sarah died, she left something behind.””
“What?””
“A secret.””
I stepped closer.
“What secret?””
She whispered:
“Emily’s birth certificate.””
I froze.
“What about it?””
Vanessa looked at me with tears running down her face.
“Your name isn’t the only name on it.””
Before I could answer, the front door opened.
Emily walked in with Rachel.
She immediately sensed something was wrong.
“Dad?””
I looked at my daughter.
Then at Vanessa.
Vanessa reached for Emily.
“Sweetheart…”
Emily stepped back.
“No.””
That one word broke Vanessa.
Emily looked at me.
“Dad, please don’t let her take me away.””
I hugged my daughter.
“I won’t.””
Then Ethan appeared at the door.
I didn’t know how long he had been standing there.
He looked at Vanessa.
“It’s time.””
Vanessa looked terrified.
“Ethan, no.””
He stepped forward.
“You can’t keep lying anymore.””
I stared at him.
“What are you talking about?””
Ethan looked directly at me.
“James, there’s something you need to know.””
The room went silent.
“Emily’s father…”
He stopped.
May you like
Then he finished the sentence.
“…is not who you think.””
