Chapter 6: The Truth Behind Vanessa’s Smile
I stared at the photo on my phone.
It was Vanessa.
Years before we met.
She was standing outside a courthouse.
Next to her was a man I didn’t recognize.
At first, I didn’t understand why someone would send me this.
Then I saw the caption underneath.
*Ask her about Daniel.*
My stomach tightened.
I had never heard that name.
Not once.
I looked around the room.
Ava and Madison were still sitting quietly.
Lily was upstairs.
And Vanessa was standing at the top of the stairs watching me.
She knew.
Somehow, she knew I had seen something.
“What is that?”” she asked.
I locked my phone.
“Who is Daniel?””
The color drained from her face.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
“Where did you hear that name?””
“Answer me.””
She looked toward the girls.
“Not in front of them.””
I stood.
“Then tell me somewhere else.””
We walked into the kitchen.
The same kitchen where we had celebrated birthdays.
The same kitchen where Vanessa had kissed me goodbye every morning.
It suddenly felt like a stranger’s house.
“Daniel was my ex-husband,” she said.
I waited.
“That’s all?””
She sighed.
“We were young.””
“Were you married?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
“It wasn’t important.””
I stared at her.
“A marriage isn’t important?””
“It ended years ago.””
“Why hide it?””
She didn’t answer.
That was the problem.
Vanessa always had an answer.
Except when she didn’t.
“Who sent me that photo?””
“I don’t know.””
“Who is Daniel?””
She looked away.
“He’s Lily’s father?””
I froze.
“What?””
“No.””
She shook her head quickly.
“No. Not Lily’s father.””
“Then why did you react like that?””
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
“Because Daniel was complicated.””
“Complicated how?””
She stayed silent.
I stepped closer.
“Vanessa.””
Finally, she whispered:
“He had a daughter.””
I felt my chest tighten.
A daughter.
“Where is she?””
Vanessa didn’t respond.
“Where is she?””
Her eyes moved toward the floor.
“She doesn’t live with him anymore.””
“That’s not what I asked.””
The silence answered before she did.
“She was taken away.””
I stared at her.
“Taken away by who?””
“Her mother.””
“You told me Daniel didn’t have custody?””
“He didn’t.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked angry now.
Not sad.
Angry.
“Because people make mistakes.””
I studied her face.
There was something missing.
Regret.
I had expected guilt.
Pain.
Something.
But all I saw was frustration.
Like she was annoyed this secret had been uncovered.
“What happened to his daughter?””
Vanessa’s voice became colder.
“She was difficult.””
I felt a chill.
“Difficult?””
“She lied. She caused problems. She turned people against us.””
The words sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
Because I had heard them before.
About Lily.
I took a step back.
“You did this before.””
Her expression changed.
“What?””
“You blamed a child.””
“That’s not fair.””
“No. What’s not fair is a seven-year-old girl carrying a backpack full of clothes because she thinks she’s unwanted.””
Vanessa looked away.
For once, she had nothing to say.
Then my phone rang.
The number was hidden.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice came through.
“Are you Lily’s father?””
“Yes.””
There was a pause.
Then she said:
“My name is Rachel.””
I waited.
“I was married to Daniel.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Why are you calling me?””
Her voice shook.
“Because I saw what Vanessa did to your daughter.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She had gone completely still.
“Don’t listen to her,” Vanessa said.
Rachel continued.
“She’s going to tell you I’m angry. She’s going to tell you I’m lying.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Hang up.””
I ignored her.
Rachel whispered:
“But before you decide who to believe, ask Vanessa one question.””
“What question?””
A long silence.
Then Rachel said:
“Ask her why Daniel’s daughter wrote the exact same letter Lily wrote.””
My blood turned cold.
Because suddenly the letter in my hand didn’t feel like just Lily’s story.
It felt like a pattern.
May you like
And Vanessa wasn’t just hurting my daughter.
She had done this before.
