Chapter 9: The Truth About Vanessa
I drove home faster than I ever had in my life.
Every traffic light felt like an obstacle.
Every second felt like a mistake.
When I reached the mansion, police cars were already outside.
My heart nearly stopped.
I ran inside.
"Sophie!""
"Daddy!""
Her voice came from the living room.
I turned.
She ran toward me.
I caught her.
She was safe.
She was okay.
But Vanessa was standing across the room.
Calm.
Almost amused.
"You really do love making dramatic entrances.""
I held Sophie close.
"You came into my house after everything you did?""
Vanessa tilted her head.
"I came to talk.""
"You don't get to talk.""
She smiled.
"Actually, Richard, I think you need to listen.""
I looked at the officers.
"Remove her.""
Vanessa laughed softly.
"Before you do that, maybe you should ask why Jonathan is hiding things from you.""
My expression changed.
She noticed.
"Ah.""
She smiled.
"You found out about Emily.""
Sophie looked between us.
"Mommy?""
I immediately lowered my voice.
"Sweetheart, go with Maria.""
She left.
I faced Vanessa.
"What do you know about my wife?""
Vanessa walked closer.
"More than you think.""
"You were involved.""
"No.""
She paused.
"But I knew what was coming.""
My hands curled into fists.
"Explain.""
Vanessa looked around the mansion.
"I was promised this life.""
"By who?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she said:
"Do you really think someone like me could get close to you without help?""
I felt sick.
Because she was right.
My world had always been protected.
My staff.
My security.
My schedule.
Someone had opened the door.
Someone had invited her in.
"Who?""
Vanessa smiled.
Then she reached into her purse.
She pulled out a photograph.
I took it.
And my entire body went cold.
It was a picture of Emily.
Standing beside Jonathan.
But they weren't alone.
There was another person in the photo.
Someone I recognized.
Someone I had trusted.
My own father.
I stared at the picture.
Impossible.
My father had been dead for five years.
Vanessa watched my reaction.
"Your family has secrets, Richard.""
I looked at her.
"What are you saying?""
She stepped closer.
"I'm saying your wife discovered something your father spent years hiding.""
The room went silent.
Then my phone rang.
James.
I answered immediately.
His voice was urgent.
"Richard, you need to come to the office.""
"Why?""
"We found the person who accessed your accounts.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Who?""
James paused.
Then said:
"The person used your father's old company credentials.""
My blood ran cold.
"My father is dead.""
"I know.""
A pause.
"That's why this makes no sense.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She was no longer smiling.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
And that scared me more than anything.
May you like
Because Vanessa Vale wasn't afraid of me.
She was afraid of what we had just discovered.
