Chapter 4: The Recording That Could Destroy Me
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Vanessa stood beside the kitchen counter, holding her phone like a weapon. Rachel was already halfway to the front door, and Ethan had both hands wrapped around my sleeve.
"Say that again," I told him.
Ethan swallowed.
"Mom has a recording of you saying you don't want Maya anymore.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Is that true?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she unlocked her phone.
"Daniel, I think you need to calm down. You're getting upset, and the children are watching.""
"Answer the question.""
She sighed.
"There's a recording. Yes.""
My stomach twisted.
"Where did you get it?""
"You sent it to me.""
"I never said that.""
"You did. Months ago.""
Rachel finally turned away from the door.
"Vanessa, maybe you should show him.""
My wife shot her sister a furious look.
"Stay out of this.""
But Rachel had already seen the direction things were going.
She walked back into the kitchen and placed her handbag on a chair.
"Daniel, I don't know everything that's happened here. But Vanessa told me you had been considering sending Maya to live with relatives.""
I stared at her.
"What relatives?""
Rachel hesitated.
"She said there was a family placement arrangement.""
"There's no such arrangement.""
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"You're twisting everything.""
I held out my hand.
"Show me the recording.""
She hesitated before turning her phone toward me.
The video was dated four months earlier.
It showed me sitting in my home office, wearing the blue shirt I'd worn during a particularly exhausting week.
My voice came through the speaker.
"I can't keep doing this, Vanessa. I don't know what to do with Maya anymore.""
Then another sentence.
"I wish someone else could take care of her for a while.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the screen.
I remembered that conversation.
I'd come home after a difficult meeting at Maya's school. She had been struggling with nightmares since her mother died, and I'd been worried about how to help her.
I'd told Vanessa I was exhausted.
I'd told her I needed help.
I'd never said I didn't want my daughter.
"Play the whole conversation," I said.
Vanessa shook her head.
"That's the whole recording.""
"No, it isn't.""
"Daniel, you said those things.""
"I said I needed help. I never said I wanted to abandon her.""
She folded her arms.
"How is that different?""
I stared at her.
"Because she's my daughter.""
Ethan suddenly stepped forward.
"That's not the whole video.""
Vanessa's face changed.
"Ethan, don't.""
He pointed toward the old phone.
"There's another recording from that day.""
I picked it up.
The file was dated the same afternoon.
I pressed play.
This time, the camera showed Vanessa's phone propped against a coffee mug.
I appeared on screen, sitting at my desk.
My voice sounded tired.
"I can't keep doing this, Vanessa. I don't know what to do with Maya anymore.""
Then Vanessa's voice came from behind the camera.
"Maybe you should let someone else raise her.""
I looked up in the recording.
"What?""
"You work all the time. She needs a mother.""
"She needs people who love her. That's what she needs.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Sometimes love isn't enough.""
Then I heard myself say the sentence she'd played earlier.
"I wish someone else could take care of her for a while.""
The video continued.
Vanessa moved closer.
"Then perhaps we should find someone who can.""
I shook my head.
"No. I mean help. I need help. I don't want to lose her.""
The recording ended.
I looked at Vanessa.
"You cut the video.""
She didn't deny it.
Instead, she said something that made my blood run cold.
"I didn't force you to say those words.""
"No. But you deliberately removed what came after them.""
She shrugged.
"You were upset. I needed something that showed how unstable things had become.""
Rachel slowly sat down.
"Vanessa, you told me he wanted Maya gone.""
"He does.""
"No, I don't," I said.
Vanessa pointed at the old phone.
"Then why would Ethan secretly record everything? Why would he keep all those videos? He's been manipulating you!""
Ethan's eyes filled with tears.
"I was trying to help Maya.""
"You're eleven years old! You don't know what you're doing!""
He flinched.
I stepped between them.
"Don't speak to him like that.""
Vanessa looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before.
It wasn't anger.
It was hatred.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's professional voice responded.
"Good evening. Is this Daniel Carter?""
"Yes.""
"This is Melissa Grant. I'm calling regarding the family court application submitted in connection with your daughter, Maya Carter.""
I glanced at Vanessa.
She had gone completely still.
The woman continued.
"We've received a request for an emergency review of your daughter's living arrangements. There's a hearing scheduled for Monday morning.""
My mouth went dry.
"Who submitted it?""
There was a pause.
"Your wife, Mrs. Vanessa Carter.""
I looked at the envelope.
Then at the phone.
"What's the application about?""
Another pause.
"According to the documents, the concern involves your ability to provide a stable home environment for your daughter.""
I gripped the counter.
"What evidence did she submit?""
The woman lowered her voice.
"Mr. Carter, I strongly recommend that you obtain independent legal representation before Monday.""
The call ended.
Vanessa picked up her handbag.
"I told you we should have discussed this privately.""
I looked at her.
"You filed a case against me?""
"I was protecting the children.""
"Which children?""
She didn't answer.
I turned toward Ethan.
He was crying silently now.
Then Maya, who had been sitting quietly at the table, spoke.
"Daddy?""
I knelt beside her.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
She looked at Vanessa.
Then she asked a question I would remember for the rest of my life.
"Is she going to tell everyone that you don't love me too?""
I pulled my daughter into my arms.
"No, baby. Nobody gets to decide that except me.""
But as I held her, I realized something.
Vanessa hadn't simply been mistreating my daughter.
May you like
She had been building a case against me.
And Monday was only three days away.
