Chapter 6: The Woman Martha Wanted for Nick
The name stared back at me.
Vanessa Whitmore.
Even after nine years, I knew exactly who she was.
The woman Martha always believed belonged beside Nick.
The woman she compared me to every chance she got.
Beautiful.
Successful.
Perfect.
At least, that was the version Martha created.
I looked at Claire.
"What does Vanessa have to do with this?""
Claire exchanged a glance with Nick.
And immediately, I knew.
There was more.
"There are things you don't know about Vanessa," Nick said.
I laughed quietly.
"Apparently there are things everyone knows except me.""
The pain in my voice made him look away.
I didn't mean to hurt him.
But I was tired.
Tired of discovering pieces of my own life after everyone else already knew them.
Claire opened the journal.
"Your father mentioned Vanessa several times.""
"Why?""
"Because she was connected to Martha's plan.""
My eyebrows pulled together.
"What plan?""
Claire took a breath.
"Martha wanted Nick to marry Vanessa because it would strengthen her family's position.""
I already knew that part.
But then Claire continued.
"What you don't know is that Vanessa knew.""
"Knew what?""
"That Martha was trying to destroy your relationship.""
The coffee shop suddenly felt too quiet.
I remembered every time Vanessa had appeared at family events.
Every polite smile.
Every perfect compliment.
Every time Martha had mentioned her.
"She knew about me?""
Claire nodded.
"Yes.""
Nick looked uncomfortable.
"I didn't know.""
I turned toward him.
"Are you sure?""
He nodded.
"Emily, I swear.""
I wanted to believe him.
Because despite everything, I knew Nick.
He wasn't Martha.
He wasn't someone who could calmly manipulate people.
But there was something else.
Something Claire hadn't said.
"What happened with Vanessa?""
Claire looked at the journal.
"Your father believed Vanessa wasn't the person Martha thought she was.""
"Meaning?""
"Meaning she wasn't loyal.""
I frowned.
"To Martha?""
Claire nodded.
"Vanessa had her own reasons for wanting Nick.""
A cold feeling moved through me.
"What reasons?""
Claire didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked at Nick.
"You should tell her.""
Nick sighed.
"I found messages between Vanessa and my mother.""
My heart sank.
"What kind of messages?""
"About our relationship.""
I waited.
"She was encouraging Mom.""
"Encouraging her to do what?""
Nick looked at me.
"To break us apart.""
I felt numb.
Not surprised.
Just tired.
Because apparently everyone had been fighting over my marriage while I was simply trying to live it.
"What did she say?""
Nick hesitated.
"She said you would never fit into our family.""
The words hurt.
Even though they came from someone I barely knew.
Because those were Martha's words too.
Different person.
Same cruelty.
Claire touched the journal.
"But Vanessa made one mistake.""
"What?""
"She underestimated your father.""
I looked at her.
"My father?""
"He noticed things.""
Claire smiled sadly.
"Your father was quiet. People thought that meant he was unaware.""
She opened another page.
"But he saw everything.""
The writing was messy.
Like he had written quickly.
Like he was afraid he wouldn't have time.
My heart tightened.
I read the entry.
Martha believes she can control everyone around her. She believes money gives her power. But people always reveal themselves eventually.
I turned the page.
Another sentence.
Nick deserves to know the truth. Emily deserves to know the truth.
I covered my mouth.
He knew.
My father knew about Nick.
Before we even met.
Or maybe...
No.
That was impossible.
"How did my father know me and Nick would meet?""
Claire smiled.
"He didn't.""
She looked at me.
"But he knew people could be connected in ways they never understood.""
I looked at Nick.
Suddenly our love story felt different.
Not less real.
More complicated.
Because maybe our families had been moving toward this moment for decades.
Then my phone rang.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
But something made me answer.
"Hello?""
Silence.
Then a woman's voice.
"Emily Carter?""
I froze.
"Who is this?""
A pause.
Then:
"You need to stop digging into Martha Bennett's past.""
My entire body went cold.
"Who is this?""
The woman continued.
"If you know what's good for you, you will leave this alone.""
I stood.
"Who are you?""
Another pause.
Then the voice said:
"Someone who knows what happened to your father.""
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Nick immediately noticed.
"What happened?""
I looked at him.
My hands were shaking.
"Someone just threatened me.""
Claire went pale.
"Did they say who they were?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
But I already knew one thing.
The past wasn't buried.
It was alive.
And someone was desperate to keep it hidden.
Because three days after my wedding…
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someone had finally realized I was looking for the truth.
And they were afraid of what I might find. :::
