Chapter 6 - Vanessa’s Last Lie
Vanessa was sitting in the library when Bennett brought her back inside.
Her attorney had arrived.
So had mine.
She looked immaculate again.
Different dress.
Fresh makeup.
Cold eyes.
As if the morning had never happened.
I placed Thomas Miller’s ledger on the table.
Her expression barely changed.
That told me she recognized it.
Daniel sat beside me.
Grace remained near the door.
Vanessa noticed her.
“You’re still here?”
I answered.
“She lives here.”
Grace looked at me.
“So do my children.”
Vanessa laughed.
“You’re replacing me already?”
“No.”
“Then why is she part of this conversation?”
“Because her brother died because of the man you blackmailed.”
Vanessa stopped smiling.
Her lawyer whispered something.
She ignored him.
“I never killed anyone.”
“No one said you did.”
“I’m saying it now.”
I leaned forward.
“You knew Martin had arranged Thomas Miller’s death.”
Her lawyer touched her arm.
“Vanessa, stop talking.”
She pulled away.
“I knew Martin had done things.”
“Things?”
“He told me Thomas was a problem.”
Grace spoke.
“My brother had a name.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
Vanessa’s expression cooled.
“No. I’m not.”
Grace absorbed the cruelty without moving.
Vanessa looked at me.
“I found out Martin was stealing. I used it.”
“To disable cameras.”
“Yes.”
“To move money.”
“Yes.”
“To prepare a custody case.”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
Sophie’s voice came from the doorway.
“Custody?”
I turned.
She stood beside Bennett.
I immediately stood.
“She shouldn’t be here.”
Sophie looked at me.
“I want to hear.”
“Sweetheart—”
“No.”
For once, there was no fear in her voice.
Only determination.
“You always say people should tell the truth.”
I glanced at Bennett.
She gave a small shrug.
“She asked.”
I crouched in front of my daughter.
“This is adult stuff.”
“She lied about me.”
“Yes.”
“She lied about you.”
“Yes.”
“Then I want her to tell the truth where I can hear it.”
I looked at Grace.
Grace gave Sophie a small nod.
So I let my daughter stay.
Vanessa watched her.
“I wanted security.”
Sophie frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I wanted to know I would have a place in this family.”
“You already did.”
Vanessa blinked.
Sophie continued.
“Daddy was going to marry you.”
Vanessa looked at me.
“Was he?”
I didn’t answer.
That silence answered for me.
Vanessa laughed softly.
“There.”
She looked at Sophie.
“Your father never truly trusted me.”
Sophie surprised all of us.
“Maybe because you lied.”
Vanessa’s smile vanished.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand you told Caleb Daddy would send him away.”
Vanessa looked down.
“And you told me Mommy was gone because I talked about her too much.”
Grace’s eyes closed.
Sophie stepped closer.
“Did my mommy hate me?”
“No.”
Vanessa’s answer came immediately.
Sophie’s voice trembled.
“Then why did you say she would disappear more if I talked about her?”
Vanessa finally cracked.
“I was angry.”
“At me?”
“At everything!”
The words exploded from her.
“I was angry at this house. At your mother. At Evan. At being treated like someone waiting outside a locked door.”
Sophie stared at her.
“You were mean because you were angry?”
Vanessa slowly nodded.
Sophie’s answer was simple.
“That’s not a good rule.”
Grace covered her mouth.
Daniel looked down.
Even Bennett softened.
I stood beside my daughter.
“No,” I said.
“It isn’t.”
Vanessa’s lawyer whispered, “We’re done.”
Bennett stepped forward.
“Vanessa Vale, you are being placed under arrest pending charges related to assault, financial fraud, conspiracy and other matters currently under investigation.”
Vanessa looked at me.
“You’re letting them take me?”
“I’m not letting anything happen.”
“You could stop this.”
“I could.”
Hope flashed in her eyes.
“I won’t.”
Her face hardened.
“You think you’re better than me?”
“No.”
I looked at Sophie and Caleb.
“I think I failed them in a different way.”
That silenced her.
“I was gone.”
Sophie grabbed my hand.
“I trusted people because trusting them was easier than being here.”
I looked at Vanessa.
“You used that.”
“Yes.”
“And I gave you the opportunity.”
Bennett led Vanessa toward the door.
Before she left, Vanessa turned to Grace.
“He’ll disappoint you too.”
Grace said nothing.
Vanessa smiled bitterly.
“Men like Evan always choose power.”
I answered before Grace could.
“Then I’ll have to become a different kind of man.”
Vanessa was taken away.
The front door closed.
The mansion became quiet.
Sophie looked up at me.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Can we change the rules now?”
I crouched.
“All of them.”
Caleb ran into the room.
“Can Benny sit at dinner?”
I looked at the filthy rabbit.
Grace smiled.
I sighed.
“Apparently that one is non-negotiable.”
Caleb grinned.
For the first time since I came home, Sophie laughed.
May you like
And the sound filled every corner of the house Vanessa had spent months making silent.
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