Chapter 4 - Vanessa's Secret
Vanessa was waiting in a consultation room.
She wasn't alone.
My father sat beside her.
When I saw him, something inside me hurt.
Even after everything, part of me still wanted him to stand up and say he had made a mistake.
He didn't.
He looked at Thomas instead.
His face drained of color.
“You.”
Thomas stared at him.
“Hello, Daniel.”
Dad stood.
“You're dead.”
“I've heard that before.”
Vanessa grabbed Dad's arm.
“Daniel, we need to leave.”
Thomas stepped into the doorway.
“No.”
Dad looked at him.
“You have no right to interfere with my family.”
Thomas's voice was quiet.
“You abandoned your fourteen-year-old daughter in an emergency room.”
Dad flinched.
“She attacked Vanessa.”
Thomas glanced at Vanessa's bandaged hand.
“Did she?”
Vanessa said nothing.
Thomas looked at my father.
“You've always been very good at believing the version that protects you.”
Dad's face hardened.
“You don't know anything about my marriage.”
“No.”
Thomas smiled faintly.
“But I know your history.”
Dad went silent.
I looked between them.
“What history?”
Nobody answered.
“Dad?”
He wouldn't look at me.
Thomas finally said,
“Ask him why he told you your grandfather was dead.”
My father stared at the floor.
I stepped closer.
“Dad.”
He whispered,
“I thought it was better that way.”
“Better for who?”
He didn't answer.
Vanessa stood.
“This is ridiculous.”
Thomas turned toward her.
“Then explain why you accessed Rachel's medical records tonight.”
Vanessa's expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
Thomas saw it too.
“I didn't.”
“The security camera says otherwise.”
Vanessa looked at Dad.
Dad looked at her.
That tiny exchange told me something.
They weren't united.
They were trapped together.
Thomas took a folder from the table.
“Rachel wasn't your enemy, Vanessa.”
Vanessa's voice became very quiet.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She stared at me.
“You should never have found that letter.”
My stomach dropped.
“You planted it?”
She didn't answer.
Thomas did.
“Why?”
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to protect myself.”
“From whom?”
She looked toward my father.
Dad whispered,
“Vanessa.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
She turned toward me.
“I didn't know what else to do.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“Tell her.”
Vanessa trembled.
“I didn't hurt your mother.”
I stared at her.
“Then who did?”
Vanessa looked at my father.
May you like
And said,
“Your father knows.”
