Chapter 8 - The Second Betrayal
Thomas turned toward Vanessa.
“You knew.”
She shook her head.
“Not everything.”
“How much?”
“I knew Rachel was alive.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
My father stood.
“Stop.”
Vanessa turned toward him.
“No.”
Her voice was shaking, but she didn't back down.
“You don't get to tell me what to do anymore.”
Dad looked stunned.
Vanessa looked at me.
“I was never supposed to marry your father.”
“Then why did you?”
“Because he asked me to.”
Thomas's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because Rachel trusted me.”
I stared at her.
“She trusted you?”
Vanessa nodded.
“We were friends.”
I couldn't believe it.
“You knew my mother?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you lie?”
Vanessa looked down.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of my dad?”
“No.”
She whispered a name.
“Victor Hale.”
Thomas went completely still.
“You're certain?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Why did he want Rachel?”
“Because she found evidence.”
“What evidence?”
Vanessa looked at the documents.
“Enough to destroy him.”
Thomas picked up a bank statement.
“This is dated eleven years ago.”
Vanessa nodded.
“Rachel gave it to me.”
“Why?”
“She thought I could hide it.”
“But you didn't.”
“I tried.”
Thomas stared at her.
“Then why did Rachel disappear?”
Vanessa began crying.
“Because I gave the evidence to Daniel.”
Dad looked at her.
“You promised me it would be safe.”
“You lied.”
“I thought I could protect her.”
“You sold her out.”
Dad's face collapsed.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
My father had betrayed my mother.
Vanessa had betrayed my mother.
And someone named Victor Hale had been controlling both of them.
But there was still one question.
“Where is Mom now?”
Nobody answered.
Then Thomas noticed something beneath the cassette recorder.
A tiny envelope.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Rachel was standing beside a man.
Not Dad.
Not Thomas.
A stranger.
On the back was a date.
Six months ago.
And beneath it:
He thinks I'm dead.
Thomas looked at me.
“This man is important.”
“Who is he?”
Thomas stared at the photograph.
“I don't know.”
Then Dad whispered,
“I do.”
We all turned.
May you like
Dad's face was pale.
“That man is Victor Hale's son.”
