Chapter 3: The Secret Vanessa Knew
I didn’t take Lily back to the ceremony hall.
I didn’t explain anything to the guests.
I didn’t care about the flowers, the cake, or the hundreds of dollars already spent.
My daughter came first.
Always.
We left through the side entrance of the venue.
Lily sat in the back seat of my car, still wearing the torn pink dress.
I kept looking at her through the mirror.
She was quiet.
Too quiet.
“Sweetheart?””
She looked up.
“Yes, Daddy?””
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?””
Her fingers played with the ripped fabric.
“Because she said you wouldn’t believe me.””
My chest tightened.
“Why would she say that?””
Lily looked out the window.
“She said you loved her more.””
I gripped the steering wheel.
“No one will ever replace you.””
She nodded slowly.
But she didn’t look convinced.
When we arrived home, I helped her change clothes.
Then I sat beside her on the bed.
“Tell me everything.””
Lily looked scared.
“Are you mad?””
“No.””
“Even if I did something wrong?””
I shook my head.
“You can tell me anything.””
She took a deep breath.
“Vanessa started acting different after she found the box.””
“What box?””
“The one from Mommy.””
I froze.
My wife’s old belongings.
The things I kept after she passed away.
“What did Vanessa find?””
Lily reached under her pillow.
She pulled out a small necklace.
My breath caught.
It was my late wife’s necklace.
The one I thought was missing.
“Where did you get that?””
“Vanessa gave it to me.””
My confusion grew.
“Why?””
Lily looked down.
“She asked me if Mommy ever told me secrets.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What secrets?””
“She wanted to know about the night Mommy died.””
I stopped breathing for a second.
My wife’s death had always been painful.
But simple.
A car accident.
A terrible accident.
At least, that was what I believed.
“Why would Vanessa ask you about that?””
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because she said Mommy left something behind.””
I stood up.
“Something like what?””
Lily shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
Then she whispered:
“But she was looking for something in Mommy’s old room.””
My mind raced.
Vanessa had never been interested in my wife’s belongings before.
Why now?
I walked downstairs and opened the locked cabinet where I kept old photographs and documents.
Everything looked normal.
Until I noticed one thing.
The small wooden box where I kept my wife’s letters was open.
My hands went cold.
I checked inside.
The letters were still there.
But something was missing.
A photograph.
The final photograph my wife ever gave me.
On the back, she had written:
“Protect Lily. She is the reason I kept fighting.””
I turned around.
And saw Lily standing at the bottom of the stairs.
“Daddy?””
I quickly hid my reaction.
“Yes?””
“Why did Vanessa want Mommy’s picture?””
I stared at my daughter.
Because that was the question I didn’t know how to answer.
A few minutes later, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I saw the message attached.
*If you want to know the truth about Vanessa, meet me tonight. Come alone.*
I looked at Lily.
Then at the screen.
Another message appeared.
*Your wife’s accident wasn’t an accident.*
My hands started shaking.
Because the person who sent the message knew something impossible.
May you like
Something only one person should have known.
And that person had been dead for six years.
