Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I spent the next three days searching for answers.
Not rumors.
Not assumptions.
Facts.
Because anger was easy.
Anyone could be angry.
But I needed proof.
For Lily.
For Emily.
For myself.
I started with the accident report.
I had never looked at it closely before.
I trusted the police.
I trusted the explanation.
I trusted everyone except the one person who mattered most.
Myself.
Marcus helped me request the old documents.
When he brought them over, he placed the folder on my kitchen table.
“You’re sure you want to open this?””
I nodded.
“I need to.””
Inside were pages of information.
Weather conditions.
Witness statements.
Vehicle details.
Then I saw something.
A name.
Vanessa Reed.
My heart stopped.
“She was there?””
Marcus looked over my shoulder.
“What?””
I pointed.
“She was listed as a witness.””
We both stared.
The official report said Vanessa had arrived shortly after the accident.
But I remembered Vanessa telling me she only heard about it the next morning.
I read the statement.
*“I saw the vehicle lose control after the driver attempted to avoid another car.””*
I looked at Marcus.
“That’s not what she told me.””
“What did she tell you?””
“That Emily was distracted.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why would she change the story?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I already knew.
Someone was hiding something.
I called Vanessa.
She answered after one ring.
“I wondered when you’d find it.””
My stomach dropped.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“You were there.””
A pause.
“I tried to help.””
“You lied to me.””
“No.””
Her voice became sharp.
“I protected you.””
I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“Protected me?””
“Yes, Daniel.””
She sounded frustrated.
“Emily was making dangerous choices.””
“Stop blaming her.””
“I’m telling you the truth!””
Her voice echoed through the phone.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked:
“What happened that night?””
Vanessa was silent.
Finally, she said:
“Emily called me.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She knew I cared about you.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“You were involved with me while I was married?””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
“I cared about you before I ever met you properly.””
I felt sick.
“You were obsessed.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“You don’t understand what Emily was like.””
“I understand enough.””
“You think she was perfect because she died.””
My anger exploded.
“Never say that again.””
She ignored me.
“She knew I existed.””
“How?””
“She saw messages.””
My face went cold.
“What messages?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
“Vanessa.””
“She confronted me.””
“About what?””
Another pause.
Then:
“About Lily.””
My entire body went still.
“What does Lily have to do with this?””
Vanessa’s voice dropped.
“Emily didn’t trust me around her.””
I looked toward the hallway.
Where Lily’s bedroom was.
“She was right.””
Vanessa went quiet.
Then she said:
“You really think I’m the monster here?””
“Yes.””
A long pause.
Then she laughed softly.
Not happily.
“You have no idea what Emily was planning to do.””
“What does that mean?””
Before she answered, another voice interrupted.
A woman.
In the background.
I recognized it immediately.
Patricia.
Vanessa’s mother.
“Vanessa, don’t tell him everything.””
My blood ran cold.
“You’re with your mother?””
No answer.
Then Vanessa spoke again.
“Daniel, there are things about Lily’s birth you don’t know.””
My heart stopped.
“What are you talking about?””
“You think she’s your daughter.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
Vanessa’s voice became a whisper.
“But Emily left something behind.””
“What?””
A pause.
Then she said:
“Something that proves Lily isn’t the child you think she is.””
The call ended.
I stood frozen in my kitchen.
For years, I had loved Lily with every piece of my heart.
Not because she shared my blood.
Because she was my daughter.
But now Vanessa had planted a new fear.
A terrifying one.
And when I turned around…
I saw Lily standing in the doorway.
She had heard enough.
“Daddy…”
May you like
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Am I not your real daughter?””
