Chapter 6: The Truth Tyler Was Hiding
I looked at Tyler sitting across from me at the kitchen table.
For the first time, I didn’t see my wife’s son.
I saw another child caught in the middle of something he never asked for.
“Tyler,” I said gently.
He looked up.
“Yeah?””
“Megan said there’s something I need to know about you.””
His face changed immediately.
Fear.
That same fear Lily had.
I lowered my voice.
“You’re not in trouble.””
He nodded.
But he didn’t speak.
Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
“You don’t need to involve him.””
I turned.
“You’re right.””
I looked back at Tyler.
“He shouldn’t have been involved in any of this.””
Vanessa’s expression hardened.
“Be careful.””
“Careful?””
“Yes.””
She stepped closer.
“You’re making accusations based on children’s stories.””
I pointed toward the upstairs hallway.
“No. I’m making decisions based on evidence.””
For once, she had no response.
Tyler finally spoke.
“Mom made me lie.””
The room went silent.
Vanessa’s face changed.
“Tyler.””
“I’m sorry.””
He looked at me.
“She told me if I said anything, she would send me to my dad’s.””
I frowned.
“Your father?””
He nodded.
“She said he would take me away.””
My chest tightened.
“So she threatened you too?””
Tyler wiped his eyes.
“She said Lily was ruining our family.””
I closed my eyes.
The same words.
The same manipulation.
Different child.
I sat beside him.
“Tell me everything.””
Tyler took a deep breath.
“The day Lily broke the glass…”
He looked toward Vanessa.
“She didn’t break it.””
“I know.””
“She dropped it because Mom threw a plate near her.””
Vanessa immediately shouted:
“That never happened.””
Tyler jumped.
I stood.
“Stop yelling.””
Vanessa froze.
Because she realized something.
I wasn’t scared of her anymore.
Tyler continued.
“Mom wanted Lily to look bad.””
“Why?””
He hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Because she said if Lily looked like a bad kid, you would choose us.””
My stomach turned.
Choose.
That was what this had always been about.
Not discipline.
Not responsibility.
Competition.
My wife had turned my daughter into an enemy.
My phone buzzed.
Megan.
I answered.
“Tell me everything.””
Her voice sounded tired.
“I was hoping I would never have to.””
“Have to what?””
“Tell you why Vanessa wanted Lily gone.””
I gripped the phone.
“Why?””
“She was trying to adopt Tyler permanently.””
I frowned.
“What does that have to do with Lily?””
“Everything.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked away.
Megan continued.
“Vanessa believed that if Lily wasn’t living with you, your attention and money would go toward Tyler.””
I felt disgust rising inside me.
“That’s insane.””
“Yes.””
A pause.
“Which is why I saved copies.””
“Copies of what?””
“Documents. Messages. Everything.””
My heart raced.
“Where are they?””
“I left them somewhere safe.””
“Where?””
Silence.
Then Megan whispered:
“But there’s a problem.””
“What problem?””
“I think Vanessa knows I have them.””
I looked at my wife.
Her face was unreadable.
Then Megan said:
“She’s already on her way to find me.””
The call ended.
I stood frozen.
Because at that exact moment…
Vanessa’s phone lit up.
A notification appeared.
I only saw it for a second.
But it was enough.
May you like
The message was from an unknown number.
*She knows. Get rid of the evidence before he finds everything.*
