Chapter 14: The Fight For Lily
I found Daniel at the place where everything started.
Rachel’s old apartment.
The place she kept before we bought our house.
The place where Lily took her first steps.
The place where Rachel and I dreamed about the future.
When I opened the door, Daniel was standing inside.
Waiting.
“I knew you would come here.””
I didn’t answer.
I held up the paternity test.
His face changed.
Not surprise.
Fear.
“How?””
“Rachel.””
Daniel looked down.
“She left it for you.””
“Yes.””
He closed his eyes.
“She always was smarter than me.””
I stepped inside.
“Why?””
He looked at me.
“Why what?””
“Why did you do this?””
Daniel sat down.
For the first time, he looked exhausted.
“I didn’t want to hurt Lily.””
“You hurt everyone.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
He looked around the apartment.
“I loved Rachel.””
The words made me angry.
“You don’t get to say that.””
“It’s true.””
“You betrayed her.””
“I was scared.””
I almost laughed.
“Everyone was scared.””
Daniel looked at me.
“You don’t understand.””
“No. I don’t.””
“I found out Lily was my daughter.””
His voice cracked.
“And I realized I had missed everything.””
I stayed silent.
“The first words.””
“The first steps.””
“The first day of school.””
He looked down.
“I wanted time back.””
I understood that pain.
But I also understood something else.
Wanting something did not give you permission to destroy people.
“So you stole.””
“I tried to protect myself.””
“You manipulated Rachel.””
“I made mistakes.””
“You let her die.””
Daniel’s face collapsed.
“I didn’t kill Rachel.””
I stared.
“Then who did?””
Silence.
Then Daniel whispered:
“Vanessa’s father.””
I froze.
“What?””
Daniel looked at me.
“He was the one controlling everything.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he wanted control of the money.””
I thought about Vanessa.
Her fear.
Her guilt.
Her secrets.
“What happened to him?””
Daniel looked away.
“He disappeared.””
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
*Stop asking questions.*
Another message.
*Or your daughter loses another parent.*
My blood ran cold.
I showed Daniel.
His face changed.
“He knows.””
“Who?””
Daniel stood.
“Your father-in-law.””
I stared.
“Vanessa’s father is alive?””
Daniel nodded.
“He’s been watching.””
A sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
We both froze.
Daniel moved toward the window.
Then stepped back.
“Michael.””
“What?””
“You need to get Lily.””
I grabbed my keys.
Before I reached the door, Daniel stopped me.
“Wait.””
I turned.
He looked terrified.
“I need to tell you one more thing.””
“What?””
He swallowed.
“Rachel wasn’t the only person who left evidence.””
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel looked at the floor.
“Vanessa did too.””
I frowned.
“She recorded everything.””
“Everything?””
“The night Rachel died.””
I stopped.
“Where?””
Daniel reached into his pocket.
He handed me a small key.
“Vanessa hid it.””
“Why?””
“Because she was waiting for the right moment.””
I looked at the key.
Then at Daniel.
“You expect me to trust you?””
“No.””
His answer surprised me.
“I don’t deserve that.””
For the first time, Daniel looked like someone who understood the damage he caused.
“But Lily deserves the truth.””
I left.
I drove faster than I ever had.
Because one thought filled my mind.
Lily.
When I reached the school, my heart dropped.
The front doors were locked.
A teacher stood outside.
I ran toward her.
“Where is my daughter?””
The teacher looked confused.
“She already left.””
My blood went cold.
“Who picked her up?””
The teacher checked her notes.
Then frowned.
“Her mother.””
I froze.
“Vanessa?””
The teacher shook her head.
“No.””
She looked at the paper.
“Her biological father.””
I stared.
“Who?””
May you like
The teacher looked up.
“Daniel Carter.””
