Chapter 6: The Woman Who Wanted My Family
I couldn’t move.
The words on the page blurred.
Rachel’s shadow.
That was how Vanessa saw my wife.
Not as Lily’s mother.
Not as the woman who died.
A shadow.
An obstacle.
Marcus took the paper from my hand.
“Ryan.””
I didn’t answer.
I was thinking about every moment Vanessa had entered our lives.
The first time she met Lily.
The first time she hugged her.
The first time she told me, “I know I can never replace Rachel, but I want to love what she left behind.””
I believed her.
I wanted to believe her.
Because I was tired of being alone.
Because Lily deserved someone.
Because I missed having a family.
And Vanessa knew that.
She knew exactly what I wanted.
“She studied you,” Marcus said quietly.
I looked at him.
“What?””
“She knew what you needed.””
I stared at the documents.
Maybe he was right.
Vanessa didn’t fall into my life.
She walked into it.
Perfect timing.
Perfect words.
Perfect smile.
Then my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
“Where did you get those files?””
My heart stopped.
She knew.
“How do you know I have them?””
“Because you always were curious.””
“No.””
My voice hardened.
“You’re scared.””
A pause.
Then Vanessa laughed.
“You think you found the truth.””
“I did.””
“No, Ryan. You found pieces.””
“Rachel knew.””
“Rachel was confused.””
My grip tightened.
“Don’t.””
“She was stressed. She imagined things.””
“You were involved.””
“No.””
Her voice changed.
“You were there, Ryan.””
The sentence made me freeze.
“What?””
“You were the one driving.””
The room went silent.
“What are you talking about?””
“You remember the night Rachel died?””
My breathing slowed.
Of course I remembered.
The rain.
The phone call.
The hospital.
The doctor saying she didn’t survive.
“You were exhausted,” Vanessa continued.
“Stop.””
“You drove her home.””
“Stop.””
“She argued with you.””
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
Because there was one thing I had never told anyone.
Rachel and I had argued that night.
A small argument.
About moving.
About money.
About the future.
Nothing important.
At least, that was what I thought.
“You blamed yourself for years,” Vanessa whispered.
My hands went cold.
“So I helped you.””
“No.””
“I was the person who told you to forgive yourself.””
I closed my eyes.
“You used my guilt.””
“I saved you.””
“You destroyed my family.””
“No.””
Her voice became sharp.
“I gave you a future.””
I looked at the documents.
The agreement.
The emails.
The lies.
“You wanted my house.””
Silence.
“You wanted my money.””
Silence.
“You wanted Lily.””
Finally, Vanessa spoke.
“She was the only thing standing between me and everything I deserved.””
My heart stopped.
“What did you say?””
Vanessa realized too late.
She went quiet.
Then she whispered:
“Ryan…”
But I had heard enough.
I ended the call.
Marcus stared at me.
“She admitted it.””
I nodded.
“We need the police.””
Before I could move, another message appeared.
This time from the same unknown number.
A video.
I opened it.
The screen showed my house.
From the same camera angle as before.
But this time, it was inside.
My living room.
Someone had been in my house.
The video started playing.
Vanessa walked into the room.
She was alone.
She looked directly at the camera.
Then she smiled.
“I know you’re watching this, Ryan.””
My blood froze.
She stepped closer.
“You always loved saving people.””
She lifted something into view.
Rachel’s old necklace.
The one I thought was lost.
“I wonder how much you’ll sacrifice to save Lily.””
The video ended.
May you like
A new message appeared.
*Come home alone.*
