Chapter 2: The Secret Behind My Wife's Death
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The music from the garden drifted through the open window. Somewhere outside, a guest laughed.
Inside that dressing room, my entire world had changed.
I looked at James.
"What did she mean?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Michael, not here.""
"Not here?"" I repeated.
"You came to my daughter's house yesterday, searched for my dead wife's documents, and now you're telling me not to believe Vanessa?""
James glanced toward the hallway.
"Lower your voice.""
I almost laughed.
"My daughter just told me you were discussing her dead mother. You don't get to tell me to lower my voice.""
Vanessa grabbed a tissue from the table.
"Michael, your brother was only helping me. We were trying to organize some old family paperwork.""
"Why use a secret phone?""
She looked at James.
That tiny glance told me more than any confession could have.
James stepped between us.
"Listen to me. Vanessa has been under a lot of pressure. Lily has been difficult since the wedding preparations started.""
I stared at him.
"Don't you dare blame my daughter.""
"I'm not blaming her.""
"You just called a five-year-old difficult because she doesn't want to be hit?""
James exhaled sharply.
"You're emotional. You're not thinking clearly.""
That was something James had said to me countless times over the years whenever I questioned one of his decisions.
Usually, I'd listened.
Not anymore.
I took Lily to the chair near the window and crouched in front of her.
"Sweetheart, I need you to tell Daddy exactly what happened yesterday.""
She twisted the pink ribbon on her dress.
"Vanessa told me to stay upstairs.""
"And then?""
"Uncle James came.""
James interrupted.
"Michael, this is unnecessary.""
I turned toward him.
"One more interruption, and I'll have security escort you out.""
He went silent.
Lily continued.
"They went into your office. I heard drawers opening.""
"What did they say?""
She looked down.
"Uncle James asked where Mommy's blue folder was.""
My chest tightened.
I knew that folder.
Emily had kept important documents in a blue leather folder. After she died, I searched the house for it because I wanted her insurance paperwork and medical records.
I never found it.
"What else?"" I asked gently.
Lily hesitated.
"Uncle James said, 'If Michael finds out what happened that night, everything falls apart.''"
The room became painfully quiet.
I stood up.
"What happened that night, James?""
He shook his head.
"Your daughter misunderstood something.""
"Then explain it.""
James glanced at Vanessa.
She gave him a tiny shake of her head.
I noticed.
So did he.
"Michael, I swear you're making a terrible mistake.""
I picked up Vanessa's purse and removed the second phone.
The screen was still unlocked.
There were dozens of messages.
Some were ordinary.
Others made my hands shake.
One conversation was labeled J.C.
I opened it.
*J.C.:* How much longer until the ceremony?
*Vanessa:* He'll sign everything after the vows.
*J.C.:* Make sure the guardianship clause is included.
*Vanessa:* I know. Once we're married, Lily won't be a problem anymore.
*J.C.:* And the trust?
*Vanessa:* I'll have access to everything once the adoption process starts.
I read the messages twice.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
"What adoption process?""
She began crying.
"Michael, you misunderstood.""
I held up the phone.
"Explain this.""
James stepped forward.
"Give me that phone.""
I moved backward.
"Why?""
"Because those messages are private.""
"Private? You're discussing my daughter's inheritance!""
James clenched his jaw.
"You have no idea how much I've sacrificed for you.""
I stared at him.
"Tell me what you mean.""
He looked toward the door.
Then he said something I never expected.
"Your company wouldn't exist without me. Your house wouldn't exist without me. I've spent twenty years cleaning up your mistakes.""
"That's what brothers do.""
"No," he snapped.
"That's what fools do when they think loyalty is free.""
Vanessa started sobbing harder.
"James, stop!""
I turned toward her.
"Why are you telling him to stop?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Because you don't understand what we were trying to do.""
"Then help me understand.""
She took a breath.
"James believed Lily's trust fund was being managed incorrectly. He thought someone needed to protect it.""
"By stealing it?""
"Nobody was stealing anything!""
I opened another conversation.
This time, the messages were between Vanessa and an unknown number.
One message caught my eye.
*Unknown:* Does he still believe the accident was caused by rain?
*Vanessa:* Yes. He never questioned the police report.
My fingers went numb.
I read it again.
Then I turned to James.
"What does that mean?""
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Did you know something about Emily's accident?""
James stared at the floor.
"Michael, your wife was a complicated woman.""
"She was my wife.""
"She wasn't honest with you.""
I felt as though someone had punched me.
"What are you talking about?""
Vanessa suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Please, Michael. You need to understand that Emily was planning to leave.""
I looked at her.
"Leave where?""
"With Lily.""
The words hung between us.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
"You're lying.""
"She had plans," Vanessa continued.
"She wanted to take Lily away from you.""
I shook my head.
"Emily loved me.""
James finally spoke.
"She was meeting a lawyer before she died.""
I stared at him.
"How do you know that?""
He didn't answer.
I remembered the last few months of Emily's life. She had seemed worried, sometimes distracted. I'd asked if something was wrong, and she'd always kissed my cheek and said she was tired.
I had believed her.
I had believed everyone.
Then Lily tugged at my jacket.
"Daddy?""
I knelt.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
She looked at the phone.
"That's not all.""
"What else?""
Her little voice trembled.
"Mommy called me the night she went away.""
My heart stopped.
"What did you say?""
Lily nodded.
"I remember her voice. She told me to tell you something when I was bigger.""
I gently brushed her hair away from her cheek.
"What did Mommy say?""
Lily looked toward James.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"She said Uncle James was the reason she was scared.""
