Chapter 6: Sarah’s Final Message
The police entered minutes later.
Vanessa didn’t fight.
That scared me more than if she had screamed.
A person who knew they were losing usually panicked.
But Vanessa looked calm.
Almost relieved.
Like she still had a final move.
The officer asked questions.
I answered.
Documents were collected.
Phones were taken.
Statements were recorded.
But my eyes never left the folded paper in Vanessa’s hand.
Sarah’s letter.
Six years.
Six years wondering if my wife had left behind anything for me.
Six years wondering if there were words she wanted me to hear.
And Vanessa had been holding them.
The entire time.
When the officers finished, one of them approached me.
“Mr. Collins, we need to secure that letter as evidence.””
Vanessa laughed.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
She held the paper tighter.
“This belongs to Richard.””
The officer frowned.
“Then hand it over.””
She looked at me.
“I want him to read it.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
She smiled.
“Because then you’ll understand why Sarah never trusted you.””
The room went silent.
I felt anger.
But also fear.
Because a small part of me wondered…
What if there was something I didn’t know?
What if Sarah had been keeping a secret from me?
I stepped forward.
“Give me the letter.””
Vanessa studied my face.
Then slowly handed it over.
My hands shook as I unfolded it.
The handwriting was instantly recognizable.
Sarah’s.
The handwriting I used to see on grocery lists.
Birthday cards.
Little notes she left beside my coffee.
My eyes blurred.
*Richard,*
*If you are reading this, something happened before I could tell you myself.*
I stopped.
My chest tightened.
I kept reading.
*First, I need you to know that I love you. I love Lily. Everything I did was to protect her.*
A tear fell onto the paper.
Then came the sentence that changed everything.
*But there is something about Lily’s birth that I never told you.*
I froze.
I looked up.
Everyone was watching me.
Emily covered her mouth.
Marcus looked away.
Vanessa whispered:
“Now you know.””
I looked back down.
*Lily is your daughter. I never doubted that. But there is another person who knows the truth about what happened before she was born.*
My heartbeat became louder.
*Someone who has been searching for her.*
I stopped reading.
“Searching for her?””
Emily looked terrified.
I continued.
*Richard, if Vanessa ever comes into your life again, do not trust her. She was connected to someone from my past. Someone dangerous.*
The room felt cold.
I looked at Marcus.
He shook his head.
“I didn’t know about that.””
I kept reading.
*The reason Vanessa wanted access to Lily’s inheritance is because she knows what Lily represents.*
My fingers tightened.
What Lily represents?
The next line was barely visible.
As if Sarah had written it in a hurry.
*Lily is connected to a family secret worth millions.*
I stopped breathing.
A family secret.
Worth millions.
Then the final paragraph appeared.
*Richard, I’m sorry I kept this from you. I wanted to tell you everything. But if you’re reading this, it means Vanessa found a way into your home.*
I looked at Vanessa.
She was crying.
But I couldn’t tell if it was regret.
Or fear.
The last sentence was the one that changed everything.
*The man who is looking for Lily is not Marcus.*
My eyes widened.
I looked at Marcus.
Then back at the letter.
*It’s someone you already know.*
Suddenly, a loud crash came from upstairs.
Everyone turned.
The officers reached for their radios.
A bedroom door had slammed open.
Someone was inside my house.
Someone who shouldn’t have been there.
Then a man’s voice echoed from the hallway.
“Richard…”
My blood ran cold.
Because I recognized the voice.
May you like
And I hadn’t heard it in six years.
“Your wife never told you the truth about who Lily’s father really is.””
