Chapter 5: The Locked Room
I drove home faster than I ever had before.
Every red light felt like an insult.
Every second felt like Vanessa was getting farther away with my daughter.
When I reached the house, Vanessa’s car was parked outside.
I ran inside.
“Sophie!””
No answer.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
Then I heard a voice upstairs.
“Daddy?””
I ran toward the stairs.
“Sophie!””
She was standing outside her bedroom.
Her face was pale.
But she was unharmed.
I grabbed her and held her tightly.
“Oh my God. Sweetheart, are you okay?””
She nodded against my chest.
“I’m okay.””
I looked up.
Vanessa was standing behind her.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“What is wrong with you?”” Vanessa asked.
“You took my daughter without asking.””
“She’s my stepdaughter.””
“You don’t get to decide that.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You’re being dramatic.””
I stepped between them.
“Get out.””
Her smile disappeared.
“You’re really choosing this?””
“I’m choosing my daughter.””
Vanessa stared at me.
Then she looked at Sophie.
“Your father is making a mistake.””
Sophie grabbed my hand.
“I want her to leave.””
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.””
“Yes, I do.””
For the first time, Sophie looked stronger than scared.
“I know Mommy would never do what you did.””
Something flashed across Vanessa’s face.
Anger.
Real anger.
She took one step forward.
I immediately moved Sophie behind me.
“Don’t.””
Vanessa stopped.
Then she laughed softly.
“You have no idea what Emily told her, do you?””
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa picked up her purse.
“Ask your daughter.””
She walked toward the door.
But before leaving, she turned around.
“Daniel, you should really stop believing Emily was innocent.””
The door slammed shut.
That night, Sophie sat on my bed holding the bracelet.
She hadn’t wanted to put it away.
“Daddy?””
“Yeah?””
“Can I tell you something?””
“Of course.””
She looked at the bracelet.
“Mommy told me about Vanessa.””
My entire body went still.
“What did she tell you?””
Sophie traced the heart charm with her finger.
“She said Vanessa was sick.””
I frowned.
“Sick?””
“Not like cancer.””
She looked sad.
“Mommy said some people get sick in their hearts.””
I sat beside her.
“When did she tell you this?””
“Before she went to the hospital for the last time.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Mommy told me not to.””
“Why?””
Sophie looked at me.
“She said you would try to fix everything.””
Those words sounded exactly like Emily.
I closed my eyes.
“What else did she say?””
Sophie reached into her drawer.
Then she pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
“I found this after you gave me the bracelet.””
My hands went cold.
I unfolded it.
It was another note.
Emily’s handwriting.
Daniel,
If Vanessa has found the bracelet, she knows the truth is coming out.
The proof is not in the charm.
The proof is where we first promised forever.
My breathing stopped.
I knew exactly what Emily meant.
Our first date.
The old lakeside cabin.
The place where Emily and I had gotten engaged.
But before I could say anything, Sophie pointed at the note.
“There’s something else.””
I looked closer.
At the bottom of the paper was a sentence I hadn’t noticed.
A sentence written much smaller.
“If Vanessa is there, don’t trust anyone wearing my face.””
I stared at the words.
Then my phone rang.
Rachel.
I answered.
“Daniel, listen to me.””
Her voice was shaking.
“I found the old hospital records.””
“What records?””
“The ones Emily tried to hide.””
I stood up.
“What did you find?””
Rachel whispered:
“Vanessa wasn’t Emily’s sister by blood.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She was adopted.””
I gripped the phone.
“Then who was her real family?””
Rachel took a deep breath.
“The same family that Emily was investigating before she died.””
A chill ran through me.
“Rachel…”
“Yes?””
“Why would Emily investigate Vanessa’s family?””
Rachel went silent.
May you like
Then she said:
“Because she discovered Sophie’s birth certificate had been changed.””
