Chapter 3: The Secret Behind Vanessa's Smile
The message stayed on the screen for three seconds.
Three seconds that felt like an hour.
I looked at Mason.
Then at Vanessa.
Her expression told me everything.
She knew exactly who had sent it.
"Who is that?"" I asked.
Nobody answered.
I picked up the phone.
The message was simple.
*Did he find out yet?*
My fingers tightened around the device.
"Vanessa.""
She looked away.
"Michael, you're misunderstanding.""
I let out a quiet breath.
"Am I?""
Mason stepped closer to me.
"That's the number I saw before.""
Vanessa's eyes snapped toward him.
"You went through my phone?""
"No," Mason said.
"You left it open.""
I looked at my wife.
"Who is he?""
She crossed her arms.
"I don't have to explain every person I talk to.""
"After what I just heard?""
Her face hardened.
"You've already decided I'm the villain.""
I looked at Lily.
My little girl was still holding her stuffed rabbit against her chest.
A toy she carried everywhere.
A toy she had once told me made her feel safe.
Then I looked back at Vanessa.
"No. You decided that when you hurt her.""
Her jaw tightened.
For a moment, I saw the woman I married disappear.
In her place was someone colder.
Someone I didn't recognize.
"You think you're a hero now?"" she asked.
I frowned.
"What?""
"You work all day, come home, and suddenly you know everything.""
Mason stepped forward.
"Stop blaming him.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Of course you defend him.""
"Because he's the only one who listens.""
That sentence hurt more than anything.
Because I realized how long these children had been carrying something I never noticed.
I sat down beside Lily.
"Sweetheart.""
She looked up.
"Can I ask you something?""
She nodded.
"Have you been hungry a lot?""
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
She looked at Vanessa.
Then back at me.
That small movement broke my heart.
She was still asking permission to tell the truth.
"It's okay," I whispered.
"You can tell Daddy.""
She hugged her rabbit tighter.
"Sometimes Mommy says I eat too much.""
I closed my eyes.
"You don't eat too much.""
"She says food costs money.""
I felt anger rise inside me.
"Food is supposed to help you grow.""
She nodded.
Then she said something so quietly I almost missed it.
"Sometimes I hide crackers in my room.""
I couldn't breathe.
Mason looked away.
He already knew.
I stood up.
"I'm calling my sister.""
Vanessa moved immediately.
"No.""
"I need Lily somewhere safe tonight.""
"You can't take her.""
I stared at her.
"Watch me.""
She stepped closer.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
"No," I said.
"I have an idea for the first time.""
She grabbed her purse from the chair.
"I'm leaving.""
Mason looked shocked.
"You're leaving us?""
Vanessa paused.
For a second, she looked at him.
Then her expression changed.
"You made this happen.""
Mason flinched.
I stepped between them.
"Don't you dare blame him.""
She looked at me.
"You're choosing them over me.""
I answered without hesitation.
"They needed me to choose them a long time ago.""
Vanessa walked toward the door.
Her hand touched the handle.
Then she stopped.
"You really think this is over?""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
She slowly smiled.
Not a happy smile.
A warning.
"You don't know everything about me, Michael.""
The door closed behind her.
The house became silent.
A few minutes later, my sister arrived and took Lily for the night. I stayed behind with Mason because I needed answers.
The old phone sat on the table between us.
"Mason," I said softly, "what else did you find?""
He hesitated.
Then he reached into his backpack again.
This time, he pulled out a small black notebook.
My hands went cold.
"Where did you get that?""
"From Mom's closet.""
I opened the cover.
The first page had dates.
The second page had names.
Then I saw mine.
Written at the top.
*Michael's schedule.*
I looked closer.
Below it were notes about my work hours.
My habits.
When I left.
When I came home.
And at the bottom of the page was a sentence that made my entire body freeze.
*Once Michael is gone, everything will finally belong to us.*
I looked at Mason.
"Mason...""
But he wasn't looking at the notebook.
He was staring at the front door.
"Dad.""
"What?""
His face turned pale.
"Mom didn't leave because she was angry.""
A chill moved through me.
"Then why did she leave?""
Mason pointed at the notebook.
"Because she knows you found it.""
My phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID was blocked.
I answered.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, there was only silence.
May you like
Then a man's voice whispered:
"Michael... if you want to know why Vanessa married you, you need to listen carefully.""
