Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Call
"Michael... if you want to know why Vanessa married you, you need to listen carefully.""
The voice on the other end was low and unfamiliar.
I stood frozen in my living room, gripping the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white.
"Who is this?""
A pause.
Then a quiet breath.
"Someone who made the same mistake you did.""
My eyes moved toward Mason.
He was watching me carefully, the notebook still open on the table between us.
"What mistake?"" I asked.
The man didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he said something that made my stomach twist.
"Trusting Vanessa.""
My jaw tightened.
"How do you know my wife?""
A nervous laugh came through the speaker.
"Because she was my wife first.""
The room went silent.
I looked at Mason.
He looked just as shocked as I was.
"You're Vanessa's ex-husband?""
"Yes.""
I sat down slowly.
"Why are you calling me?""
"Because I heard what happened.""
My eyes narrowed.
"How?""
Another pause.
Then he said:
"Because Mason called me.""
I turned toward my stepson.
"Mason?""
His face changed.
Fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
"I didn't know who else to call," he whispered.
I covered the phone.
"Mason, what did you do?""
He looked down.
"I found his number in Mom's old contacts.""
The voice came back.
"Michael, I know this is a lot. But you need to understand something. Vanessa doesn't lose control randomly.""
My grip tightened.
"What does that mean?""
"It means everything she does has a reason.""
I looked at the notebook again.
Her notes about my schedule.
Her plans.
Her strange behavior.
"What reason?""
The man sighed.
"Vanessa married you because she needed something.""
I felt a cold wave move through me.
"Money?""
"No.""
The answer came too quickly.
"Then what?""
"Stability.""
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"It will.""
The man continued.
"Before you, Vanessa was drowning. She had debts. Problems.
She needed someone responsible. Someone who worked hard. Someone people trusted.""
I looked around my house.
The photos on the wall.
The family pictures.
The life I thought I had built.
"And you think she only married me for that?""
"I know she did.""
My stomach tightened.
"How?""
"Because she told me.""
I stood up.
"Where are you?""
"Not important.""
"It is important.""
"Michael, listen to me. The most dangerous thing you can do right now is confront her without knowing everything.""
I looked at the front door.
"She hurt my daughter.""
"I know.""
"She hurt my son.""
The man went quiet.
Then he corrected me softly.
"Your stepson.""
I looked at Mason.
He was staring at the floor.
"No," I said.
"He's my son.""
Mason looked up.
The sadness in his eyes almost broke me.
The man on the phone continued.
"Then protect him.""
The call ended.
Just like that.
I stared at the screen.
Unknown number.
No way to call back.
"Mason.""
He looked at me.
"How long have you known him?""
"Only a few weeks.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"Because I thought you'd send me away.""
That sentence hit me harder than anything Vanessa had said.
"Why would I send you away?""
"Because I'm not really yours.""
I walked over and put my hand on his shoulder.
"Mason, look at me.""
He did.
"You are not a problem I inherited.""
His lips trembled.
"You mean that?""
"I mean it.""
For the first time that night, he looked like a child instead of someone carrying a secret.
But then my phone buzzed.
A text message.
From Vanessa.
*We need to talk. Alone.*
I stared at the screen.
Mason saw it.
"Don't go.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"She always does this.""
"Does what?""
"She makes people feel sorry for her.""
I remembered the tears.
The apologies.
The way she grabbed my wrist.
Maybe Mason was right.
A second message appeared.
*If you want to know the truth about Lily's mother, meet me at the old coffee shop. Come alone.*
I froze.
"Lily's mother?""
Mason saw my face.
"What did she say?""
I showed him the phone.
His expression changed instantly.
"Dad...""
"What?""
He pointed at the message.
"She knows.""
"Knows what?""
His voice dropped.
"She knows something about Lily's real mother.""
I felt a chill.
Lily's biological mother had died when Lily was only two years old.
At least, that was what Vanessa had told me.
I looked at the message again.
Then at Mason.
May you like
The question that had never entered my mind suddenly appeared.
What if Vanessa had lied about that too?
