Chapter 5: The Deal Behind the Wedding
Vanessa was waiting outside the Hale Industries building.
She stood beside a black luxury car, wearing sunglasses despite the cloudy morning.
The same confidence.
The same perfect posture.
But now I saw something different.
Fear.
When she saw me, she removed her sunglasses.
“Ethan.””
I stopped several feet away.
“Why did you look for my sister?””
Her face changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
She had expected anger.
She had not expected the truth to arrive first.
“I can explain.””
“You had six months.””
She looked away.
“I was trying to protect my family.””
I almost laughed.
“Your family?””
She stepped closer.
“You don’t understand what Richard did.””
“My father said he didn’t take my sister.””
Vanessa’s eyes moved toward the building.
Then back to me.
“Your father tells himself that.””
That sentence made me angry.
“You don’t get to stand there and judge him.””
“I’m not judging him.””
“Then what are you doing?””
She swallowed.
“I’m telling you that everyone lied to you.””
The wind moved between us.
For a moment, I remembered the woman I loved.
The woman who used to fall asleep on my shoulder.
The woman who made me believe I had found my future.
Then I remembered my mother standing over torn paper.
“What was your plan?””
Vanessa looked confused.
“What?””
“The wedding.””
Silence.
“What were you planning?””
She didn’t answer.
And that was the answer.
I stepped back.
“You were never marrying me.””
Her eyes filled with anger.
“That’s not fair.””
“Isn’t it?””
“No.””
She raised her voice.
“I cared about you.””
“Cared?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did your father know about Lily?””
She froze.
I knew I had hit the truth.
“My father made mistakes.””
“No. He made choices.””
Vanessa looked exhausted.
“You think your family is innocent?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know anymore.
She pulled a small envelope from her purse.
“I was going to give this to you after the wedding.””
I didn’t take it.
“What is it?””
“Proof.””
“Of what?””
“That your father knew Lily was alive.””
The world seemed to stop.
“That’s impossible.””
“Is it?””
She held the envelope out.
“My father found records years ago.””
I stared at it.
“Why would he hide them?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Because if Lily returned, you would never inherit the company.””
My jaw tightened.
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
I took the envelope.
Inside were copies of old documents.
Hospital records.
Adoption papers.
A photograph.
My hands shook when I saw it.
A little girl.
Standing beside Richard Whitmore.
On the back of the photograph was a date.
The same year Lily disappeared.
I looked up.
“Where did you get this?””
Vanessa’s voice softened.
“My father kept everything.””
“Why?””
“Because he always planned for the day he needed leverage.””
A car door slammed behind us.
We both turned.
Richard Whitmore stood near the entrance.
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
“You weren’t supposed to show him that.””
Vanessa stepped back.
For the first time, she looked afraid of her own father.
Richard walked closer.
“Ethan, you need to understand something.””
I held the photograph tighter.
“What?””
May you like
His expression was cold.
“The person you think is your sister is not the only secret your parents kept.””
