Chapter 6: The First Accident
I didn’t let Daniel enter my room until Rachel left.
When he finally walked in, I was holding my phone.
He saw my expression.
And immediately knew something was wrong.
“What happened?””
I held up the screen.
“Who is this?””
Daniel read the messages.
The color drained from his face.
“Where did you get this?””
I stared at him.
“That’s your first question?””
Daniel looked away.
“Sarah…”
“No.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“You know something.””
He was quiet.
That silence was becoming his answer.
“Tell me about the accident.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
“The accident Vanessa mentioned.””
His face changed.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Daniel sat down slowly.
For the first time since the hospital, he looked completely defeated.
“It happened three years ago.””
Before our daughter.
Before the affair.
Before everything.
“I was driving home from a business trip.””
I watched him carefully.
“There was a woman standing beside the road.””
“Vanessa?””
Daniel nodded.
“She had been in a car accident.””
I frowned.
“She was hurt?””
“Not badly.””
“Then what happened?””
Daniel looked at his hands.
“I helped her.””
I waited.
“And?””
His voice became quieter.
“She told me her life was falling apart.””
I almost laughed.
Of course.
That was how Vanessa entered his life.
Through sympathy.
Through a story.
Through him wanting to be the person who saved someone.
“She said she had nowhere to go,” Daniel continued.
“And you believed her.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because she reminded me of you.””
That hurt more than I expected.
I looked away.
“Don’t do that.””
“Do what?””
“Don’t make me feel sorry for you.””
Daniel lowered his head.
“I’m not.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
A long silence passed.
Finally, he whispered:
“The accident wasn’t random.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked terrified.
“She wasn’t stranded.””
I stared at him.
“She planned to meet me.””
The room went silent.
“Why?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
But I knew.
Someone who planned their first meeting.
Someone who knew my hospital appointment.
Someone who had my name in her car.
Someone who smiled after trying to destroy my family.
Vanessa had been building toward something.
Then Daniel said something that made my blood run cold.
“When I met Vanessa, she already knew my name.””
I slowly turned toward him.
“What?””
“She said she recognized me.””
“From where?””
Daniel looked at the floor.
“I don’t know.””
My phone buzzed again.
Another message.
This time, there was a photo attached.
I opened it.
And my entire body went cold.
It was a picture of Daniel.
Me.
And Vanessa.
Taken years before I ever met her.
Rachel’s words echoed in my head.
*She knows something about both of you.*
I looked at Daniel.
“Why is she in a picture with us?””
Daniel stared at the screen.
His face turned completely pale.
Then he whispered:
“Sarah…”
“What?””
May you like
He looked at me with fear in his eyes.
“I think Vanessa knew you before I did.””
