Chapter 3: The Wife He Buried
I read the message again.
Then a third time.
Daniel told her I was dead.
Not divorced.
Not separated.
Dead.
My fingers went numb.
I typed a reply.
*Sarah:* What do you mean he told you I died?
The response came almost immediately.
*Vanessa:* He said you died in a car accident three years ago. He showed me an obituary and told me he had been raising your memory privately.
I stared at the screen.
An obituary?
I'd never been in a car accident.
I'd been alive, working, paying our mortgage, and buying groceries while my husband apparently played widower with another woman.
*Sarah:* How long have you been seeing him?
The typing indicator appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
*Vanessa:* Eleven months.
Eleven months.
I looked at the bathroom door.
The shower was still running.
*Sarah:* And the baby?
Three dots appeared.
Then:
*Vanessa:* I'm six months pregnant. Daniel says the baby is his.
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
Eleven months.
Six months pregnant.
Three years dead.
My husband had created an entire alternate life while sleeping beside me every night.
Another message arrived.
*Vanessa:* Sarah, can we meet? There's something else. I found documents in his briefcase tonight, and I think he's been lying to both of us.
I typed back.
*Sarah:* What documents?
Before she could answer, the bathroom door opened.
Daniel emerged wearing a gray T-shirt, drying his hair with a towel.
He looked at my face.
"What's wrong?""
I locked my phone.
"Nothing.""
He narrowed his eyes.
"You're acting strange.""
I almost admired his confidence.
A man who had apparently declared his living wife dead was standing in front of her asking why she looked upset.
"Daniel, can I ask you something?""
"Sure.""
"Have you ever told anyone that I died?""
His hand stopped moving.
"What?""
"Three years ago. Did you tell someone I died in a car accident?""
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he laughed.
"What kind of ridiculous question is that?""
I watched his eyes.
He wasn't confused.
He was calculating.
"Answer me.""
"Sarah, where is this coming from?""
"Vanessa Miller.""
His face changed.
He dropped the towel onto the bed.
"You went through my phone?""
"No. She contacted me.""
He took one step forward.
"She contacted you?""
"Yes.""
"That's impossible.""
"Apparently, it's not.""
Daniel ran a hand through his hair.
"Listen to me. Vanessa is unstable. She's been obsessed with me for months.""
"She's six months pregnant.""
He closed his eyes.
That was all the confirmation I needed.
I stood.
"Is the baby yours?""
"Sarah—"
"Is it?""
He looked toward the bedroom door.
"Yes.""
The word landed like a physical blow.
I gripped the edge of the dresser.
"How long?""
He didn't answer.
"How long have you been sleeping with her?""
"Almost a year.""
I nodded slowly.
"Eleven months?""
His eyes snapped toward me.
"How do you know that?""
I gave a bitter smile.
"Your girlfriend is more honest with me than you are.""
He sat on the edge of the bed.
"Sarah, things between us haven't been good.""
I stared at him.
"You mean because I paid our bills while you spent my money on another woman?""
"You don't understand the pressure I've been under.""
"Then explain why you told her I was dead.""
He rubbed his face.
"I needed a clean break.""
"A clean break?""
"You were always asking questions about my business. About money. About where I was going. I couldn't keep explaining everything.""
"So you killed me?""
"Don't twist my words!""
His voice echoed through the room.
I flinched, but I didn't look away.
Daniel stood and began pacing.
"Vanessa wanted a serious relationship. She didn't want to get involved with a married man. I told her we'd been separated, then eventually I told her you had died.""
"And you thought that was normal?""
"I was going to tell her the truth eventually.""
"When?""
He said nothing.
I picked up my phone.
"She says she found documents in your briefcase.""
His head turned sharply.
"What documents?""
"I don't know. She hasn't told me yet.""
For the first time that evening, Daniel looked genuinely frightened.
He crossed the room and reached for my phone.
"Give me that.""
I stepped backward.
"Don't touch me.""
"Sarah, you need to stop talking to her.""
"Why?""
"Because she's trying to destroy my life.""
I looked at him.
"Your life seems to be doing a pretty good job of destroying itself.""
He grabbed his car keys.
"Where are you going?"" I asked.
"To handle this.""
"At nearly midnight?""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he opened the bedroom door.
Then he stopped.
"One more thing," he said without turning around.
"Don't go looking through my financial records.""
My heart began pounding.
"Why?""
He looked back at me.
"Because there are things you don't understand.""
Then he left.
I waited until I heard his car disappear down the street.
Immediately, I called Vanessa.
She answered on the first ring.
"Sarah?""
"Tell me about the documents.""
Her voice was trembling.
"I found a folder in Daniel's briefcase. It has bank statements, property papers, and copies of your identification.""
"My identification?""
"Yes. And there's a document with your signature on it.""
I sat down.
"What document?""
"I don't know exactly. But it looks like a loan agreement.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did I sign it?""
"That's the thing, Sarah.""
She paused.
"Daniel told me he was going to use the money to buy us a house. But the paperwork says something completely different.""
"What does it say?""
I heard her take a shaky breath.
Then she whispered:
"Your husband has been trying to sell your house without your knowledge.""
I stared at the bedroom wall.
Our house.
The house I'd spent six years paying for.
The house where I'd kept every wedding photograph, every birthday card, and every memory of a marriage I thought was real.
"Vanessa," I whispered, "where is Daniel right now?""
"He just left my hotel room.""
A pause.
Then she added something that made my blood run cold.
"He said he was going to your house to get the original property deed before you discovered what he'd done.""
I looked toward the front door.
May you like
Daniel already had a key.
And suddenly, I realized the $47,000 was only the beginning.
