Chapter 14: The Last Conversation
Marcus refused to meet Vanessa alone.
Neither did I.
But Nia deserved answers.
So we agreed to meet in a public place with Olivia present.
Vanessa arrived fifteen minutes late.
She looked different.
Not confident.
Not in control.
Tired.
She sat across from us.
Her eyes immediately found Nia.
And for a moment, the cold expression disappeared.
“Hi.””
Nia said nothing.
Vanessa looked down.
“I know you probably hate me.””
Nia held my hand.
“I don’t know what I feel.””
The honesty surprised Vanessa.
She looked away.
“I deserve that.””
Marcus crossed his arms.
“Then explain.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You think I’m just greedy.””
“You took food from a child.””
Her eyes lowered.
“I know.””
“You tried to remove her from this family.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
Vanessa was quiet for a long time.
Finally, she spoke.
“Because I was scared.””
Nobody expected that answer.
She continued.
“When Nia was born, Ethan’s family wanted control.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
“Because they knew about the trust.””
Olivia watched carefully.
“Then why did you hide Ethan from her?””
Vanessa looked at the table.
“Because Ethan made a deal.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What deal?””
“He wanted to return.””
“Then why didn’t he?””
Vanessa’s voice cracked.
“Because your father stopped him.””
Marcus froze.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
The words hit him hard.
Vanessa continued.
“Your father believed Ethan was irresponsible. He believed Nia needed stability.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That doesn’t explain anything.””
“No.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“But he wasn’t the only one involved.””
She turned to Olivia.
“There was another person.””
“Who?””
Vanessa answered:
“Ethan’s father.””
Silence.
She continued.
“He wanted the trust money. He threatened to take Nia and use her as a way to control Ethan.””
I looked at Nia.
She was listening quietly.
Too quietly.
Vanessa noticed too.
Her expression changed.
“I know what I did was wrong.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“Wrong?””
“Yes.””
She looked at Nia.
“I convinced myself that if I controlled everything, I could protect you.””
Nia’s eyes filled with tears.
“But you hurt me.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
That single word carried more regret than anything else she had said.
“I thought if I made you seem difficult, nobody would fight over you.””
Marcus stared.
“You made her feel unwanted to protect her?””
Vanessa nodded.
“I became the person I hated.””
Nobody spoke.
Because there was no easy answer.
Pain explained actions.
It did not erase them.
Then Olivia asked the question everyone was thinking.
“If you cared about Nia, why did you try to take the trust?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I was desperate.””
“For money?””
“For survival.””
She reached into her bag.
And placed a document on the table.
“What is that?”” Marcus asked.
Vanessa pushed it forward.
“The truth about Ethan’s disappearance.””
Olivia opened it.
Her face changed.
“This is…”
“What?”” I asked.
She looked up.
“This proves Ethan was forced to leave.””
Marcus stared.
“By who?””
Vanessa whispered:
“Your brother.””
The room froze.
Marcus’s face went pale.
His brother.
The person who had returned claiming to protect the family.
The person who had blamed everyone else.
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“He knew about Nia.””
Marcus stood suddenly.
“No.””
“Yes.””
She looked at Nia.
“And he knew exactly how valuable she was.””
My heart sank.
May you like
Because the person we thought was the final enemy…
might have only been the beginning.
