Chapter 6: The Daughter I Never Knew
I couldn't speak.
For several seconds, I just stared at Vanessa.
The street noise disappeared.
Cars passed.
People walked by.
But all I could hear was one sentence.
Lily isn't your biological daughter.
"No.""
The word came out automatically.
Vanessa looked down.
"Daniel...""
"No.""
I stepped back.
"You're lying again.""
She shook her head.
"I wish I was.""
My hands trembled.
"Emily and I had DNA tests after Lily was born.""
Vanessa looked surprised.
"You did?""
"Yes.""
She swallowed.
"Then Emily never told you.""
A cold feeling moved through my body.
"What didn't she tell me?""
Vanessa looked toward the ground.
"That the test results were changed.""
I stared at her.
"By who?""
She didn't answer.
That was enough.
"Vanessa.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"By David.""
My anger exploded.
"You're blaming him now?""
"No.""
She shook her head quickly.
"I'm saying David was involved.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Convenient.""
"I know how it sounds.""
"Because it's another story.""
She looked at me.
"I know I have no reason to expect you to believe me.""
Finally.
A sentence that sounded honest.
She wasn't defending herself.
She was admitting she had destroyed her own credibility.
"Then tell me everything.""
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"Before you and I met, Emily found out Lily's biological father wasn't who she thought.""
I felt dizzy.
"Who was he?""
"I don't know.""
"How do you not know?""
"Because Emily never told me his name.""
I looked away.
Every answer created more questions.
"Then why did she die?""
Vanessa's face changed.
"Because she was searching for him.""
A memory flashed through my mind.
Emily's old journal.
The one I thought she had thrown away.
The one I couldn't find after her death.
"Where is her journal?""
Vanessa looked surprised.
"You know about that?""
"You took it.""
She went silent.
That silence was enough.
"You took my dead wife's journal?""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
I stepped closer.
"Protect me from what?""
Vanessa looked directly at me.
"From learning that Emily was afraid of David.""
My heart stopped.
"Then why did he call me?""
"Because he knows you found the papers.""
"How?""
Vanessa looked toward the street.
"Because someone has been watching this house.""
A car slowly passed by.
Dark windows.
Slow speed.
Then it continued down the road.
I noticed Vanessa watching it too.
For the first time, we were both afraid of the same thing.
I lowered my voice.
"Where is Emily's journal?""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"I hid it.""
"Where?""
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
"At the old house.""
The old house.
Emily's childhood home.
The place that had been abandoned after her death.
"Why would you hide it there?""
"Because I knew someone would eventually look for it.""
"Who?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"David.""
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Rachel.
I answered immediately.
"Rachel?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Daniel, you need to come back.""
My heart jumped.
"What happened?""
"It's Lily.""
I froze.
"What about her?""
Rachel took a shaky breath.
"Someone came to the house asking for her.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who?""
There was a pause.
Then Rachel whispered:
"He said his name was David Morgan.""
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face had gone completely white.
Because she knew something I didn't.
And when she finally spoke, her words terrified me.
"Daniel...""
Her voice cracked.
"David isn't here to hurt Lily.""
I stared at her.
"Then why is he looking for her?""
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Vanessa whispered:
"Because he believes Lily is the only person who knows who really killed Emily.""
