Chapter 6: The Truth About the First Lie
The question hung in the air.
Why had Devon never introduced me to Emma?
I had asked myself that since the moment I learned she existed.
At first, I thought the answer was obvious.
He was hiding her.
But standing there, watching the fear on his face, I realized there was another possibility.
He wasn’t only hiding Emma from me.
He was hiding me from Emma.
“Devon?”” I asked.
He looked at his daughter.
Emma was still holding his hand.
“She’s a child.””
My heart hardened.
“Don’t use her as a reason to avoid answering.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Exactly.””
Devon looked at her.
“Don’t.””
“You’ve lied for years.””
Her voice was calm.
Almost too calm.
“You don’t get to pretend you’re protecting people now.””
I looked at Devon.
“Start talking.””
He took a deep breath.
Then he crouched down beside Emma.
“Sweetheart, can you go inside and watch your show for a few minutes?””
Emma looked confused.
“But I wanted to show Daddy my drawing.””
He smiled sadly.
“I know. I’ll come see it.””
She ran inside.
The second the door closed, Devon’s expression changed.
“I was afraid.””
I crossed my arms.
“Of what?””
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
“When I met Alicia, I was still fighting with Vanessa.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Fighting? Is that what you call it?””
Devon ignored her.
“I thought my marriage was over.””
“You were divorced?”” I asked.
He nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then why hide it?””
His eyes dropped.
“Because I was ashamed.””
That surprised me.
Not because it excused anything.
Because it was the first honest thing he had said.
“I had failed.””
He continued.
“My first marriage ended badly. Emma was caught in the middle. I thought if Alicia knew everything about me, she would see me differently.””
I stared at him.
“So you built a fake version of yourself.””
“Yes.””
“That’s not love.””
He closed his eyes.
“I know.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“He didn’t tell you because he knew you would ask questions.””
I looked at her.
“What questions?””
She smiled.
“The ones he didn’t want to answer.””
Devon’s phone buzzed.
He looked at it.
His face changed.
Again.
“What now?”” I asked.
He handed me the phone.
A news article was open.
The headline made my breath stop.
*LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER ACCUSED OF HIDING FINANCIAL FRAUD DURING DIVORCE BATTLE*
I looked at Devon.
“What is this?””
He didn’t speak.
Vanessa answered for him.
“Ask him where the money went.””
My hands tightened around the phone.
“Money?””
Devon stepped forward.
“Alicia, it’s complicated.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
The same word.
The same boundary.
“No more.””
His eyes filled with frustration.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
He looked toward the house.
Toward Emma.
Then back at me.
“I didn’t tell you because I was trying to protect you.””
I shook my head.
“Everyone says that when they’re hiding something.””
Before he could answer, Emma suddenly ran back outside.
She was holding a drawing.
A picture she had made.
A family.
Four people.
Emma.
Devon.
Vanessa.
And a man I didn’t recognize.
She smiled proudly.
“Look, Daddy. I drew our family.””
Devon went pale.
I looked at the drawing.
Then at him.
Because the man in the picture had a name written underneath.
May you like
A name that made my entire body go cold.
*Marcus.*
