Chapter 12: The Secret Daniel Carried
I had never seen Daniel look afraid like that.
Not when the police arrived.
Not when the cameras were discovered.
Not even when Vanessa was exposed.
But now?
Now he looked like someone who had finally reached the end of a lie.
“Daniel.””
My voice barely came out.
“What did she mean?””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came.
Vanessa smiled.
“Tell her.””
Officer Reynolds stepped between us.
“Everyone stays calm.””
But calm was impossible.
Not anymore.
Daniel looked at me.
“I was going to tell you.””
The sentence made my chest hurt.
“You were going to tell me?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
He looked down.
“I don’t know.””
I laughed quietly.
A broken sound.
“Of course you don’t.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“He knew from the beginning.””
My head snapped toward her.
“From the beginning?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
“Yes,” Vanessa said.
“He knew there was a connection.””
I stared at him.
“Explain.””
Daniel wiped his face.
“When we first met, Vanessa told me she recognized you.””
“Why?””
“She said you looked like someone from her past.””
I felt dizzy.
“And you believed her?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
“She showed me the records.””
I looked at him.
“The same records?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
His voice cracked.
“Because I was afraid.””
The same word.
Everyone was afraid.
Except Lily.
Lily had been the only person in the house who deserved to be afraid.
But she was the one nobody protected.
“What else?”” I asked.
Daniel swallowed.
“She told me your biological father was alive.””
The hallway went silent.
“What?””
“She said he knew about you.””
“Who is he?””
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
Then back at me.
“I don’t know.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You really don’t?””
She looked at Daniel with disgust.
“You were always weak.””
Officer Reynolds stepped forward.
“Vanessa, you’re making this worse.””
She smiled.
“Good.””
Then she looked at me.
“You want the truth?””
I didn’t answer.
“You were taken because I was young and scared.””
My hands shook.
“I was a baby.””
“I know.””
“You abandoned me.””
Her face tightened.
“No.””
She stepped closer.
“You were stolen.””
I looked at the file.
“Then why did nobody find me?””
Vanessa’s expression changed.
Because she finally reached the part she wanted.
“The people who took you made sure nobody would.””
“Who?””
She opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
A loud sound interrupted us.
A phone ringing.
Everyone looked around.
It wasn’t ours.
It was Vanessa’s.
An officer reached for it.
She smiled.
“Answer it.””
He picked up.
A voice came through the speaker.
Male.
Older.
“Vanessa?””
Everyone froze.
She looked at me.
Then said:
“Tell her.””
The voice became quiet.
“Who is this?””
Officer Reynolds put the phone on speaker.
“This is law enforcement. Identify yourself.””
The man hesitated.
Then whispered:
“I’m her father.””
My heart stopped.
The voice continued.
“And I know where Lily Carter really came from.””
I looked at Vanessa.
Then at Daniel.
Then at the phone.
The man spoke again.
“But you need to understand something.””
A pause.
“He’s been lying to her for eighteen years.””
Everyone turned.
Toward Daniel.
Daniel’s face went completely white.
May you like
And the man on the phone said:
“Because Daniel Carter knows exactly who took my granddaughter.””
