Chapter 9: The Child She Wanted To Control
I couldn’t move.
The court document sat in front of me.
Mason’s name was printed clearly at the top.
I looked at Daniel.
“What does this mean?””
Daniel took a breath.
“Vanessa has always been afraid of losing control.””
I stared at the paper.
“Explain.””
“When Mason was younger, his father tried to get custody.””
I looked up.
“And?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Vanessa fought him.””
“Because she loved Mason?””
Daniel was silent.
That answer told me everything.
“She fought because she couldn’t stand the idea of someone else having influence over him.””
My stomach turned.
“What happened?””
“She accused his father of things that weren’t true.””
I looked at the document again.
“Are you saying she lied?””
Daniel nodded.
“The case was eventually dismissed.””
I leaned back.
The pattern was becoming clear.
She didn’t just control people.
She destroyed anyone who threatened her control.
I thought about Mason.
A boy who defended Lily even though he knew what his mother could do.
A boy who saved every drawing.
Every piece of evidence.
A boy who had been afraid.
But still spoke.
That night, I sat with Mason in the backyard.
The sun was setting.
For once, neither of us said anything.
Finally, he spoke.
“Are you mad at me?””
I looked at him.
“No.””
“But I knew things.””
“You were scared.””
He nodded.
“I thought if I told you, she would hate me.””
I looked at him.
“Mason, listen to me.””
He looked up.
“You are not responsible for protecting adults.””
His eyes filled.
Nobody had ever told him that.
“I should have helped Lily sooner.””
I shook my head.
“You were a kid.””
He wiped his face.
“I’m sorry.””
I put my hand on his shoulder.
“You did the right thing.””
A noise came from inside.
My phone.
I picked it up.
A message from Vanessa.
“I want to see Lily.””
I stared at it.
Mason looked at me.
“Are you going to let her?””
I didn’t know.
Part of me wanted answers.
Another part of me wanted to keep Vanessa as far away as possible.
Then another message arrived.
“I know about Daniel.””
My heart stopped.
A third message appeared.
“You have no idea what I can prove.””
I looked at the screen.
Then at Mason.
“She knows.””
“Knows what?””
“That we found out.””
A minute later, there was a knock at the front door.
I froze.
Nobody knew I was home.
Nobody except Vanessa.
I walked toward the entrance.
Mason followed.
“Dad…”
I looked through the window.
Vanessa stood outside.
But she wasn’t alone.
Beside her was a woman holding a folder.
A woman I recognized.
Because I had seen her picture before.
Rebecca.
My heart raced.
Why would Rebecca be standing next to Vanessa?
Then Vanessa raised her voice.
“Michael.””
I opened the door slightly.
“What?””
She smiled.
But it wasn’t the smile I knew.
It was the smile of someone who believed she had finally found a way to win.
“I think it’s time you hear the truth about what Rebecca did.””
Rebecca looked at me.
Her face was full of fear.
May you like
And that was when I realized…
Maybe Vanessa wasn’t the only person who had been hiding something.
