Chapter 4: The Document She Buried
Vanessa didn’t answer.
That was when I knew the second document was worse than the first.
People tell the truth when they’re cornered.
They explain.
They defend themselves.
They get angry.
Vanessa did none of those things.
She just stood there, frozen, staring at the phone in my father’s hand.
“Vanessa,” Dad said again.
“What second document?””
She reached for it.
“Give me that.””
He pulled it away.
“No.””
Her voice changed.
“Marcus, listen to me.””
“No. You listen to me.””
The kitchen suddenly felt too small.
The woman who had always controlled every conversation was losing control.
And she hated it.
“Maya,” Dad said quietly, “go upstairs.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because I don’t know what else she’s hidden.””
Vanessa looked offended.
“I would never hurt her.””
I laughed before I could stop myself.
Everyone looked at me.
“You already did.””
Her face tightened.
“Maya—”
“No.””
My voice shook, but I didn’t care anymore.
“You made me think I wasn’t wanted here.””
Dad looked at me with sadness.
I continued.
“You told me I was selfish for wanting one vacation with my own father.””
Vanessa looked away.
“And now there’s another document?””
She said nothing.
Dad opened the message again.
The number was unfamiliar.
“Who sent this?””
Vanessa grabbed her phone.
“I don’t know.””
“That’s a lie.””
“I don’t know!””
The sudden scream made me flinch.
For a moment, she looked less like my stepmother and more like someone who had been caught.
Dad noticed too.
“Who is this person?””
Vanessa’s breathing became uneven.
“I can explain.””
“Then explain.””
She sat down.
For the first time, she looked tired.
Not sorry.
Just tired.
“I didn’t plan for things to get this messy.””
Dad stared at her.
“You forged my signature.””
“I know.””
“You canceled my daughter’s ticket.””
“I know.””
“You tried to remove her from my life.””
Her eyes flashed.
“That’s not what I was trying to do.””
“Then what were you trying to do?””
Vanessa looked at me.
And I knew before she spoke.
She was going to blame me.
“You don’t understand what it’s like.””
My jaw tightened.
“Try me.””
She ignored me.
“After your mother died, Marcus changed. He never moved on completely.””
Dad’s expression hardened.
“Don’t.””
“No, you need to hear this.””
She pointed toward the hallway where old family pictures hung.
“Every room in this house has memories of her. Every holiday. Every birthday. Every conversation.””
I crossed my arms.
“So?””
“So I was trying to create something new.””
Dad shook his head.
“You didn’t create something new. You tried to erase something old.””
Vanessa looked hurt.
But then she said the words that made my stomach turn.
“I found the adoption papers.””
The room went silent.
“What adoption papers?”” Dad asked.
Vanessa looked at me.
“My mother adopted me?”” I whispered.
“No.””
Her answer was immediate.
Too immediate.
“Then what?””
Vanessa looked down.
“The papers from when your father became your legal guardian after your mother died.””
Dad frowned.
“That has nothing to do with this.””
“It does.””
“Why?””
She hesitated.
Then she said,
“Because I found out something about Maya.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What?””
Vanessa looked at my father.
“You never told her.””
Dad’s face changed.
“What are you talking about?””
She smiled sadly.
“You really didn’t.””
My father stood.
“Vanessa.””
But she continued.
“Maya doesn’t know the full story about what happened after her mother died.””
I looked between them.
“What story?””
Dad didn’t answer.
That scared me.
Because my father always answered me.
He always told me the truth.
Except now.
Vanessa saw my expression.
“You see?””
She pointed at him.
“He hides things from you.””
“Stop,” Dad said.
“No. She deserves to know.””
My hands went cold.
“What happened?””
Dad looked away.
“Not here.””
“Dad.””
He closed his eyes.
Then Vanessa’s phone buzzed again.
She grabbed it quickly.
But Dad was faster.
He saw the screen.
The message wasn’t from the same number.
It was from someone saved in her contacts.
A name.
A name that made my father’s face lose all color.
*Evelyn.*
My father whispered,
“No…”
I looked at him.
“Who is Evelyn?””
He didn’t answer.
Vanessa stood suddenly.
“I can explain.””
Dad looked at her.
“You knew her?””
Vanessa’s silence was enough.
My father stepped back.
“Maya…”
His voice cracked.
“Your mother’s sister disappeared after the funeral.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
May you like
He looked at Vanessa.
“Why is she texting you?””
