Chapter 6 - THE TRUTH ABOUT VANESSA
The emergency lights flickered on.
Vanessa stood at the far end of the room.
Alone.
No guards.
No father.
Just her.
She looked exhausted.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
She looked at Grace.
Then Noah.
“I came to tell you the truth.”
“You should have started with that.”
She swallowed.
“I didn't know how.”
“You had plenty of opportunities.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was afraid.”
Grace stepped closer to me.
Vanessa noticed.
“You really love her.”
I didn't answer.
She laughed sadly.
“I always knew you would.”
“Then why?”
Vanessa looked at Noah.
“My father wanted access to your company.”
I felt no surprise.
“He knew I was getting close to you.”
“So you were using me.”
“At first.”
Grace's face hardened.
“And later?”
Vanessa looked at me.
“I fell in love with you.”
Silence.
I believed she believed it.
But love didn't excuse what she had done.
“You watched my son.”
“I was ordered to.”
“You hired someone to photograph Grace.”
“Yes.”
“You struck her.”
“I lost control.”
“You tried to isolate Noah from the woman he trusts.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I know.”
She looked at Grace.
“I'm sorry.”
Grace said nothing.
Vanessa reached into her coat.
Marcus immediately stepped forward.
Vanessa froze.
“It's a phone.”
She placed it on the table.
“There are recordings.”
I picked it up.
“What recordings?”
“My father.”
I pressed play.
His voice filled the room.
“Once Adrian marries Vanessa, we control the estate through the trust.”
My stomach tightened.
Another voice answered.
“And the child?”
“Children are leverage.”
Grace covered Noah's ears.
I stopped the recording.
Vanessa was crying.
“My father planned to use Noah.”
“You knew?”
“I found out three months ago.”
“And you stayed?”
“I tried to stop him.”
“By attacking Grace?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I was trying to frighten her into leaving.”
Grace stared at her.
“You wanted me gone.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought if you disappeared, Adrian would marry me.”
Her honesty was almost more painful than another lie.
I looked at her.
“You destroyed your own chance.”
“I know.”
Vanessa turned toward the door.
I stopped her.
“Wait.”
She looked back.
“Why did Claire know you?”
Vanessa froze.
“My father knew Claire before she married you.”
My blood ran cold.
“How?”
“He had business dealings with your family.”
“That's not enough.”
“No.”
She took a breath.
“Claire discovered he was trying to gain influence over your company.”
I stared.
“She threatened to expose him.”
“And he threatened her?”
“Yes.”
“Did he cause her death?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.”
That answer wasn't enough.
But before I could ask another question, the front doors opened.
My security team rushed in.
Marcus looked at me.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found evidence that Vanessa's father is leaving the country.”
“Stop him.”
Marcus nodded.
Vanessa whispered:
“He won't run.”
I turned.
“What?”
“He knows you found out.”
She looked toward the windows.
“He'll come here.”
My blood went cold.
“Why?”
“Because he knows the one thing you will never risk.”
I looked at Noah.
May you like
Vanessa whispered:
“Your son.”
