Chapter 4 - The Night No One Would Explain
Maria sat across from Ethan in the small sitting room beside the nursery.
She had asked him to let Lily sleep before they spoke, and Ethan had agreed. His daughter was finally resting peacefully, one hand wrapped around the stuffed rabbit she carried everywhere.
Now Maria looked as though she had aged years in a single afternoon.
“It happened in February,” she began. “You were in London. Ms. Sterling was staying here for the weekend.”
Ethan leaned forward.
“Go on.”
“Lily was crying because she wanted you. Vanessa had been drinking with some friends. She told me to leave the nursery and stop encouraging the child's behavior.”
Maria had gone downstairs to prepare a bottle of warm milk. When she returned, she found Vanessa standing near the bed.
Lily was on the floor, crying.
Vanessa claimed the child had rolled off the mattress.
But Maria had noticed something strange.
Lily wasn't reaching toward Vanessa for comfort. She was crawling away from her.
“She wouldn't let me pick Lily up at first,” Maria whispered. “She said I was making a scene. Then she told me that if I mentioned anything to you, she would make sure I never worked with children again.”
Ethan's hands curled into fists.
“Why didn't you call me?”
“I tried.”
Maria took a small phone from her pocket.
“I sent you a message that night. I wrote that Lily was frightened and I needed to speak with you privately.”
Ethan looked at the screen.
He remembered the message.
It had arrived shortly before midnight. He had been in a business meeting, and Vanessa had told him Maria was overwhelmed and wanted to resign.
He had replied that they would discuss it when he returned.
He had never followed up.
“I thought you were leaving,” he whispered.
Maria nodded.
“Vanessa told me she had explained everything to you.”
Ethan felt sick.
He had believed the woman he intended to marry instead of investigating why his daughter's caregiver was desperately trying to reach him.
“What happened after the hospital visit?”
“Vanessa told everyone Lily had fallen. She insisted that talking about it would frighten her unnecessarily.”
Maria wiped her cheeks.
“After that, Lily started waking up screaming. She became afraid of loud voices. She stopped reaching for unfamiliar adults. Whenever Vanessa entered a room, Lily would hide behind me.”
Ethan looked toward the nursery.
He remembered those nights. He had blamed the changes on grief, teething, and the disruption caused by his travel schedule.
“How many times?” he asked quietly.
“I don't know exactly. I never saw her hurt Lily badly again, but there were other incidents. Vanessa would grab her wrist too tightly, shout in her face, or lock away her toys when she cried.”
“And you stayed.”
“I stayed because I was afraid she would hurt Lily when I wasn't there.”
Maria's voice broke.
“I know I should have told you everything. I was wrong to keep silent. But I was terrified that if I lost my job, Lily would be alone with her.”
Ethan didn't blame her.
He blamed himself for building a life in which a frightened nanny had become his daughter's only line of defense.
He took a breath.
“Tomorrow, we speak with Lily's pediatrician and a child psychologist. We'll document everything and contact the proper authorities.”
Maria nodded.
“And Mr. Whitmore?”
“Yes?”
“Vanessa didn't just want me gone. She wanted someone else to take my place.”
“Who?”
Maria looked toward the hallway.
“Her cousin. A woman named Celeste. Vanessa said Celeste would help her make sure Lily stopped getting in the way.”
Ethan stood.
“Find out everything you can remember about that conversation.”
Then his phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent him a photograph.
It showed Lily sleeping in her nursery.
May you like
The caption beneath it read:
You should have married me when you had the chance. Now you have no idea what comes next.
