Chapter 8 - The Secret In Vanessa’s Past
I spent the entire night searching.
Not because I trusted Daniel.
I didn’t.
But because I knew one thing.
People like him never reveal the whole truth.
They reveal only enough to hurt you.
I hired another investigator.
This time…
I asked him to look into Vanessa.
Her past.
Her relationships.
Her history before we met.
Three days later…
He arrived at my office.
He didn’t sit down.
That worried me.
“What did you find?”
He placed a folder on my desk.
“You need to prepare yourself.”
I opened it.
Inside were old records.
Old names.
Old addresses.
Then I saw something that made my blood run cold.
Vanessa had been married before.
Not once.
Twice.
Both marriages ended badly.
Both husbands accused her of manipulation.
But the cases disappeared.
Settled privately.
I kept reading.
Then I found the biggest secret.
A child.
Vanessa had another child.
A son.
A son she gave up years ago.
I looked at the investigator.
“Where is he?”
“That’s the strange part.”
“What?”
“He disappeared.”
My chest tightened.
“Disappeared?”
“Yes.”
I looked back at the papers.
There was one photo.
A young Vanessa holding a baby boy.
The baby had the same eyes as Ethan.
I felt sick.
Then my phone rang.
It was Lily.
I answered immediately.
“Daddy?”
Her voice was scared.
“What happened?”
“Mommy came into my room.”
I stood up.
“What did she do?”
“She asked if I told you about the notebook.”
My face went cold.
“What did you say?”
“I said no.”
A pause.
Then Lily whispered.
“But Daddy…”
“She said if I tell you anything else…”
“She will make sure you lose us forever.”
I gripped the phone.
“Lily, listen to me.”
“You did nothing wrong.”
“I’m coming home.”
But before I could leave…
My investigator stopped me.
“There’s one more thing.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
He placed another photo on the table.
A photo of Daniel.
Standing beside Vanessa.
May you like
Years ago.
Before I knew either of them.
