Chapter 20 - Vanessa Realizes
Vanessa discovered the investigation because of one mistake.
Nolan stopped answering her.
She came home furious.
“Have you spoken to your brother?”
“Yes.”
Her face froze.
“About what?”
“Family.”
“What family?”
I stared at her.
“How many families do you think I have?”
For several seconds neither of us moved.
Then Vanessa understood.
She turned toward the stairs.
“Maya!”
I stepped between her and the hallway.
“Maya isn’t here.”
“Where is she?”
“With someone safe.”
“You had no right—”
“I’m her father.”
“I’m her mother.”
“You’re her stepmother.”
The words landed hard.
Vanessa’s face changed.
After Maya’s biological mother died, Vanessa had insisted Maya call her Mom.
I had encouraged it.
Now I saw how thoroughly Vanessa had used that role.
“What did she tell you?” Vanessa demanded.
“Enough.”
“She lies.”
“She’s seven.”
“She manipulates you.”
“No. You taught her to fear me finding out what happened here.”
Vanessa looked toward the bathroom upstairs.
Then toward me.
She knew.
“The envelopes,” she whispered.
I said nothing.
She backed away.
“You searched my things.”
I almost laughed.
May you like
“You forged my name.”
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