Chapter 4: The Woman Who Erased Everyone
Vanessa stopped pretending.
The moment Detective Harris said the name, something inside her broke.
Not fear.
Not sadness.
Anger.
“You don’t know anything,” she whispered.
The detective stepped closer.
“We know your former fiancé disappeared six years ago.””
Vanessa laughed softly.
“He left.””
The room froze.
Because those were her words.
The exact same words she used about Emma.
He left.
She left.
Everyone who got in her way simply disappeared.
Emma sat beside Lily, holding her daughter’s hand.
I looked at Vanessa.
“How many people?””
She stared at me.
“What?””
“How many people did you destroy?””
Her jaw tightened.
“You have no idea what I did for you.””
“For me?””
“Yes.””
She stepped closer.
“I saved you from a woman who would have ruined your life.””
I almost couldn’t believe her.
“You kidnapped my wife.””
“I gave you a chance.””
“You stole eight years from my daughter.””
That made her expression change.
For the first time, she looked at Lily.
Not with affection.
With resentment.
“She never loved me.””
The words were quiet.
Everyone heard them.
Lily moved closer to Emma.
Vanessa saw.
And that seemed to hurt her more than anything.
“I raised you,” Vanessa said.
Lily shook her head.
“You lied to me.””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with anger.
“I was your mother.””
“No,” Lily whispered.
“You were never my mommy.””
Vanessa looked away.
Detective Harris signaled the officers.
“Ms. Cole, you’re coming with us.””
She didn’t move.
Instead, she looked at me.
“Daniel.””
I stayed silent.
“You really think Emma is innocent?””
Emma looked up.
Vanessa smiled.
“She’s hiding something.””
My heart tightened.
“What?””
Vanessa looked at Emma.
“Tell him.””
Emma went pale.
The room changed.
I turned toward my wife.
“What is she talking about?””
Emma didn’t answer.
“Emma?””
She closed her eyes.
“I didn’t tell you everything.””
The detective watched carefully.
Vanessa smiled.
“There it is.””
I felt betrayed all over again.
“Tell me.””
Emma’s voice shook.
“The night Vanessa took me…”
She looked at Lily.
“I escaped.””
I frowned.
“Then why didn’t you come home?””
“Because I saw someone following me.””
“Who?””
Emma looked at Vanessa.
“Your brother.””
My breath stopped.
My brother.
Michael.
The person who helped me through the disappearance.
The person who told me Emma had abandoned us.
I stepped back.
“No.””
Emma nodded.
“He was working with Vanessa.””
The detective immediately wrote something down.
Vanessa’s face changed.
“Don’t listen to her.””
But the damage was done.
Because suddenly, eight years of memories looked different.
Every conversation.
Every piece of advice.
Every time Michael told me to move on.
I remembered.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Daniel Parker?””
“Yes?””
“You found Emma.””
I looked around.
Everyone watched me.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then:
“Someone who knows your brother is not the only person who lied to you.””
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
A message appeared.
One sentence.
One name.
Michael.
May you like
And underneath it:
*Ask him what happened the night Emma disappeared.*
