Chapter 11 - Vanessa’s Last Lie
The woman was Vanessa’s sister.
Natalie Cole.
A name none of us had heard.
Natalie had lived overseas for a decade.
She and Vanessa were nearly identical.
Suddenly the hospital disguise made sense.
Natalie had impersonated Eleanor.
She had helped Charlie.
And unlike Vanessa, she hadn’t been caught.
Police tracked the stolen money.
Natalie attempted to flee.
She was arrested at the airport.
The final conspiracy collapsed.
Vanessa asked to see me one last time.
I agreed.
“I should have told you about Natalie.”
“Yes.”
“She threatened me.”
“I know.”
“I hated you.”
“I know that too.”
Vanessa looked down.
“You had everything.”
I almost laughed.
“My mother was dead. My father thought I hated him. My husband was sleeping with you. My daughter was frightened of you.”
She closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“No. You thought money meant everything.”
She cried.
Maybe she finally understood.
Maybe she didn’t.
It no longer mattered.
“I’m sorry about Lily.”
I stood.
“That apology belongs to her. And she doesn’t owe you acceptance.”
Vanessa nodded.
I left.
Outside, Daniel waited.
Not for Vanessa.
For me.
“The divorce is final.”
I knew.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“Sad.”
He seemed surprised.
“You expected happy?”
“I don’t know.”
“Ending something painful doesn’t erase what was good before it.”
His eyes filled.
“I did love you.”
“I know.”
“I still do.”
“I know.”
That was all.
He didn’t ask me to return.
That was how I knew he was finally changing.
We walked outside together.
Then my phone rang.
Lily’s school.
My heart stopped every time they called now.
“Ms. Mercer?”
“Yes?”
“There’s been an incident.”
I was already moving.
“What happened?”
“A man came asking for Lily.”
“What man?”
“He claimed to be family.”
Daniel grabbed his keys.
“Did he take her?”
“No. She’s safe.”
I breathed.
“Who was he?”
The administrator hesitated.
“He said his name was Richard Mercer.”
May you like
Daniel stopped walking.
His father had been dead for three years.
