Chapter 10: The Woman Behind the Lies
The room went completely silent.
Vanessa stood in the doorway, holding the gun with a steady hand.
Not shaking.
Not afraid.
Almost calm.
That scared me more than anything.
My father immediately stepped in front of me.
“Vanessa.””
She smiled.
“Move, Daniel.””
I froze.
I had heard that name thousands of times.
My father.
But hearing her say it like that made him seem like a stranger.
“You don’t have to do this,” my father said.
Vanessa laughed softly.
“That’s exactly what you said three years ago.””
My eyes moved between them.
Three years ago.
The night my mother died.
There was something I still didn’t know.
“Vanessa,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.
“Why?””
Her eyes moved toward me.
For a moment, she looked almost sad.
Then the expression disappeared.
“Because your mother took everything from me.””
I stared at her.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“She was dying.””
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
“And she still won.””
The anger in her voice shocked me.
“You hated her that much?””
“No.””
She stepped closer.
“I hated that she was always better than me.””
The confession hung in the air.
“She had the perfect life,” Vanessa continued.
“The perfect husband. The perfect daughter. Everyone loved her.””
My father shook his head.
“Vanessa, stop.””
She ignored him.
“Then I found out about the money.””
My heart sank.
“The trust.””
She smiled.
“Exactly.””
I tightened my grip on my phone.
“You tried to steal from me.””
“I tried to take what I deserved.””
“You deserved my mother’s money?””
Vanessa’s eyes turned cold.
“She never appreciated what I did for this family.””
I almost laughed.
“What did you do?””
Her face hardened.
“I stayed.””
The answer was so ridiculous I almost couldn’t believe it.
“You married my father.””
“I gave up my life.””
“No,” I said.
“You wanted his life.””
The gun shifted slightly.
My father stepped forward.
“Vanessa, leave Emily out of this.””
She looked at him.
“You still protect her.””
“Yes.””
“Even after she knows everything?””
My father didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.””
That seemed to hurt her more than anger her.
“You always chose them.””
My father looked broken.
“I chose wrong before.””
Vanessa’s expression changed.
A flicker of pain.
Then anger returned.
“You don’t get to act innocent now.””
I looked at my father.
“What is she talking about?””
Neither answered.
“Dad.””
He swallowed.
“Emily…”
Vanessa laughed.
“Tell her.””
My father closed his eyes.
“I helped Vanessa access some of your mother’s accounts.””
The words hurt.
Even though I already knew pieces of it.
“You promised you didn’t know.””
“I didn’t know everything.””
“But you knew enough.””
“Yes.””
I felt tears burning my eyes.
My father looked at me.
“I was wrong.””
Vanessa smiled.
“See? He admits it.””
Then she looked at me.
“Your father was never your hero, Emily.””
I stared at her.
“And you were never my family.””
The words landed.
For the first time, Vanessa looked wounded.
Only briefly.
Then she raised the gun.
“Give me the envelope.””
I held it tighter.
“No.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Emily.””
“You already took my car.””
“Give me what’s inside.””
“No.””
She stepped forward.
“You have no idea what you’re holding.””
I looked at the envelope.
“My mother’s truth.””
Vanessa smiled.
“Your mother’s lies.””
I shook my head.
“No. Your fear.””
That made her pause.
Because I was right.
She wasn’t angry because of the money.
She was angry because the truth could destroy her.
Suddenly, a loud noise came from outside.
A car door slammed.
Vanessa looked toward the window.
A mistake.
Just for one second.
But it was enough.
My father grabbed her wrist.
The gun fired.
The sound exploded through the room.
I screamed.
The bullet hit the wall.
Rachel rushed in from the hallway.
She must have followed me.
“Emily, run!””
Vanessa fought against my father.
“You idiot!””
My father held her back.
“Go!””
I grabbed the envelope and ran.
Behind me, I heard Vanessa scream:
“You think this ends with me?””
I reached the front door.
Then I heard one final thing.
May you like
A sentence that stopped me.
“You don’t even know who your mother was protecting you from!””
