Chapter 7: The Man Behind the Accident
I drove home without remembering the drive.
My hands were on the steering wheel.
My eyes were on the road.
But my mind was somewhere else.
Sarah’s final words.
Don’t let Michael trust him.
For three years, I thought grief had taken away my ability to think clearly.
Now I wondered if grief had been used against me.
When I arrived home, Lily was sitting on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her.
She looked up.
“Daddy?””
I forced a smile.
“Hey, sweetheart.””
She studied my face.
“Did you find out something?””
I hated that she was old enough to recognize pain.
I sat beside her.
“Yeah.””
“Is it bad?””
I looked at my daughter.
“No matter what happens, I’m here.””
She nodded.
Then she quietly said:
“I knew Vanessa wasn’t nice.””
My heart hurt.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
She looked down.
“Because you loved her.””
That sentence destroyed me.
Children shouldn’t have to protect their parents from heartbreak.
I hugged her.
“You should always tell me when someone hurts you.””
She nodded.
“I will.””
The next morning, I met with a private investigator.
His name was Marcus.
I showed him everything.
The notebook.
The photos.
The information about Daniel.
He read quietly.
Then he looked up.
“This goes deeper than one person.””
“What do you mean?””
He tapped the notebook.
“Sarah was investigating someone.””
“Who?””
He turned a page.
“There’s a name repeated several times.””
I looked.
A name I didn’t recognize.
*Victor Hale.*
“Who is that?””
Marcus looked surprised.
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
“He’s a major investor.””
“In my company?””
Marcus nodded.
My stomach dropped.
“Daniel worked with him.””
I sat back.
Suddenly everything connected.
The money.
The pressure.
The secrets.
But one question remained.
“Why would Vanessa want Lily gone?””
Marcus looked at me.
“Maybe she didn’t.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Maybe someone wanted Vanessa close to you.””
I felt cold.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying maybe Vanessa wasn’t the person controlling the situation.””
I thought about everything.
The wedding.
The slap.
The lies.
The secrets.
Vanessa had done terrible things.
But was she the mastermind?
That night, I received a message.
Unknown number.
One sentence.
*Stop looking into Sarah’s death.*
I stared at the screen.
A second message appeared.
*Or Lily won’t be the only person you lose.*
I immediately called the police.
Then I called Marcus.
Then I checked on Lily.
She was asleep.
Safe.
I sat beside her bed until morning.
At 6:30 a.m., someone knocked on my door.
I opened it.
Vanessa stood there.
Her face was pale.
“I know who Victor Hale is.””
I didn’t move.
“How?””
She looked terrified.
“Because he was the reason I met you.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What?””
She stepped inside.
“Michael, everything I told you about how we met…”
She shook her head.
“It wasn’t true.””
My stomach tightened.
“Then tell me the truth.””
She looked at Lily’s bedroom door.
May you like
Then whispered:
“I was sent to you.””
