Chapter 6: The Secret Vanessa Buried for Years
Marcus returned home to find the office door open.
The wooden box was gone.
So was the photograph of Elizabeth and baby Nia.
Vanessa stood beside the desk, holding a stack of papers.
She looked up when he entered.
“Where have you been?””
Marcus didn't answer.
He walked toward the desk.
“Where's the box?””
Vanessa raised her eyebrows.
“What box?””
“Elizabeth's wooden box.””
“Oh. That.””
She placed the papers down.
“I thought it was something important. I was just looking through it.””
“Give it back.””
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“Why are you suddenly so protective of old things?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Because they belonged to my wife.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“You mean your dead wife.””
The words hung in the air.
Marcus stared at her.
“Don't ever speak about Elizabeth like that again.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“I'm your wife now.””
“And Nia is my daughter. Yet somehow you've forgotten that.””
Vanessa scoffed.
“You've turned this entire house into a courtroom.””
“No. You've turned it into a place where an eight-year-old is afraid to ask for dinner.””
Vanessa looked away.
Marcus held out his hand.
“The box.””
She hesitated.
Then she opened a drawer and placed it on the desk.
Marcus immediately checked the contents.
The envelope was missing.
He looked up.
“Where's the letter?””
Vanessa shrugged.
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“I didn't take anything.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Then why is the envelope missing?””
Vanessa raised her chin.
“Maybe Maria took it.””
Marcus stepped toward the door.
“Maria would never do that.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You trust the housekeeper more than your own wife?””
“I trust people who haven't been caught stealing from my daughter.””
Her smile vanished.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
Marcus picked up his phone.
“Actually, I think I'm finally beginning to understand.””
He called Richard, his attorney.
“Richard, I want you to come to the house immediately. And bring someone who can document the contents of my office.””
Vanessa's face changed.
“You're calling a lawyer?””
“Yes.””
“Over a stupid box?””
“Over forged documents, missing inheritance records, and the mistreatment of a child.””
Vanessa moved toward him.
“Marcus, listen to me.””
He stepped back.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
For the first time, she seemed unsure of what to say.
Then she tried a different approach.
Her voice softened.
“I know I made mistakes with Nia.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Mistakes?””
“I was overwhelmed. I was trying to manage everything while you were away.””
“You made her eat leftovers off the floor.””
Vanessa looked down.
“I didn't think you'd come home early.””
Marcus went completely still.
She had said it without thinking.
He repeated the words.
“You didn't think I'd come home early?””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“That isn't what I meant.””
Marcus slowly shook his head.
“No. I think it is.””
He opened the office door.
“Until Richard arrives, stay away from my daughter.””
Vanessa's expression turned cold.
“You can't keep me away from my own home.””
“I can keep you away from Nia.””
He walked out.
Vanessa remained beside the desk.
Her fingers curled around the edge.
Then she reached for her phone.
“Patricia,” she whispered when the call connected.
“We have a problem.””
At 4:10 p.m., Marcus sat in the living room with Nia on one side and Madison on the other.
Richard had arrived and was reviewing the documents Evelyn had sent.
The girls were watching a cartoon, but neither seemed particularly interested.
Nia was holding her father's hand.
Every few minutes, she looked toward the hallway.
Marcus noticed.
“What's wrong, baby?””
“Is Vanessa going to shout again?””
He put his arm around her.
“No one is going to shout at you.””
“Promise?””
“I promise.””
Madison leaned forward.
“Dad, can I tell you something?””
“Of course.””
“When Mom gets nervous, she hides things in her bedroom closet.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What kind of things?””
“Paperwork. Sometimes envelopes.””
Richard immediately looked up.
“That's important.””
Madison nodded.
“I saw a folder last week. It had Nia's name on it.””
Marcus exchanged a glance with his attorney.
“Do you remember what color it was?””
“Dark green.””
Richard wrote something down.
“Do you know where it is?””
Madison looked toward the staircase.
“I think it's still there.””
Marcus stood.
“Richard, can you stay with the girls?””
“Of course.””
He looked at Madison.
“Don't go anywhere until I return.””
Madison nodded.
Nia reached for his hand.
“Daddy?””
He bent down.
“Yes?””
“Can I come?””
Marcus kissed her forehead.
“Not this time, sweetheart.””
She looked disappointed.
“Okay.””
He followed Richard upstairs.
Vanessa's bedroom was empty.
Her closet was enormous, with shelves of designer handbags and rows of carefully arranged clothes.
Marcus searched the desk first.
Nothing.
Richard examined the drawers.
“There's a lockbox here.””
Marcus looked over.
“Can you open it?””
“Do you know the combination?””
Marcus shook his head.
Richard examined the box.
“Let's not force it. We'll document it and get the proper authority if necessary.””
Then Marcus noticed a green folder tucked behind a row of handbags.
He reached for it.
The label read:
*NIA CARTER — GUARDIANSHIP REVIEW.*
He opened it.
Inside were medical reports, school attendance records, and several handwritten notes.
One report claimed that Nia had displayed behavioral problems.
Another suggested she was emotionally unstable.
A third stated that she had difficulty adapting to a new household.
Marcus stared at the documents.
“These are lies.””
Richard examined them.
“Some of these reports don't even have proper signatures.””
He turned another page.
There was a photograph of Nia sitting alone in a school hallway.
Underneath it was a handwritten note.
Use this to demonstrate neglect of supervision.
Marcus felt his hands tremble.
“Who took this?””
Richard studied the date.
“Three months ago.””
Marcus remembered that day.
He had been in Chicago.
Vanessa had told him Nia had been home sick.
But the photograph showed her at school.
He turned another page.
There was a letter addressed to Patricia.
Once the guardianship review is approved, the transfer can proceed. Daniel has confirmed that the trust documents will be accepted.
Richard looked at him.
“This is more serious than I thought.””
Marcus continued reading.
Then he found a medical report.
It claimed Nia had repeatedly refused meals and displayed signs of severe emotional distress.
At the bottom was a doctor's name.
Dr. Samuel Reed.
Marcus recognized it.
He had never taken Nia to that doctor.
“Richard, I want this checked immediately.””
“Agreed.””
He took photographs of the documents.
Then he carefully placed the folder inside an evidence envelope.
As they turned to leave, Marcus noticed a small framed photograph on Vanessa's bedside table.
It showed Vanessa with the same little girl from Evelyn's photograph.
The girl wore a pink dress and held a birthday cake.
Marcus picked it up.
On the back was a handwritten inscription.
To my sweet Lily. Mommy will always find you.
He stared at it.
Richard noticed his expression.
“What is it?””
Marcus showed him the photograph.
“Evelyn told me Vanessa had another daughter.””
Richard examined the picture.
“Do you know where she is?””
“No.””
Marcus turned the photograph over again.
There was a date.
Eight years earlier.
And beneath it, a location.
*St. Anne's Children's Home.*
Richard's expression changed.
“That's an institution.””
Marcus looked at him.
“An orphanage?””
“Possibly. I'll need to check.””
Marcus placed the photograph in the envelope.
Then he noticed something else.
A small piece of paper was tucked beneath the frame.
He unfolded it.
It was a handwritten note.
Lily's file — Patricia has the original.
Marcus stared at the words.
Patricia had the original file.
The same Patricia named in the forged guardianship application.
He turned to Richard.
“We need to find her.””
Richard nodded.
“I'll have someone locate her.””
But before they could leave, a loud crash came from downstairs.
Then a child's scream.
Marcus dropped the envelope and ran.
Nia was standing near the living room doorway.
A broken vase lay on the floor.
Vanessa stood beside her, pointing at the shattered pieces.
“Look what you've done!””
Nia was crying.
“I didn't touch it!””
“I saw you!””
“I was just walking!””
Vanessa grabbed the little girl's wrist.
“Don't lie to me!””
Marcus reached them in seconds.
“LET GO OF HER!””
Vanessa released Nia.
Marcus immediately pulled his daughter behind him.
“What is wrong with you?””
Vanessa stepped backward.
“She broke my vase!””
“Then you tell Maria to clean it up. You don't grab her.””
“She needs to learn consequences!””
Marcus looked at Nia's wrist.
There were red marks.
His expression turned murderous.
“Did you hurt her?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“She was being disrespectful.””
Richard appeared behind Marcus.
He had seen everything.
“Mr. Carter,” he said quietly, “I witnessed that.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“And who are you?””
“Richard Hayes. Mr. Carter's attorney.””
Her face changed.
Marcus gently lifted Nia into his arms.
“Take the girls upstairs, Maria.””
Maria appeared immediately.
“Yes, sir.””
Madison came running from the hallway.
“Dad!””
She looked at Nia's wrist.
Then at Vanessa.
“Mom, why did you do that?””
Vanessa turned on her.
“Stay out of this!””
Madison stepped closer to Marcus.
“I told you she was dangerous.””
Vanessa's face twisted.
“That's enough, Madison!””
But the thirteen-year-old was no longer backing down.
“You told me to lie about Nia. You told me to say she was difficult. You even told me to pretend she stole things!””
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“What?””
Madison's voice shook.
“She made me hide Nia's toys and then blamed her for losing them. She said it would make the guardianship papers easier.””
Vanessa lunged toward her.
Richard immediately stepped between them.
“Mrs. Carter, stay where you are.””
Vanessa looked around.
For the first time, she seemed to realize there were witnesses.
She straightened her robe.
“This is ridiculous. Everyone is ganging up on me.””
Marcus held Nia closer.
“No. Everyone is finally seeing you.””
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she smiled.
A strange, cold smile.
“You think you've won?””
Marcus didn't answer.
She walked toward the staircase.
“You still don't know the truth about Lily.””
Marcus froze.
“What did you say?””
Vanessa stopped.
She looked over her shoulder.
“Lily.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Who is Lily?””
Vanessa's smile widened.
“My daughter.””
“You told everyone you had only two children.””
“I do.””
Marcus looked toward Madison and Chloe.
Then back at Vanessa.
“What happened to your other daughter?””
Vanessa's expression changed.
For one brief second, something like fear crossed her face.
Then she whispered:
“She died.””
Madison suddenly shook her head.
“No, she didn't.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Madison!””
Madison stepped forward.
“I saw the photograph. I saw the file.””
Marcus looked at his stepdaughter.
“What file?””
Madison swallowed.
“Dad, I think Lily is still alive.””
Vanessa's face went completely white.
And before anyone could ask another question, her phone rang.
The caller's name appeared on the screen.
*PATRICIA.*
Vanessa answered.
“What?””
A woman's frantic voice came through the speaker.
“Vanessa, you need to get here immediately.””
“What happened?””
“Someone has found Lily.””
Vanessa's hand began trembling.
“Who?””
May you like
Patricia whispered:
“Her real father.””
