Chapter 7: The Child Who Knew Too Much
I drove to David’s house faster than I should have.
Every red light felt like an hour.
Every second felt dangerous.
When I arrived, I saw Vanessa’s car parked outside.
My entire body went tense.
I rushed inside.
“Where is she?””
David pointed toward the living room.
Vanessa stood there.
Calm.
Too calm.
Mason and Lily were upstairs.
Safe.
At least for now.
“What are you doing here?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“I came for my son.””
I laughed once.
A cold, humorless sound.
“You mean the son you told me was yours while hiding his entire history?””
Her face hardened.
“Michael.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You don’t get to say my name like everything is normal.””
David moved between us slightly.
“Michael, stay calm.””
I ignored him.
“Why did you keep that picture?””
Vanessa went still.
“What picture?””
“The one of me.””
Her expression changed.
Just for a moment.
Then it disappeared.
“You went through my things?””
“You lied to me for years.””
She looked away.
“You wouldn’t understand.””
“Try me.””
She sighed.
“I was trying to protect my family.””
“Your family?””
I pointed upstairs.
“You hurt my daughter.””
Her eyes flashed.
“She’s not the only child you need to worry about.””
The sentence made me stop.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa looked toward the stairs.
“Mason knows things he shouldn’t.””
My anger shifted.
“What did you do?””
She didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“Mason!””
I called upstairs.
A few seconds later, his small footsteps approached.
He stopped halfway down.
Vanessa looked at him.
“Mason, come here.””
He didn’t move.
That broke something inside me.
A child should run to his mother.
Not stand frozen.
“Mason,” I said gently.
“Stay there.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“You’re really choosing him over me?””
Mason whispered:
“I’m choosing the truth.””
The room went silent.
Vanessa looked wounded.
But then her face changed.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.””
“Yes, I do.””
Mason walked down slowly.
“She told me not to tell you.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Tell me what?””
Mason looked terrified.
Then he reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small flash drive.
“She keeps recordings.””
Vanessa moved instantly.
“Mason!””
I stepped in front of him.
“What recordings?””
Mason handed it to me.
“She records people when they don’t know.””
Vanessa’s face went pale.
“Give me that.””
“No.””
It was Lily’s voice.
Everyone looked toward the stairs.
She was standing there holding her stuffed rabbit.
“She recorded me too.””
I felt my heart break.
“Lily…”
She looked at me.
“Mommy said nobody would believe me.””
Vanessa’s expression changed.
For the first time, I saw panic.
Not anger.
Panic.
I took the flash drive.
“I’m going to find out everything.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You have no idea what you’re opening.””
“Maybe.””
I looked at her.
“But I know what I’m closing.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“What?””
“The door you should never have been allowed near my children.””
She stared at me.
Then smiled.
A small, terrifying smile.
“You still don’t understand.””
I felt a chill.
“Understand what?””
She looked toward Mason.
Then whispered:
“He isn’t the only one who knows the truth.””
My phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
From Ethan Carter.
*You finally found out about Vanessa.*
My blood froze.
May you like
Another message followed.
*Now ask her what she did to your first family.*
