Chapter 6: The Girl Who Knew My Secret
Nobody moved.
The phone continued ringing.
A strange, mechanical sound filling the room.
Everyone looked at me.
Waiting.
Expecting me to understand something I didn’t.
But I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
"I don’t have another daughter.""
My voice sounded distant.
Emma looked devastated.
"I know what you believe.""
"Then explain.""
She looked at Lily.
Then at me.
"I found out after I left.""
My heart pounded.
"Found out what?""
Emma stepped closer.
"That Vanessa had been researching your past.""
"Why?""
"Because she was looking for weaknesses.""
The phone stopped ringing.
Silence returned.
Then it rang again.
The officer picked it up.
"Hello?""
Everyone watched his expression.
"Yes.""
A pause.
"Who is this?""
His face changed.
He looked at me.
"Mr. Carter, someone wants to speak with you.""
I took the phone slowly.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, there was only breathing.
Then a young female voice spoke.
"Dad?""
My entire body froze.
I looked at Emma.
I looked at Lily.
Then back at the phone.
"I’m sorry," the girl whispered.
"I know this is confusing.""
My throat tightened.
"Who are you?""
A pause.
Then:
"My name is Sophie.""
The room spun.
"I’m your daughter.""
I couldn’t speak.
The officer watched me carefully.
Vanessa looked terrified.
Not surprised.
Terrified.
That was when I understood.
She knew.
Emma knew.
Everyone knew except me.
"Sophie...""
The name felt unfamiliar.
But somehow painful.
"I don’t understand.""
The girl on the phone cried quietly.
"I know.""
Her voice broke.
"Nobody wanted you to know.""
I gripped the phone.
"Where are you?""
"I can’t tell you.""
"Why?""
A pause.
"Because she’ll find me.""
My eyes moved to Vanessa.
"Who?""
The girl whispered:
"Vanessa.""
The room went silent.
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
"Give me that phone.""
The officer blocked her.
"No.""
I stared at her.
"You knew about her.""
Vanessa said nothing.
That was the answer.
"How?""
Her eyes filled.
"I can explain.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
Emma moved beside me.
"Daniel, listen to me.""
I looked at her.
"How long?""
She lowered her eyes.
"I found Sophie two years after I disappeared.""
"Two years?""
"Yes.""
"And you never told me?""
Her face broke.
"I tried.""
The words stopped me.
"You tried?""
She nodded.
"But Vanessa was always watching.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why?""
Emma whispered:
"Because Sophie was proof.""
"Proof of what?""
Emma looked at Vanessa.
"That Vanessa had been lying about who she was from the beginning.""
Ryan suddenly spoke.
"Enough.""
Everyone turned.
He looked angry now.
Not amused.
"Some things should stay buried.""
I stepped toward him.
"No.""
My voice was calm.
"Not anymore.""
Ryan looked at Vanessa.
"She’s going to destroy everything.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"Shut up.""
That reaction told me something.
They weren’t united anymore.
They were scared of each other.
The officer moved toward Ryan.
"Why don’t you tell us what you mean?""
Ryan smiled.
"You really want the whole story?""
"Yes.""
He looked at me.
"Fine.""
He pointed toward Vanessa.
"She didn’t choose Daniel because he was easy to manipulate.""
Vanessa glared.
"Ryan.""
He continued.
"She chose him because he was connected to the one person who ruined her life.""
I frowned.
"What person?""
Ryan looked at Emma.
"Her.""
I stared.
"Emma?""
Ryan nodded.
"Your wife knew Vanessa years before she disappeared.""
Emma’s face changed.
"That’s not true.""
Ryan laughed.
"Isn’t it?""
I turned to Emma.
"What is he talking about?""
Emma looked away.
And that hurt more than anything.
Because once again, there was a secret.
Another one.
"Emma.""
She whispered:
"I knew her.""
The room felt smaller.
"How?""
Emma swallowed.
"Because Vanessa wasn’t a stranger when I met her.""
I waited.
"She was someone from my past.""
"Who?""
Emma looked at Vanessa.
Then said:
"My sister’s best friend.""
I froze.
"You never told me that.""
"I thought it was over.""
Vanessa smiled sadly.
"That’s what you always thought.""
Emma stepped forward.
"Vanessa, stop.""
"No.""
Her voice became louder.
"You got everything.""
She pointed at Emma.
"You got the perfect husband. The perfect child. The perfect life.""
Then she looked at me.
"And when I finally found a way to take it away...""
She stopped.
Everyone stared.
The officer spoke.
"Finish that sentence.""
Vanessa said nothing.
Then the lights in the room suddenly flickered.
The computer on the desk turned on by itself.
A video file appeared.
No one touched it.
The screen showed a date.
Six years earlier.
The night Emma disappeared.
Emma covered her mouth.
"No.""
I looked at the screen.
A video began playing.
And the first thing we heard was my own voice.
Saying words I had never said.
"Emma has to disappear tonight.""
My blood ran cold.
Because the recording sounded exactly like me.
And then Vanessa appeared on the screen.
Smiling.
"Don’t worry.""
May you like
She whispered.
"I know exactly what to do.""
