Chapter 5 - Before Vanessa Became My Wife
I met Vanessa at a fundraiser fourteen months after Caroline died.
At least, that was what I believed.
She bumped into me near the bar.
We talked.
Then again a week later.
Then dinner.
It felt accidental.
Natural.
Now the file said otherwise.
Vanessa had hired a private investigator while Caroline was still alive.
The assignment:
**Locate estate documents connected to Carter family trusts.**
I felt sick.
Emma whispered:
“She targeted you.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
I held up the file.
“You paid someone to investigate my wife before she died.”
“It wasn't like that.”
“Then what was it like?”
Vanessa looked toward Sophie.
“Not in front of her.”
That was the first reasonable thing she had said.
I asked Emma to take the girls downstairs.
Sophie resisted.
“I want to stay.”
I crouched.
“You already did the brave part.”
She looked toward Vanessa.
Then handed me the phone.
“Don't let her take it.”
“I won't.”
When the children were gone, I closed the door.
“Talk.”
Vanessa sat.
For the first time, she looked tired instead of calculating.
She said she had known Caroline.
Not well.
Their fathers had once done business together.
Caroline’s father, Arthur, had invested in a company owned by Vanessa’s family.
The deal collapsed.
Vanessa’s father lost nearly everything.
Caroline’s family recovered most of its investment.
Vanessa grew up believing the Carters had ruined hers.
“That has nothing to do with Lily.”
Vanessa stared at the floor.
“My father died owing money.”
“So?”
“He always said Arthur Carter stole the company.”
I knew Arthur.
He wasn't perfect.
But family resentment wasn't evidence.
Then Vanessa admitted she hired the investigator to find proof.
She wanted documents showing Caroline’s family had acted illegally.
Instead, the investigator found trust information.
Caroline had inherited assets worth millions.
Vanessa became obsessed.
Then Caroline got sick.
I stood.
“Stop.”
Vanessa looked up.
“What?”
“You’re about to tell me you just happened to meet me after she died.”
Silence.
“Did you arrange it?”
She looked away.
That was enough.
My entire second marriage had started as surveillance.
But I still didn't understand why pushing Lily down the stairs helped her.
Then I remembered the draft custody petition.
If Vanessa could prove Emma was negligent...
If Sophie was unstable...
If I was incapable of protecting the children...
Vanessa could position herself as the only safe adult.
And gain control.
Not necessarily of the trust directly.
But of decisions around the girls.
Then I found one more page inside the investigator’s file.
A handwritten note from Vanessa.
**Need access before Sophie turns seven.**
Sophie was six.
May you like
Her birthday was in three months.
Why seven?
