Chapter 7 - THE SECRET IN THE DRIVE
The drive contained thousands of files.
Bank statements.
Emails.
Contracts.
Photographs.
Recordings.
Ethan sat in a private conference room with Vanessa, Marcus, Daniel, and federal investigators.
One folder was labeled with his father's name.
Another contained photographs of Ethan's mother.
Vanessa opened it.
She immediately covered her mouth.
“What is it?”
Ethan looked at the screen.
His mother had been meeting Marcus.
Three months before her death.
“She knew,” Marcus said.
“Knew what?”
“The money.”
Ethan stared at him.
“My father killed her?”
“No.”
Marcus shook his head.
“He didn't kill her.”
Ethan looked relieved for half a second.
Then Marcus continued.
“He let her die.”
The room became silent.
His mother had discovered the financial network.
She had planned to expose it.
Ethan's father stopped her.
He didn't order her murder.
He simply refused to get her medical help when she became seriously ill.
The evidence was horrifying.
Ethan leaned back.
“My entire childhood was a lie.”
Vanessa took his hand.
He didn't pull away.
For the first time, he understood that she had never been his enemy.
She had been carrying the truth alone.
Then another file opened.
Rebecca's name appeared.
There were payments to her.
Millions of dollars.
Ethan stared.
“She was paid to get close to me.”
Marcus nodded.
“She was supposed to become your wife.”
Vanessa looked at Ethan.
“But she became obsessed with you.”
“And she wanted me to hate Vanessa.”
“Yes.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
A detective entered.
“We found Rebecca's attorney.”
“Where?”
“He surrendered.”
“What did he say?”
The detective placed a document on the table.
“Rebecca has been planning this for six months.”
Ethan frowned.
“Planning what?”
The detective pointed to the final page.
A custody agreement.
Rebecca intended to have Vanessa arrested for assault.
She wanted Ethan to testify against his wife.
Then she planned to take Lily.
Ethan's hands tightened.
“She was going to destroy Vanessa.”
“And take your daughter.”
Ethan looked toward Vanessa.
“I almost helped her do it.”
Vanessa squeezed his hand.
“But you didn't.”
He looked at her.
“Because you survived.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
May you like
She glanced toward Lily sleeping in the next room.
“Because she did.”
