Chapter 6 - The Night Vanessa Left the MansionDaniel found Emma in the nursery.
She sat on the carpet with Helen, holding her stuffed rabbit.
Vanessa stood near the window.
"There you are," she said. "She's been asking for you."
Daniel looked at his daughter.
Then at Vanessa.
His wife smiled.
He wondered how many times that smile had convinced him not to ask another question.
"Emma is coming downstairs with me."
Vanessa frowned.
"Why?"
"Rebecca is here."
"What does your corporate attorney have to do with Emma?"
"She's helping me coordinate legal counsel."
Vanessa's face changed.
"For what?"
Daniel bent and lifted Emma.
The little girl wrapped her arms around him.
"Daddy."
"I'm here."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Daniel, what happened downstairs?"
He looked at her.
"I saw the video."
The color left her face.
Emma felt the tension and tightened her arms.
Daniel shifted her protectively.
Vanessa spoke first.
"It doesn't show what you think."
"It shows your hand on Emma."
"I tried to catch her."
"It shows the direction of your arm."
"You can't determine intent from a camera angle."
"It shows you sitting while she struggled."
"I froze."
"You laughed."
Vanessa's eyes sharpened.
"There's no audio."
"I watched your body."
"Now you're a psychologist?"
Daniel almost shouted.
Emma flinched.
He immediately lowered his voice.
"Not in front of her."
Vanessa looked toward Rebecca standing in the doorway.
"This is a family matter."
Rebecca replied, "I'm here because Daniel requested legal assistance."
Vanessa turned back to her husband.
"You brought a lawyer into our bedroom?"
"We're not in our bedroom."
"You know what I mean."
Daniel looked at Emma.
"Helen, please take her downstairs."
Vanessa moved.
"No."
Daniel stepped back.
"You are not stopping her."
Vanessa's expression twisted.
"I'm her mother."
"And I'm her father."
Rebecca intervened.
"Nobody should physically escalate this."
Helen approached.
Emma reached toward her.
Daniel handed the child over.
"Take her to the guest suite near the staff rooms."
Vanessa stared.
"Why there?"
"Because you won't be with her alone tonight."
Vanessa laughed in disbelief.
"You're removing my daughter because of one confusing video?"
Daniel's voice became quiet.
"You checked the pool camera the night before."
Vanessa froze.
"You searched for the blind angle."
She did not answer.
Daniel continued.
"You told Thomas I approved Bellmont's access to our security system."
Vanessa looked toward Rebecca.
"This is insane."
"Did I approve it?"
Vanessa turned away.
"Adrian was reviewing our insurance."
"Did I approve it?"
"I don't remember."
Daniel stepped closer.
"You remember everything when it helps you."
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Fine. I may have told Thomas you were aware."
"You forged my corporate authorization too?"
She spun around.
"What?"
"The $1.8 million Bellmont transfer."
Vanessa stared.
Daniel saw recognition.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
"That's a company matter."
"Answer."
"I don't understand the accounting details."
"But you understand Adrian."
Her face tightened.
"He's a consultant."
"How long have you been using my credentials?"
"I haven't."
Daniel shook his head.
"I want you to leave the mansion tonight."
Vanessa laughed.
"This is my home."
"You can stay elsewhere until counsel determines what happens."
"You cannot throw me out."
Rebecca spoke calmly.
"Daniel cannot unilaterally resolve marital property rights tonight, but given the child-safety concerns, voluntary physical separation would reduce immediate conflict. Your attorney should be contacted."
Vanessa stared at her.
"I don't need legal advice from you."
"Then call your own lawyer."
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
"You really believe Sofia over me."
"No."
The answer surprised her.
Daniel continued.
"I believe the video."
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"Daniel."
He did not move.
She changed tactics.
"I was angry."
He stared.
"At a two-year-old?"
"At everything."
Her voice cracked.
"She wouldn't stop following me. She wouldn't listen. Every time Sofia entered a room, Emma looked at her like—"
Vanessa stopped.
Daniel's expression became horrified.
"Like what?"
Vanessa looked away.
"Like she was her mother."
"She's two years old."
"I know!"
The shout echoed.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Daniel whispered, "You were jealous of our daughter loving someone."
"No."
"Then what?"
Vanessa's tears finally fell.
"I was tired of being made to feel unnecessary."
Daniel stared at her.
"Emma needed you in that pool."
Vanessa had no answer.
Her attorney, Claire Donnelly, arrived an hour later.
After speaking privately with Vanessa, Claire recommended Vanessa stay at a hotel temporarily while emergency family-law issues were addressed.
Vanessa packed two suitcases.
As she walked downstairs, Sofia was standing near the kitchen.
Their eyes met.
Vanessa stopped.
For a second Sofia expected anger.
Instead Vanessa looked frightened.
Not remorseful.
Frightened.
"You've won," Vanessa said.
Sofia shook her head.
"This isn't a competition."
"You wanted her to choose you."
"I wanted her alive."
Vanessa's face hardened.
"Don't pretend you're better than me."
Sofia looked at her.
"I don't need to."
Daniel heard the exchange from the hallway.
He said nothing.
Vanessa left shortly before midnight.
Emma slept in the downstairs guest suite with Helen nearby.
Daniel sat in the corridor outside her door.
Sofia passed carrying clean blankets.
He looked up.
"Is she asleep?"
"Finally."
Daniel nodded.
"Sofia."
She stopped.
"I saw everything."
Her expression changed.
"The camera?"
He nodded.
She took a breath.
"Then Emma told the truth."
"Yes."
"And Vanessa laughed."
"Yes."
Sofia closed her eyes.
Daniel stood.
"I don't know how to apologize for what I did."
"Then don't try to make one apology carry everything."
He looked at her.
"What should I do?"
"Start with Emma."
Sofia continued down the hall.
Daniel remained there.
At the hotel, Vanessa opened her laptop.
She found an encrypted message from Adrian.
We need to meet before investigators connect the company records to the security logs.
Vanessa stared.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
And bring the original trust restructuring documents. If Daniel gets them first, we're both finished.
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