Chapter 6 - Vanessa’s VersionDaniel did not meet Vanessa alone.
Maya insisted.
Instead, police placed officers inside a quiet restaurant while Daniel sat across from his wife in a back booth.
Vanessa looked beautiful.
Daniel hated himself for noticing.
She wore no jewelry except her wedding ring.
“I know about Marcus,” he said.
Her eyes closed.
“I figured.”
“I know about the money.”
“Daniel—”
“I know you kissed him.”
She looked down.
That hurt more than he expected.
“Was Kate taken because she caught you stealing?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”
“Then tell me how it was supposed to happen.”
“I wanted time.”
“For what?”
“To fix things.”
“You built a room.”
“I didn’t build it for Kate.”
“Owen says you ordered it.”
“As secure storage.”
“Then why was my daughter chained inside it?”
Vanessa flinched.
“I never put that chain on her.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Do not make me listen to half-truths.”
She folded her hands.
“My father lost everything because of your family.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“Twenty-one years ago, Mercer Residential acquired a development site in Maryland. My father was one of the minority partners.”
Daniel vaguely knew the project.
Vanessa continued.
“Your father forced smaller partners out when financing collapsed. My father lost his company, our house, everything.”
“Then why marry me?”
“At first?”
Her answer took too long.
Daniel felt something inside him break.
“At first, I wanted access.”
She wiped her eyes.
“Marcus found me before I ever met you. He knew who my father was. He convinced me the Mercer family had stolen millions.”
“And the affair?”
“That started later.”
Daniel looked away.
“So our marriage was a con.”
“No.”
“You just said—”
“I said it began as one.”
She reached for his hand.
He pulled back.
“I fell in love with you.”
“Stop.”
“I did.”
“You stole from my company.”
“Marcus stole from the company.”
“With your help.”
“Yes.”
“Kate discovered it.”
Vanessa covered her face briefly.
“She saw us in your office.”
“And you locked her up.”
“No.”
Daniel stood.
Vanessa grabbed his sleeve.
“I took her to that room because she was screaming that she would call you. I panicked. I told her to stay there while I figured out what to do.”
“You imprisoned a nine-year-old child.”
“For hours.”
“Twenty-three days.”
Her face changed.
“I didn’t know.”
Daniel stopped.
“What?”
“I came back that night. Marcus was there.”
She looked terrified now.
“He said Kate knew too much. He had already called someone.”
“The man with the scar?”
Vanessa nodded.
“His name is Grant Mercer.”
Daniel stared.
“Mercer?”
“No relation. It’s an alias. Marcus called him Grant.”
“Where did they take Kate?”
“I begged Marcus not to hurt her.”
“That is not an answer.”
“He told me she would be safe if I kept you under control.”
Daniel leaned across the table.
“WHERE?”
Heads turned in the restaurant.
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“The lake house.”
Police officers outside the booth shifted.
Daniel felt sick.
“You knew?”
“For the first few weeks.”
“And you watched me search?”
“If I told you, Marcus said he would move her somewhere no one would ever find.”
Daniel could barely remain seated.
“You let me believe she might be dead.”
“I thought I was keeping her alive.”
“You were keeping yourself out of prison.”
Vanessa began crying.
“Both things can be true.”
Daniel looked at the woman he had slept beside every night.
He realized that was the most honest thing she had said.
Maya approached.
“We’re done.”
Vanessa saw her and understood immediately.
“You recorded me.”
Daniel stood.
“No.”
He looked at his wife.
“You recorded yourself.”
Two officers stepped forward.
Vanessa rose slowly.
Maya read her rights.
Before they led her away, Vanessa turned toward Daniel.
“The lake house won’t be enough.”
He stopped.
“What does that mean?”
“Marcus never trusted me.”
“What does that mean?”
She looked genuinely terrified.
“He built a second plan.”
Maya moved closer.
“What plan?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“If the wall was ever found, he was going to make Daniel look responsible.”
Daniel stared.
May you like
Vanessa’s next words chilled him.
“He has been collecting evidence against you for months.”
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