Chapter 7 - THE REAL REASON VANESSA HURT EMMA
"You wanted to take everything from me," I said slowly, staring at Marcus. "But why hurt Emma? What did a baby have to do with any of this?"
Marcus glanced at Vanessa. Vanessa flinched as though struck.
"That was… an unfortunate misunderstanding," Marcus said.
"No," Vanessa said suddenly. She stepped forward, her head raised, her eyes bright with defiance. "It was never part of the plan. I told you I couldn't do it. I told you drawing attention to the children was dangerous."
"Explain," I said. My voice was low and rough.
Marcus let out an impatient breath. "I told Vanessa that if she could make it appear you were an unfit father—if there were questions about the safety of this house—authorities might grant me temporary guardianship. Guardianship of your daughters. Guardianship of the estate until the truth could be proven in court."
My blood ran cold.
"You wanted to take my girls," I whispered.
"I wanted leverage," Marcus corrected. "And what better leverage than the children? But Vanessa hesitated. She refused to do what was necessary. So I gave her a push. I told her to frighten the baby just enough to raise alarms. Just enough to bring the authorities running."
He turned a cruel look toward Vanessa. "And she botched even that."
I stared at Vanessa in horror. "He told you to hurt Emma? On purpose?"
Vanessa looked at me, tears spilling freely now. "Only to startle her! Only to make it look like an accident! I was supposed to catch her. I swear it, Adrian. I was supposed to catch her before she hit the floor. But I missed. My hands were shaking. I was terrified. I let her fall."
"And then you blamed Clara," I said, stepping back from her, feeling sick to my stomach.
"I panicked!" Vanessa cried. "Everything went wrong so fast. Olivia had the camera. I knew Marcus would be furious. And he was. He told me tonight that if I hadn't found a way to turn things around… he would have turned me over to the police himself and claimed I had done it all alone."
Marcus folded his arms. "She failed the mission. She became weak. And now she is telling you everything. Just as I knew she would eventually."
Something in his tone made me pause. I looked from Vanessa's tear-streaked face to Marcus's calm, unruffled expression.
"You wanted her to tell me," I realized. "You wanted me to know."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"Because now you understand," he said. "Now you know exactly what I am capable of. And you know that until I have everything I want, I will not hesitate to use Vanessa. Or anyone else. Even your precious little girls."
He took a step toward the stairs.
"You have a choice, Adrian. Confess what you did to Elena. Sign over the estate to me. And I will leave your daughters unharmed. Refuse… and I will tear your life apart piece by piece. Starting with Emma. Then Olivia. And Vanessa? Vanessa will do exactly as I tell her. Because she knows what happens to those who disappoint me."
Vanessa looked at me, her eyes wide and desperate. She mouthed two words, so quietly I almost missed them.
*Don't sign.*
Marcus caught the movement. He turned and slapped her hard across the face.
May you like
The sound cracked through the room. Vanessa staggered back, clutching her cheek.
"Remember your place," Marcus said coldly. "Or do you want to fall down the stairs too, just like Elena?"
