Chapter 2: The Woman Victoria Sent
The lobby suddenly felt too small.
Zoe’s fingers curled tighter around mine as the last sentence echoed in my head.
The lady Victoria sent.
I looked at my daughter.
“Zoe,” I said carefully, “what did she look like?””
Zoe sniffed and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.
“She had red hair.””
Victoria took one step backward.
Daniel noticed.
“So you know who that is,” he said.
Victoria’s eyes flashed.
“I know plenty of people with red hair.””
“Not this one,” Zoe said.
Everyone went quiet.
I crouched in front of my daughter.
“Tell me everything.””
Zoe glanced at Victoria first.
Then she leaned closer to me.
“She came to the house this morning.””
“What house?””
“Mommy’s house.””
My heartbeat picked up.
My daughter’s mother and I had been divorced for four years. Zoe normally spent the weekend with her mother, but I had planned to pick her up the following morning.
“What time?”” I asked.
“I don’t know.””
“What did the woman say?””
Zoe twisted the blue ribbon around her fingers.
“She said you wanted me at the wedding.””
I froze.
Victoria’s voice cut through the lobby.
“That isn't true.””
Zoe looked at her.
“You told her to say that.””
Victoria’s mouth fell open.
“I did not.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Marcus.””
I looked at him.
He was holding his phone again.
“I pulled up the security recording.””
Victoria shook her head.
“Daniel, this is not the time.””
“This is exactly the time.””
He turned the phone toward me.
On the screen was a video of the hotel’s side entrance.
A woman in a beige coat stood beside a silver SUV.
She had shoulder-length red hair.
A little girl climbed out of the vehicle.
Zoe.
I recognized her instantly.
The date stamp showed 8:12 a.m.
The woman bent down and spoke to Zoe.
Then she handed Zoe something.
A small white envelope.
My stomach twisted.
“What did she give you?”” I asked.
Zoe dug into the little purse hanging across her dress.
She pulled out the envelope.
I took it.
My name was written across the front.
*Marcus.*
Nothing else.
Victoria lunged for it.
“Don’t open that.””
I stepped away.
“Why?””
“Because I know what it is.””
“How?””
She stopped.
That tiny pause told me more than any confession could have.
Daniel looked at me.
“Open it.””
I tore the envelope.
Inside was a single folded sheet of paper.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
I read the first line.
Then I read it again.
> *She deserves to know what happened the night you were told your daughter was sick.*
My blood ran cold.
I looked at Victoria.
“What is this?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“You said you knew.””
“I said I know what it is, not what it says.””
“That doesn't even make sense.””
“It doesn't matter.””
She reached for the paper.
I pulled it away.
“Don't touch it.””
Several guests had moved closer now.
My mother stood at the edge of the ballroom.
Daniel’s hand was on my shoulder.
Victoria’s father stood behind her, his face stiff and pale.
I unfolded the rest.
There were only three sentences.
The second one made my hands shake.
> *Ask Victoria why she told you Zoe was hospitalized that night.*
My eyes snapped upward.
Victoria whispered, “Marcus, please.””
The third sentence was worse.
> *Then ask where she really was.*
Nobody spoke.
I stared at Victoria.
“What night?””
She swallowed.
“You know what night.””
“No.””
My voice came out colder than I expected.
“I don't.””
Daniel looked confused.
My mother stepped forward.
“Marcus, what is she talking about?””
I didn't answer.
My mind was already moving backward.
Two years earlier.
A rainy Thursday.
Victoria calling me at 11:43 p.m.
Her voice shaking.
Saying Zoe had been taken to the hospital because of a severe allergic reaction.
Saying she was with her mother.
Saying I shouldn't drive because the roads were dangerous.
Saying she would stay on the phone with me.
I remembered pacing around my apartment until sunrise.
I remembered Victoria telling me, “She’s stable.””
I remembered believing her.
I remembered wanting to see Zoe.
And I remembered Victoria saying, “Her mother doesn't want you there.””
I slowly turned toward her.
“You told me Zoe was in the hospital.””
“Yes.””
“Was she?””
Victoria rubbed her hands together.
“Marcus…”
“Was she?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
She said nothing.
Daniel looked from her to me.
“You never told me about this.””
“It happened before we met,” I said.
Victoria shook her head.
“That isn't what this is about.””
“Then tell me what it is about.””
She stepped closer.
“Can we talk somewhere private?””
I laughed once.
It wasn't funny.
“Private?””
I looked around the lobby.
“After you sent security to remove my daughter?””
Her face reddened.
“I panicked.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew something like this would happen.””
“What would happen?””
“This.””
She pointed at Zoe.
Then at the guests.
Then at the note.
“This humiliation.””
I stared at her.
“You think you are being humiliated?””
Her eyes hardened.
“You don't understand what Zoe's mother has been doing.””
“What has she been doing?””
“She’s been filling that child’s head with lies.””
Zoe suddenly spoke.
“Mommy doesn't lie about Daddy.””
Victoria looked down at her.
“Go sit with someone.””
“No.””
“Zoe,” I said gently, “stay beside me.””
Victoria’s expression changed.
For the first time, I saw something I had ignored for months.
Fear.
Not anger.
Not embarrassment.
Fear.
And it wasn't fear of losing the wedding.
It was fear of what I might discover.
I held up the note.
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know.””
“Who brought Zoe?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why were you so frightened when she said your name?””
“I wasn't.””
Daniel gave a short, humorless laugh.
“You absolutely were.””
Victoria turned on him.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
“I know what the cameras show.””
He tapped his phone.
“You called someone at 8:05.””
Victoria went still.
“What?””
“The hotel records show you made a call from the bridal suite.””
She shook her head.
“I was calling my mother.””
Daniel checked the screen.
“No. Different number.””
I looked at Victoria.
“What number?””
Daniel read it.
“Ends in 4721.””
Victoria’s father suddenly spoke.
“That's enough.””
Everyone turned toward him.
He was a large man with a voice that usually ended arguments.
Today, it made mine worse.
I stepped toward him.
“Do you know that number?””
He looked at his daughter.
Victoria whispered, “Dad.””
He didn't answer me.
“Mr. Hale,” I said, “do you know the woman who brought my daughter here?””
His jaw tightened.
“That is not a question you should be asking on your wedding day.””
I stared at him.
“It became my question the moment security put their hands on my daughter.””
He looked away.
That was answer enough.
I turned toward Zoe.
“Baby, where did the red-haired woman go?””
Zoe pointed toward the hotel doors.
“She left.””
“When?””
“After she gave me the envelope.””
“Did she say anything else?””
Zoe nodded.
“She told me something.””
“What?””
“She said I should tell you to look in the blue box.””
My stomach dropped.
“What blue box?””
Zoe pointed toward Victoria.
“The one she keeps in her closet.””
Victoria’s face drained of color.
I watched her closely.
She didn't say a word.
I knew that box.
Or at least I knew of it.
Several months ago, I'd asked Victoria why she kept an old metal storage box locked inside her closet.
She'd laughed and told me it contained childhood photographs and letters from her grandmother.
I hadn't thought about it again.
Until now.
Daniel lowered his phone.
“Marcus, we can leave. We don't have to do this here.””
“No.””
I looked at the ballroom.
The flowers.
The candles.
The giant white cake.
The wedding arch.
Everything Victoria had called our future.
Then I looked at my daughter.
Her little white dress was wrinkled from the struggle with security.
One pearl clip had fallen out of her hair.
She was exhausted.
But she was still holding the wilted bouquet.
“I have one thing to do.””
Victoria's voice became sharp.
“Marcus, don't.””
I turned to her.
“Where is the blue box?””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“Then we'll find out.””
She grabbed my arm.
“Please.””
I looked down at her hand.
Then back into her eyes.
“Let go.””
She did.
My mother came beside me.
“What are you going to do?””
I looked toward the elevators.
“Go to Victoria’s suite.””
Daniel followed.
My daughter stayed pressed against my side.
Victoria didn't move.
She simply stood there beneath the chandelier while everyone watched her.
Then her father quietly said something in her ear.
I couldn't hear the words.
But I heard Victoria answer.
“No. He can't find it.””
I stopped.
Slowly, I turned around.
Victoria realized too late that I had heard her.
“What can't I find?””
Her lips parted.
No answer came.
Daniel’s phone suddenly buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
Then his face changed.
“Marcus.””
“What?””
He handed me the phone.
A new message had arrived from an unknown number.
May you like
There was only one sentence.
*Don't open the blue box unless you're ready to learn why Victoria wanted Zoe gone.*
