Chapter 9: The Truth About My Wife
I read Rebecca's statement twice before I could bring myself to look at Robert.
The document was short, but every paragraph seemed to rewrite a piece of my life.
According to Rebecca, Vanessa had met Patricia Weller years before our marriage. Patricia had been involved in several property transactions connected to Vanessa's father, a businessman who died with substantial debts and unresolved legal disputes.
Vanessa believed her father had been cheated out of money that should have belonged to him.
She believed the original trust contained evidence of what had happened.
And she believed I was the only person who could authorize access to certain records connected to my mother's estate.
I sat in Robert's office, staring at the statement.
“So she married me to get the documents?””
“That's Rebecca's claim,” Robert replied.
“We need corroboration.””
“But she knew about the trust before we met.””
“Apparently.””
“She knew about my mother's estate.””
“Yes.””
“And she knew I had a daughter whose future depended on it.””
Robert closed the folder.
“Daniel, I understand how this looks. But we need to distinguish between what Rebecca believes and what the evidence establishes.””
I stood and walked to the window.
For years, I'd replayed the beginning of my relationship with Vanessa in my mind.
She'd been attentive, patient, and warm.
She'd listened when I talked about Claire.
She'd brought Maya books and little gifts.
She'd told me she admired the way I raised my daughter.
I had believed her.
When she first suggested marriage, she'd said she wanted to build a home where all three children could grow up together.
I'd thought I'd found someone who understood the importance of family.
Now I wondered whether she'd been studying my life long before she ever fell in love with me.
“Can we prove she knew about the trust before our wedding?””
“We have the visitor log, the correspondence, and Rebecca's statement. We also have the original trust and the disputed amendments. Together, those records give us grounds to investigate further.””
“What about Patricia?””
“She's our priority.””
I turned back.
“What about the money?””
Robert opened another folder.
“We traced the payment referenced in the transaction documents. It went through a company connected to Westbridge Holdings, then into an account associated with a consulting firm. That firm appears to have paid several expenses on Vanessa's behalf.””
I stared at him.
“What expenses?””
“Legal fees, property assessments, and payments to a private records service.””
“Private records?””
“Property records, corporate filings, and background reports.””
I felt a cold weight settle in my stomach.
“She was investigating me.””
“Possibly. We need the underlying records to establish exactly what was requested.””
Robert handed me a printed invoice.
The service had been engaged to locate historical documents relating to my mother, Claire, and the estate.
The invoice was dated nine months before Vanessa and I married.
I sat down slowly.
Nine months.
Before our wedding.
Before she'd promised to love Maya.
Before she'd moved into my home.
Before she'd told me she wanted to build a future together.
“Robert,” I said, “I need to know whether she ever loved me.””
He looked at me for a long moment.
“I can't answer that.””
I nodded.
I hadn't expected him to.
But I needed to ask the question aloud, because it was the one that hurt more than all the others.
Not whether Vanessa had lied.
Not whether she'd forged my signature.
Whether any part of our marriage had been real.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Vanessa.
I know you've found the original trust. Please meet me tonight. There are things I need to explain.
I showed Robert.
He shook his head.
“Don't meet her alone.””
“I won't.””
I replied that any conversation would take place in his office.
Her answer came almost immediately.
Then you will never know what happened to Claire.
I stared at the screen.
Robert read it.
“That's a threat.””
“Or a confession.””
“Either way, we preserve it.””
I forwarded the message.
Then I called Vanessa.
She answered on the first ring.
“Daniel.””
“What happened to Claire?””
Silence.
Then she whispered, “I didn't hurt her.””
“Why would you say that unless you knew something?””
“Because I know what Patricia did.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What did Patricia do?””
May you like
“Not over the phone.””
“You don't
