Chapter 3: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The photograph on my phone was impossible.
That was the only thought my mind could form.
Impossible.
Because the woman staring back at me from the screen was Emma.
My Emma.
Not a memory.
Not a dream.
Not a picture from five years ago.
A new photograph.
Taken outside my home.
Her hair was longer than I remembered. Her face looked thinner. There were lines around her eyes that had not been there before.
But it was her.
The woman I had buried.
The woman I had cried over.
The woman I had spent five years trying to forget because remembering hurt too much.
Alive.
My hands went numb.
“Damon?””
James’ voice sounded far away.
I couldn’t answer.
I stared at the message again.
*You were never supposed to find her.*
The words felt like a threat.
Not a warning.
A threat.
I looked toward the front windows of the mansion.
The curtains moved slightly.
For one terrifying second, I thought I saw a shadow outside.
“Lock the doors,” I said.
Nobody moved.
My voice became louder.
“Lock every door.””
That finally broke the spell.
The security staff rushed into action.
The guests began whispering.
Some were leaving.
Others were asking questions I couldn’t answer.
Victoria stood frozen near the dining table.
Lily held her stuffed rabbit tightly.
And I realized something that made my stomach twist.
Someone had been watching us.
Someone had known Lily would walk into this room.
Someone had known I would see that ring.
Someone had known tonight was the night the truth would come out.
I turned to Victoria.
“You knew.””
Her eyes lifted.
“Damon…”
“You knew Emma was alive.””
“No.””
Her answer came too quickly.
I stepped closer.
“Then why did you say someone tried to kill her?””
Victoria looked away.
Because she knew.
She had said too much.
“Answer me.””
She swallowed.
“I didn’t know everything.””
“That’s not an answer.””
Her hands trembled.
“I knew something happened the night Emma disappeared.””
The room went silent.
Disappeared.
Not died.
Disappeared.
I felt anger rising through the shock.
“For five years, everyone told me my wife died.””
Victoria closed her eyes.
“I know.””
“And you’re standing here telling me you knew there was another possibility?””
“I was trying to find out.””
I laughed quietly.
There was no humor in it.
“You were trying to find out?””
“Yes.””
“While you were dating me?””
Her silence hurt more than any confession.
Because it meant yes.
While I was grieving.
While I was rebuilding my life.
While I was trusting her.
She had been searching for answers I didn’t even know existed.
“Why?””
Victoria looked at Lily.
Then at me.
“Because I was there.””
My entire body went still.
“What?””
“The night Emma disappeared.””
The words landed like a weapon.
I stared at her.
“You told me you weren’t.””
“I lied.””
The honesty shocked me.
Not because it helped.
Because it proved how much she had hidden.
“Why were you there?””
Victoria’s face became pale.
“Because Emma called me.””
My heart stopped.
“Emma called you?””
“Yes.””
“Why would she call you?””
Victoria looked down.
“Because she thought I could help her.””
I shook my head slowly.
“No.””
The memories came rushing back.
Emma and Victoria had met only a few times.
They were never friends.
At least, I never thought they were.
“Emma didn’t trust you.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because she was desperate.””
The room disappeared around me.
All I could hear was Victoria’s voice.
“She called me three hours before the accident was reported.””
My breathing became uneven.
“What did she say?””
Victoria hesitated.
“She said someone was following her.””
The same words Lily had used.
Bad people.
Someone looking for them.
I looked at the little girl.
Lily was watching me quietly.
Like she understood more than anyone else in the room.
“What happened after she called you?””
Victoria looked terrified.
“She came to my apartment.””
“And?””
“She wasn’t alone.””
My heart pounded.
“Who was with her?””
Victoria’s lips parted.
But before she could answer, the lights suddenly came back on.
Everyone jumped.
The security alarm began flashing.
One of the guards hurried into the room.
“Mr. Whitmore.””
I turned.
“What happened?””
“Someone was near the east gate.””
“Did you catch them?””
The guard shook his head.
“No.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
“What did they leave?””
The guard hesitated.
Then handed me a small envelope.
I looked at it.
No name.
No address.
Just my initials.
D.W.
I opened it slowly.
Inside was a photograph.
Another photograph.
My fingers tightened around the edges.
This time, it wasn’t Emma.
It was Lily.
Taken earlier that day.
Walking toward the mansion.
Someone had been following my daughter.
My daughter.
I looked at the date printed on the bottom.
Today.
My blood ran cold.
“They knew she was coming.””
Nobody spoke.
Then another sound came from behind me.
A small voice.
“Daddy?””
I turned.
Lily was standing there.
Her eyes were fixed on the photograph in my hand.
“That man was there.””
My body stiffened.
“What man?””
She pointed at the picture.
At the blurry figure in the background.
A man wearing a dark coat.
Watching Lily.
“He followed Mommy too.””
I crouched down.
“Lily, sweetheart, look at me.””
She did.
“Who is he?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know his name.””
“Have you seen him before?””
She nodded slowly.
“Lots of times.””
The room became colder.
“Where?””
“Outside our houses.””
My heart broke.
“How long?””
Lily counted quietly on her fingers.
“Since before Mommy got hurt.””
Before Mommy got hurt.
Not before she died.
Before she got hurt.
I looked at Victoria.
She looked away.
Because she knew.
She knew Lily was telling the truth.
I stood up.
“Where is Emma?””
Victoria’s face changed.
“I don’t know.””
“You said you were trying to find her.””
“I was.””
“Then where is she?””
“I lost contact.””
“When?””
Victoria hesitated.
“Two days ago.””
Two days.
My mind raced.
Emma was alive.
Somewhere.
And someone was hunting her.
I grabbed my jacket.
“I’m going to find her.””
Victoria stepped in front of me.
“No.””
I stopped.
“No?””
“You can’t just go looking for her.””
“She’s my wife.””
“Exactly.””
Her voice cracked.
“Which means they will use you to get to her.””
I stared at her.
“Who?””
Victoria looked around the room.
At the cameras.
At the security guards.
At all the people who had just witnessed the impossible.
Then she lowered her voice.
“The people who made everyone believe Emma was dead.””
My jaw tightened.
“Who are they?””
Victoria didn’t answer.
Instead, she walked toward the fireplace.
She reached behind a decorative painting.
And pulled out a small black box.
I watched her carefully.
“What is that?””
“Something Emma gave me.””
My heart stopped.
Victoria opened the box.
Inside was a flash drive.
And a handwritten note.
My name was written on it.
Damon.
I took the note.
The handwriting was Emma’s.
My hands shook as I read the words.
*If Victoria gives this to you, it means she finally chose the truth over fear.*
I looked up.
Victoria was crying silently.
The note continued.
*Damon, I am sorry for letting you believe I was gone. I wanted to come back. Every day, I wanted to come back. But if you are reading this, it means they know where Lily is.*
My eyes moved to my daughter.
The room blurred.
Then I read the final line.
*The person you trust most is the reason I disappeared.*
I slowly lowered the paper.
Everyone watched me.
Victoria looked terrified.
Because she knew what I was about to ask.
“Who?””
My voice barely came out.
“Who is the person I trusted?””
Victoria’s face turned completely white.
And then she whispered a name.
A name I never expected.
May you like
A name that made me realize the betrayal went far deeper than I imagined.
“Your father.””
