Chapter 6
The Sister Who Finally Told the Truth
Simone was already waiting when Rachel and I arrived.
She sat in the back corner of the coffee shop.
Her hands trembled around a paper cup.
She looked nothing like the confident woman I'd seen at family dinners.
Her eyes were swollen.
Her face was pale.
When she saw me, she stood.
"Marcus."
I nodded.
"Simone."
She looked toward Rachel.
"Thank you for coming."
Rachel sat beside me.
"Tell us what you know."
Simone swallowed.
Then began.
"Vanessa knew about Lily's trust before she met you."
My stomach dropped.
I stared at her.
"What?"
She nodded.
"My father told her."
I felt sick.
Simone continued.
"After Amara died, Dad tried to buy the shares from the estate."
I looked at Rachel.
She nodded.
"That's consistent with our records."
Simone wiped her cheeks.
"When the lawyers refused, he became furious."
I swallowed.
"Then what?"
"He said there had to be another way."
My chest tightened.
Simone looked at me.
"Vanessa volunteered."
I froze.
"Volunteered?"
She nodded.
"She said she could get close to you."
My throat tightened.
I thought about our first date.
The restaurant.
The flowers.
Her stories about wanting children.
Her gentle voice when she asked about Amara.
Every memory suddenly felt poisoned.
I looked away.
Simone continued.
"She told Dad that a lonely widower would be easy to influence."
I felt tears rising.
Rachel placed a hand on my arm.
I took a breath.
"Keep going."
Simone swallowed.
"At first, Dad wanted Vanessa to convince you to sell Lily's shares."
I nodded slowly.
"But I refused."
"Yes."
She looked down.
"Then they started discussing guardianship."
My stomach twisted.
"Why?"
"Because Vanessa believed becoming Lily's legal parent or guardian would give her more influence."
Rachel leaned forward.
"That wouldn't automatically give her control of the trust."
Simone nodded.
"I know that now."
She wiped her face.
"But Dad thought he could pressure the trustees through litigation."
I stared at her.
"So they planned to take Lily."
Simone began crying.
"Yes."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then I asked, "Why did Vanessa lock her in that room?"
Simone covered her mouth.
"Because Lily wouldn't stop asking for you."
I felt my heart break.
"She was two years old."
Simone nodded.
"I know."
Her voice trembled.
"Vanessa wanted the family photographs without Lily."
I stared.
"Why?"
"Because she wanted the announcement to look like you were starting a new family."
My chest tightened.
I remembered the invitation.
CARTER FAMILY LEGACY CELEBRATION.
Vanessa had insisted I wear a black tuxedo.
She'd arranged professional photographs.
She'd even asked me to prepare a speech about our future.
I had thought it was a celebration.
Now I realized she planned to use the evening to announce something else.
Simone opened her purse.
She removed a folded program.
Then slid it across the table.
I stared at the cover.
THE FUTURE OF THE CARTER LEGACY.
Inside was a schedule.
Dinner.
Speeches.
Foundation announcement.
Then a final item.
MARCUS AND VANESSA WILLIAMS — FAMILY EXPANSION PRESENTATION.
I frowned.
"What is this?"
Simone looked ashamed.
"Vanessa planned to announce that you'd agreed to adopt a child together."
My heart stopped.
"Adopt?"
She nodded.
"And that Lily would be raised separately by a private caregiver."
I stared.
"Separately?"
Simone began crying.
"She wanted everyone to believe it was your choice."
I felt physically sick.
My daughter.
The little girl who reached for me every morning.
Who slept with her rabbit.
Who called me whenever she heard thunder.
Vanessa wanted to move her away from me.
And present it as a family decision.
Rachel's voice became firm.
"Do you have evidence?"
Simone nodded.
She removed a flash drive.
"My father keeps copies of his presentations."
I watched her place it on the table.
"I saved this before he deleted it."
Rachel looked at me.
Then at Simone.
"Why are you helping us?"
Simone began sobbing.
"Because I heard Lily crying."
My stomach tightened.
She continued.
"I was walking toward the ballroom when I heard her."
Her voice broke.
"I went down the service hallway."
I leaned forward.
"And?"
"I saw Vanessa locking the door."
My chest tightened.
"Did you stop her?"
Simone covered her face.
"No."
The word nearly destroyed me.
I stared at her.
"Why?"
She shook her head.
"Because I was afraid of my father."
I looked away.
Anger surged through me.
Simone continued.
"He controls my business."
She swallowed.
"He threatened to ruin me if I interfered."
I stared at her.
"And Lily?"
Her eyes filled.
"I called security anonymously."
I froze.
"You sent the message?"
She nodded.
"I told them where she was."
My breath caught.
Teresa had heard the crying.
But Simone's call had helped direct security to the hallway.
I didn't know what to feel.
Anger.
Relief.
Disgust.
Gratitude.
All at once.
Simone reached toward me.
"Marcus, I'm sorry."
I pulled away.
"You should have stopped her."
She nodded.
"I know."
I stared at her.
"My daughter was alone in a dark room."
Simone began crying harder.
"I know."
I took a breath.
Then said quietly, "If you want to make this right, tell the police everything."
She nodded immediately.
"I will."
Rachel secured the flash drive.
Then Simone handed me one final document.
It was a copy of an agreement.
Leonard had promised Vanessa a substantial payment after gaining control of Lily's shares.
I read the amount.
Three million dollars.
My hands began shaking.
Vanessa had been promised three million dollars to betray my daughter.
I looked up.
Simone's eyes were filled with tears.
Then she whispered something that made my stomach turn.
"There's one more thing."
I stared.
"What?"
She looked toward the window.
"My father has been planning to leave the country."
My heart pounded.
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Rachel immediately reached for her phone.
But Simone wasn't finished.
"And Vanessa knows he's leaving."
I swallowed.
"Where is she?"
Simone looked terrified.
"At your house."
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Because Lily was there with Grandma.
And the woman who had already locked my daughter in a dark room was trying to get back inside.
