Chapter 3
Dad came back to the pavilion carrying the photographer's memory card in a small plastic case.
His face looked different.
Not angry anymore.
Worse.
Hurt.
I stood immediately.
"Dad?"
He looked at me.
Then at Noah.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Grandma touched his shoulder.
"Marcus?"
He swallowed.
"I need to talk to Vanessa privately."
My stomach tightened.
"Am I in trouble?"
His expression changed instantly.
"No, sweetheart."
He crouched beside me.
"You did absolutely nothing wrong."
I looked at the memory card.
"What's on that?"
Dad hesitated.
Then answered carefully.
"Something I need to understand."
I nodded.
But I could tell he wasn't telling me everything.
He looked toward Grandma.
"Would you take the children home?"
She nodded.
"Of course."
Noah grabbed my hand.
"Can Maya ride with us?"
Dad gave him a sad smile.
"Absolutely."
I looked toward the garden.
Vanessa was still standing near the champagne table.
Her arms were folded.
She was staring at us.
I felt sick.
"Dad, is Vanessa coming?"
He looked toward her.
"Not right now."
I didn't know what that meant.
But I was too exhausted to ask.
Grandma led us toward her car.
As we walked past the white chairs, several guests looked away awkwardly.
I heard whispers.
I saw people pretending not to stare.
Then a woman approached us.
It was Aunt Renee, Dad's older sister.
She looked furious.
"Maya, sweetheart, are you okay?"
I nodded.
She looked at my arm.
Her expression changed.
"What's that?"
I glanced down.
Four red marks were visible where Vanessa had grabbed me.
I quickly pulled my sleeve lower.
"Nothing."
Aunt Renee crouched.
"Maya."
My throat tightened.
"She grabbed me."
Aunt Renee looked toward Grandma.
Then toward the garden.
Her jaw tightened.
"Did your father see?"
Grandma nodded.
"He knows."
Aunt Renee took a breath.
"Good."
Then she hugged me.
I held on tightly.
For months, I'd felt like I was the only person who noticed how Vanessa treated me.
Now people were finally seeing it.
But I still didn't know whether that would change anything.
At home, Grandma made hot chocolate.
She brought blankets into the family room.
Noah wanted to watch a movie.
I agreed.
But I couldn't concentrate.
My thoughts kept returning to the memory card.
What had Dad seen?
Why had Vanessa looked so frightened?
And what was happening with the boarding school?
I sat beside Noah while he watched cartoons.
After a while, he looked up.
"Maya?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I tell you something?"
I nodded.
He hesitated.
Then whispered, "Mommy told me to practice smiling for the picture."
I frowned.
"What picture?"
"The family picture."
My stomach tightened.
He continued.
"She said it had to be just me and Daddy."
I felt cold.
"Did she tell you why?"
Noah nodded.
"She said it was going to be on a special website."
I stared at him.
"What website?"
He shrugged.
"Something about our family."
I swallowed.
"Did she say anything else?"
He looked toward Grandma.
Then whispered, "She said people needed to see Daddy had a new family."
My heart broke.
A new family.
As though I belonged to the old one.
As though I could simply be replaced.
I felt tears slipping down my cheeks.
Noah looked frightened.
"Maya, don't cry."
I wiped my face.
"I'm okay."
He shook his head.
"I don't want a new family."
I hugged him.
"Neither do I."
Grandma had been listening from the doorway.
She stepped into the room.
Her expression was troubled.
"Maya, sweetheart, I think we should tell your father what Noah said."
I nodded.
She called Dad.
He answered immediately.
Grandma explained.
For a moment, she was silent.
Then her expression darkened.
"Marcus, what website?"
My stomach tightened.
She listened.
Then looked at me.
Her eyes filled with concern.
"Are you sure?"
Another pause.
Then she whispered, "Dear God."
I stood.
"Grandma?"
She ended the call.
Her hands were shaking.
I looked at her.
"What happened?"
She sat beside me.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she spoke carefully.
"Your father has discovered that Vanessa was preparing a public announcement."
I frowned.
"About what?"
Grandma swallowed.
"About a new charitable foundation."
I stared.
"Okay?"
She looked down.
"Vanessa wanted the photograph to show your father and Noah as the foundation's family representatives."
My chest tightened.
"And me?"
Grandma's eyes filled.
"She had asked that you not be included."
I looked away.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I whispered, "Why?"
Grandma shook her head.
"That's what your father is trying to understand."
But I already knew.
Vanessa wanted everyone to see Dad and Noah as the family.
And me as someone who no longer belonged.
That evening, Dad returned home.
He looked exhausted.
Vanessa wasn't with him.
He found me sitting near the staircase.
I stood.
"Dad?"
He stopped.
Then opened his arms.
I ran toward him.
He held me tightly.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered, "I'm sorry."
My throat tightened.
"For what?"
His voice broke.
"For letting you feel like you weren't wanted."
I started crying.
He held me closer.
"You are my daughter, Maya. Nothing changes that."
I nodded against his chest.
But then he pulled back.
His expression became serious.
"Sweetheart, I need to ask you something."
I wiped my face.
"What?"
"Has Vanessa ever told you that you don't belong here?"
My heart stopped.
I looked away.
Dad waited.
I swallowed.
Then whispered, "Yes."
His face crumpled.
"How many times?"
I stared at the floor.
"I don't know."
He closed his eyes.
I continued.
"She says I make things difficult."
My voice broke.
"She says Noah needs a real family."
Dad looked devastated.
"And she says you would be happier if I stopped needing you."
Tears rolled down his face.
I had never seen my father cry like that.
He knelt in front of me.
"Maya, listen to me."
I looked up.
"You are not a burden."
My chest tightened.
"You are not an inconvenience."
He took my hands.
"And you will never have to earn your place in my life."
I started crying harder.
He hugged me.
Then I whispered the question I'd been afraid to ask.
"Dad, are you going to send me away?"
He pulled back immediately.
"No."
I stared at him.
"Promise?"
His voice was firm.
"I promise."
I wanted to believe him.
And for the first time in months, I thought maybe I could.
But then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
It was Daniel.
The photographer.
Dad answered.
"Yes?"
He listened.
Then slowly stood.
"What do you mean there's another recording?"
My stomach tightened.
May you like
Dad's face went pale.
And I heard him whisper, "Vanessa said WHAT before the party?"
