Chapter 3: The Lie She Told Lily
Marcus couldn't move.
The church seemed to shrink around him.
Rows of wooden pews.
White flowers.
Stained glass.
Hundreds of eyes.
And his six-year-old daughter standing in the middle of it all, believing her father was going to die.
He crouched in front of her.
“Lily.””
She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.
“I'm sorry, Daddy.””
“You don't have to apologize.””
“But I promised.””
Marcus swallowed.
“A promise that scares you isn't something you have to keep.””
Lily looked at Vanessa.
“She said if I told you, you'd leave her.””
Marcus felt something inside him crack.
“Come here.””
Lily threw herself into his arms.
He held her tightly.
Behind them, Vanessa was crying.
“Marcus…”
He didn't look at her.
“Don't.””
“I was desperate.””
“Don't.””
“I loved you.””
Marcus finally turned.
“You used my daughter.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I never meant—”
“You taught a six-year-old child to prepare for her father's death.””
“I thought I had no choice.””
“You always have a choice.””
Derrick stood near the church doors.
Marcus looked at him.
“You said you have proof.””
Derrick nodded.
“More than proof.””
He pulled another folder from inside his jacket.
Vanessa immediately stood.
“No.””
Derrick looked at her.
“You've had enough chances.””
Marcus stepped toward him.
“What is in the folder?””
“Everything.””
Vanessa moved between them.
“Marcus, please listen to me first.””
He stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because Derrick is not who you think he is.””
Derrick laughed bitterly.
“That's rich.””
Marcus looked between them.
“Then tell me.””
Vanessa's breathing became ragged.
Derrick crossed his arms.
“She won't.””
“Why not?””
“Because if she tells you the truth, she loses everything.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“What does she lose?””
Derrick answered.
“The house.””
Vanessa flinched.
“The money.””
Her face tightened.
“And the child.””
Marcus's expression changed.
“What child?””
Vanessa whispered, “Don't.””
Derrick looked at Lily.
“Not Lily.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Then who?””
Derrick reached into the folder.
He removed a photograph.
He held it out.
Marcus took it.
The photograph showed Vanessa standing beside a hospital bed.
She was holding a newborn baby.
Marcus looked at the date.
His face drained of color.
It was from eight months earlier.
He looked at Vanessa.
“You have a child?””
She covered her mouth.
Derrick's voice was low.
“His name is Isaiah.””
Marcus stared at the photograph.
“Where is he?””
Vanessa said nothing.
“Where is he?””
Derrick answered.
“Safe.””
Marcus looked at him.
“With who?””
Derrick's eyes hardened.
“With me.””
The room erupted.
Several guests stood.
The pastor stepped forward.
“Everyone, please remain calm.””
Marcus barely heard him.
“You're the father.””
Derrick nodded.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“You had his baby eight months ago.””
“Yes.””
“And you told me you were pregnant.””
“Yes.””
“You wore a fake belly.””
“Yes.””
“You made my daughter lie.””
Vanessa's tears fell freely.
“Yes.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Why?””
She looked at the photograph.
“Because I knew you wouldn't marry me if you knew about Isaiah.””
Marcus's voice was barely audible.
“Why would Isaiah stop me from marrying you?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Derrick answered.
“Because Vanessa was already married.””
Silence.
Marcus blinked.
“What?””
Derrick looked toward the church doors.
“She never divorced me.””
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
“You're married?””
Vanessa whispered, “Technically…”
Marcus laughed in disbelief.
“Technically?””
“Marcus, it wasn't a real marriage anymore.””
Derrick stepped forward.
“It was legally real.””
Marcus looked at the wedding ring on Vanessa's finger.
Then at the ring she had hidden beneath the lace cuff of her glove.
Two rings.
One wedding.
Two husbands.
His voice went cold.
“How long?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
“How long have you been married to him?””
“Four years.””
Marcus's face went blank.
Derrick nodded toward the envelope.
“That's why the insurance matters.””
Marcus looked down.
“What does a marriage have to do with my insurance?””
Derrick's expression changed.
“Everything.””
He opened the folder again.
“This morning, Vanessa filed paperwork claiming you were the legal father of Isaiah.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why would she do that?””
“So she could put the baby under your financial protection.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“You wanted me to support your child.””
“I wanted my son safe.””
“By stealing my name?””
She started crying again.
“I thought you loved me.””
“I did.””
The answer came instantly.
Vanessa looked up.
Marcus continued.
“I loved you enough to trust you.””
He looked at the fake pregnancy pad lying on the pew.
“And you turned that trust into a weapon.””
Derrick stepped closer.
“There is one more thing you need to see.””
He removed a final sheet.
Marcus took it.
At first, he didn't understand.
Then he saw the signature.
His own name.
A signature he had never written.
He looked up slowly.
“This isn't mine.””
Derrick nodded.
“I know.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Who signed it?””
Derrick looked at Vanessa.
She began trembling.
“Vanessa.””
She said nothing.
“Who signed this?””
Vanessa's lips parted.
Before she could answer, Marcus's phone vibrated.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
He pulled it from his pocket.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
*YOU'RE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION.*
Another message arrived.
*ASK VANESSA WHO WAS IN YOUR HOUSE THE NIGHT YOUR SAFE WAS OPENED.*
Marcus stared at the screen.
Then came a third message.
*AND ASK HER WHAT SHE STOLE FROM YOU.*
He slowly lifted his eyes toward Vanessa.
She was no longer crying.
She was staring at his phone.
May you like
And the look on her face told Marcus one terrifying thing.
She knew exactly who had sent it.
