Chapter 4: The Woman Upstairs
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Vanessa stood in front of my desk, her hands trembling, while the broken wineglass glittered beneath her heels.
“She has been living in this house?””
My voice sounded unfamiliar.
Vanessa swallowed.
“Daniel, let me explain.””
“Where?””
She looked toward the ceiling.
I followed her gaze.
Our bedroom was upstairs. So was the guest room, the bathroom, and the small storage room Vanessa had insisted on keeping locked since the beginning of our marriage.
A cold sensation crawled up my spine.
“The storage room?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
I pushed past her.
“Daniel, wait!””
I was already halfway up the stairs.
Behind me, Vanessa shouted, “You don't understand what you're going to do!””
I reached the second floor.
The hallway was dark.
A thin line of yellow light appeared beneath the storage-room door.
I stopped.
For five years, Vanessa had told me that room contained old furniture, Christmas decorations, and boxes of things she hadn't gotten around to sorting.
She never allowed the housekeeper to clean it.
She never allowed Amara to play near it.
And every time I asked about the strange lock, she said the key had been misplaced.
I tried the handle.
Locked.
“Vanessa!””
She appeared at the top of the stairs, breathing heavily.
“Please don't.””
I turned toward her.
“Give me the key.””
“Daniel, listen to me.””
“THE KEY!””
She flinched.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she slowly reached into her dress pocket and removed a small silver key.
She held it tightly.
“You need to understand that she isn't the same woman you remember.””
“Give it to me.””
“Lila has changed.””
My heart hammered.
“Give me the damn key!””
Vanessa dropped it into my palm.
I inserted it into the lock.
The mechanism clicked.
I opened the door.
The smell hit me first.
Stale air. Disinfectant. Old coffee.
Then I saw the bed.
A narrow hospital-style bed stood against the wall. Beside it was a small table holding medication bottles, a glass of water, and a framed photograph.
My photograph.
A wedding picture of Vanessa and me.
Someone had placed a red circle around my face.
There were curtains covering the only window.
And in the far corner, beneath a yellow lamp, sat a woman.
Her hair was longer than I remembered.
Her face was thinner.
There were dark circles beneath her eyes.
But I recognized her immediately.
The small scar above her left eyebrow.
The shape of her mouth.
The way her fingers twisted together when she was frightened.
“Lila?””
The woman slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Daniel?””
My knees nearly gave way.
I grabbed the doorframe.
“Lila?””
She stood unsteadily.
For one terrifying second, I thought she might collapse.
Then she took one step toward me.
I moved forward instinctively.
But Vanessa grabbed my arm.
“Don't touch her!””
I spun around.
“Get away from me!””
“She isn't safe!””
Lila began crying.
“Daniel, please.””
I pulled free and crossed the room.
I reached for her shoulders.
She felt real.
Warm.
Alive.
I touched her cheek, unable to believe what my eyes were telling me.
“I buried you,” I whispered.
Lila closed her eyes.
“I know.””
“I stood beside your coffin.””
“I know.””
“I watched them lower it into the ground.””
Her tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I know, Daniel.””
I stepped back.
“Then explain.””
Lila looked toward Vanessa.
“She told me you were happy. She told me Amara had forgotten me.””
I shook my head.
“Forgotten you? She's been asking about you every week.””
Lila covered her mouth.
Vanessa stepped between us.
“That's enough.””
I turned.
“Five years, Vanessa. Five years you let me believe my wife was dead.””
“You don't know what happened!””
“Then tell me!””
Vanessa pointed toward Lila.
“She was supposed to stay away from you!””
Lila shook her head.
“You promised you wouldn't hurt Amara.””
“I kept her safe!””
“You drugged her!””
Vanessa's face twisted.
“I gave her something to sleep. That's all!””
I stared at her.
“You're defending yourself after what you did?””
Lila reached for my hand.
“Daniel, there's something else you need to know.””
“What?””
She looked directly at me.
“Vanessa didn't come into your life by accident.””
Before I could ask what she meant, a loud crash came from downstairs.
We all turned.
Then I heard the front door open.
A man's voice echoed through the house.
“Vanessa? Where are you?””
Vanessa went completely still.
Lila grabbed my wrist.
“That's him.””
“Who?””
Her eyes widened.
“The man who helped her bury my identity.””
The footsteps began climbing the stairs.
And when the man appeared at the top, I recognized him.
May you like
It was my family lawyer.
Richard Hayes.
