Chapter 3: The Voice From the Past
I didn’t answer.
I couldn’t.
The phone kept ringing in my hand.
Elena.
The name burned on the screen.
A name connected to memories I had buried because I thought I had no choice.
Vanessa stood across from me, frozen.
Neither of us spoke.
Finally, the call ended.
Silence.
Then the phone rang again.
Same name.
Same number.
My fingers moved before my brain could stop them.
I answered.
“Hello?””
For three seconds, there was nothing.
Just breathing.
Then a voice.
A voice I knew better than my own.
“Marcus?””
My knees almost gave out.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
“Elena?””
Vanessa looked away.
Like she had been waiting for this moment.
The voice on the phone shook.
“I don’t have much time.””
I couldn’t speak.
My mind was fighting reality.
Because the woman I buried in my heart was suddenly alive on the other end of the phone.
“Where are you?”” I whispered.
A pause.
Then:
“Please don’t ask me that yet.””
My anger exploded.
“Don’t ask you? Elena, I spent years thinking you were gone.””
“I know.””
“You let me believe you were dead.””
“I didn’t.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“She says you came back.””
Another silence.
Then Elena said:
“Vanessa told you?””
My grip tightened.
“You know about Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Her voice became softer.
“Because she was the reason I left.””
The words hit like a punch.
Behind me, Vanessa closed her eyes.
I turned toward her.
“You knew she was alive?””
Vanessa didn’t respond.
“Vanessa!””
She flinched.
That was enough.
I ended the call.
Not because I didn’t want answers.
Because suddenly I had too many.
I stepped toward her.
“You knew.””
Vanessa wiped a tear from her cheek.
“I was trying to protect Noah.””
“By making him afraid?””
“No.””
“By telling him his mother left because of him?””
Her face collapsed.
“I never wanted him to believe that.””
“But he does.””
She looked toward the living room.
“I made mistakes.””
“Mistakes?””
My voice rose.
“You hid a photograph. You threatened my son. You knew his mother was alive.””
“I didn’t know everything.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
Vanessa sat down.
For the first time, she looked smaller.
“I met Elena before I met you.””
I stared.
“What?””
“She came to me.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at the floor.
“Because she was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
She didn’t answer.
That silence was becoming a pattern.
And I hated it.
“Vanessa.””
She finally looked up.
“She said someone was trying to take Noah.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I’m telling you the truth.””
“No. You’re telling me pieces.””
She looked at the photograph.
“The night Elena disappeared, she left something behind.””
“What?””
Her voice dropped.
“A recording.””
I stared at her.
“Where is it?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t have it.””
“Who does?””
Before she could answer, a sound came from the living room.
A small voice.
“Daddy?””
I turned.
Noah was standing there.
Holding his blanket.
His eyes moved between us.
“Who was on the phone?””
I immediately walked toward him.
“Nobody you need to worry about.””
But Noah didn’t look convinced.
He looked at the photograph in my hand.
Then whispered:
“I know that picture.””
Everything stopped.
Vanessa went pale.
I slowly turned toward my son.
“What did you say?””
Noah looked scared.
Like he had accidentally opened a door he wasn’t supposed to touch.
“I’ve seen it before.””
“Where?””
He looked at Vanessa.
She whispered:
“Noah…”
But this time, I stepped between them.
“No.””
I knelt down.
“Buddy, look at me.””
His eyes met mine.
“Where have you seen this picture?””
He swallowed.
“In Mommy’s room.””
I felt my heartbeat in my ears.
“Mommy’s room?””
He nodded.
“Before she went away.””
I held my breath.
“What else do you remember?””
Noah’s face changed.
Not fear.
Confusion.
Like he was searching through a memory hidden deep inside him.
Then he said something that made Vanessa cover her mouth.
“Mommy told me not to trust the woman who smiles when Daddy isn’t looking.””
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then, from outside the house, a car door slammed.
Vanessa looked toward the window.
Her face lost all color.
Because she recognized the sound.
I walked slowly toward the curtain.
“Who is here?””
No answer.
I pulled it open.
A stranger stood at the edge of the driveway.
Holding an envelope.
He looked directly at me.
Then at Noah.
Then he raised the envelope and mouthed three words.
“Your mother’s proof.””
I opened the front door.
The stranger took one step forward.
May you like
And said:
“Marcus, before you open this… you need to know Vanessa is not the only person who lied to you.””
