Chapter 4: The Baby He Never Told Me About
"She's the reason he needed your grandmother's diamond in the first place.""
Vanessa's words hung in the air.
I looked at the photograph again. Daniel stood outside a hospital entrance, one hand resting on the shoulder of a woman with long brown hair. She looked exhausted, her face pale, her eyes fixed on something beyond the camera.
Daniel looked different too.
Not older. Not younger.
Just familiar in a way that made my stomach turn.
He was wearing the same silver watch I'd given him for his thirty-fifth birthday.
"Who is she?"" I asked again.
Daniel reached for the photograph.
I pulled it away.
"Don't.""
"Nia, this isn't what you think.""
"Then tell me what it is.""
He looked toward Vanessa.
"Why would you bring that here?""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Because she's finally asking the right questions.""
"Vanessa, shut up.""
She laughed bitterly.
"You don't get to tell me to shut up anymore. I've spent eight months cleaning up your messes.""
Eight months.
I looked at the photograph.
The date was eight months earlier.
"Daniel, were you involved with this woman?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Her name is Rachel.""
"How long did you know her?""
"Before I met you.""
I felt a strange sense of relief.
At least he hadn't been cheating on me throughout our relationship.
Then he continued.
"She was pregnant when we broke up.""
The room became unbearably quiet.
I sat down slowly.
"Pregnant?""
Daniel nodded.
"She told me she wanted to keep the baby. I wasn't ready.""
I stared at him.
"You have a child?""
"No.""
His answer came too quickly.
"What happened?""
He rubbed his hands together.
"Rachel had complications.""
"What kind?""
"She lost the baby.""
My eyes moved back to the photograph.
"Was this taken at the hospital?""
He nodded.
"When?""
"Eight months ago.""
"Why were you there?""
"I went to see her.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because we were already together.""
The answer landed harder than I expected.
We had been dating for almost a year when that photograph was taken.
I remembered that particular week.
Daniel had told me he was traveling for a business conference in Chicago. I'd packed his suitcase, ironed his shirts, and kissed him goodbye at the airport.
He hadn't gone to Chicago.
He'd gone to a hospital to see his pregnant ex-girlfriend.
"Did you pay for her treatment?"" I asked.
He nodded.
"How much?""
"About forty thousand dollars.""
My gaze moved to Vanessa.
She looked almost satisfied.
"That's where my money went," she said.
I turned toward her.
"Your money?""
"Daniel borrowed it from me.""
"And then he used my grandmother's diamond to pay you back?""
She nodded.
"Not exactly. He needed the diamond money for something else.""
I looked at Daniel.
"What else?""
He swallowed.
"Rachel's medical bills weren't the only expenses.""
"What are you talking about?""
Vanessa reached into her handbag and removed another document.
This time, it was a bank statement.
She placed it beside the photograph.
The account holder was Daniel Carter.
The transaction descriptions were partially visible.
Hospital payment.
Private accommodation.
Legal consultation.
Then a transfer to an account labeled R. Morgan.
I stared at the last entry.
"Who is R. Morgan?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Rachel's mother.""
"Why were you sending her money?""
"She threatened to sue me.""
"For what?""
He finally sat down.
"She said I was responsible for what happened.""
I felt my hands go cold.
"Are you?""
"No.""
His answer sounded desperate.
"I didn't hurt anyone, Nia. Rachel had a medical emergency. Her family blamed me because I wasn't there when it started.""
"But you went to the hospital afterward.""
"Yes.""
"And you paid her family.""
"I wanted it to end.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"How did you know about all this?""
Her expression changed.
For the first time, she seemed uncomfortable.
"Because I was the one who helped him.""
I slowly turned back to Daniel.
"You told Vanessa about Rachel?""
He nodded.
"She was helping with my finances.""
"Why would you tell your housekeeper about your ex-girlfriend's pregnancy?""
Vanessa interrupted.
"Because I wasn't just his housekeeper.""
Daniel stood abruptly.
"That's enough!""
But I had heard enough to understand something.
Vanessa had not simply fallen in love with my fiancé.
She had been part of his life long before she entered mine.
"How did you meet her?"" I asked.
Daniel looked away.
"At a business networking event.""
"When?""
"Two years ago.""
Two years.
He'd known Vanessa for two years.
I remembered the day I'd interviewed her for the housekeeper position.
Daniel had recommended her.
He'd said she was reliable, discreet, and hardworking.
He'd even insisted she would be perfect for our home.
Now I understood why.
"Did you arrange for her to work here?"" I whispered.
Daniel didn't answer.
Vanessa did.
"Yes.""
I felt as though someone had pulled the floor out from under me.
"You planned this?""
"Not at first," she said.
"I genuinely thought I could help you.""
"Help me?""
"Daniel told me everything. About the house, the wedding, the trust. He said you were going to marry him anyway.""
"And you decided to move into my home?""
She lifted her chin.
"I needed to be close to him.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Did you know?""
He said nothing.
That was his answer.
I stood, grabbed the photograph, and placed it inside a folder with the forged authorization.
Then I walked to the front door and opened it.
"Both of you need to leave.""
Daniel stared at me.
"Nia, this is my home too.""
"No. My mother left this house to me.""
"We're getting married.""
"Not anymore.""
Vanessa picked up her handbag.
Daniel didn't move.
I reached for my phone.
"Do you want me to call the police?""
He grabbed his jacket.
"You're going to regret this.""
"Maybe. But I'll regret marrying you more.""
He walked outside.
Vanessa followed.
Before stepping through the doorway, she turned around.
"You still don't understand, do you?""
I gripped the door.
"Understand what?""
"Rachel wasn't the only woman Daniel promised to marry.""
Then she walked away.
I locked the door.
My knees nearly buckled.
For several minutes, I stood in the hallway, listening to the rain.
Then my phone rang.
It was Mr. Collins, my attorney.
"Nia, I've reviewed the trust documents you sent.""
"Did you find something?""
"Yes. And there's a serious problem.""
My throat tightened.
"What?""
"The revised documents weren't submitted by Daniel or Vanessa.""
"Then who submitted them?""
He hesitated.
"Your name appears as the person who requested the transfer.""
I stared at the forged signature on the jewelry form.
Another signature.
Another document.
Another attempt to make it look as though I'd agreed to something I had never seen.
May you like
Then Mr. Collins added one sentence that made my blood run cold.
"Nia, someone has already registered a claim against your property.""
