Chapter 2: The Woman Who Suddenly Became Afraid
Vanessa had always been confident around my mother.
Almost too confident.
Whenever Evelyn visited, Vanessa would greet her with a bright smile, offer her tea, and make a show of asking whether she needed anything.
But that night, something was different.
She wasn't smiling.
She was staring at Evelyn as though my mother had just pulled a loaded weapon from her handbag.
"Daniel, tell your mother to stop making things up.""
Vanessa's voice shook slightly.
My mother folded her napkin.
"I haven't said anything yet.""
"Exactly!"" Vanessa snapped.
"You're sitting there making everyone uncomfortable.""
Evelyn raised an eyebrow.
"Then perhaps you should stop giving everyone reasons to be uncomfortable.""
I placed a hand on Noah's shoulder.
"Mom, what are you talking about?""
Evelyn looked at my son.
"First, I think Noah should finish his dinner.""
Vanessa let out an impatient laugh.
"Oh, now we're pretending to care about him?""
I turned sharply.
"Enough.""
Noah picked up his fork.
His little fingers were trembling.
Madison looked between her mother and me.
"Mom, what's happening?""
Vanessa immediately softened her voice.
"Nothing, sweetheart. Eat your dinner.""
Then she turned toward me again.
"Daniel, this is ridiculous. Your mother has never liked me. She's been waiting for an excuse to turn you against me.""
Evelyn slowly shook her head.
"Vanessa, I gave you five years.""
"Five years of what?""
"Five years to tell my son the truth yourself.""
Vanessa's face lost its color.
I pulled out the chair opposite my mother and sat down.
"What truth?""
My mother glanced toward the hallway.
"Do you remember the money you gave Vanessa last spring?""
I frowned.
"What money?""
Vanessa quickly interrupted.
"Daniel, we don't need to discuss our finances in front of the children.""
That was strange.
Because Vanessa had no problem discussing rent in front of Noah.
"Answer me," I said.
She looked at the floor.
Evelyn continued.
"Last April, you transferred twelve thousand dollars into her account. You told me it was for the bathroom renovation.""
"Yes.""
"Did you ever see the renovation?""
I looked toward the hallway bathroom.
It had the same cracked tiles, the same leaking faucet, and the same yellow stain above the bathtub that had been there for years.
"No.""
Vanessa folded her arms again.
"I was going to do it.""
"Six months ago," Evelyn replied.
"Things happened.""
"What things?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Why are you interrogating me?""
I stared at my wife.
"Where did the twelve thousand dollars go?""
She didn't answer.
My mother reached into her handbag.
She took out a small brown envelope and placed it beside her glass.
"I found something last week.""
Vanessa moved immediately.
"Don't touch that!""
Evelyn placed one hand over the envelope.
"Sit down, Vanessa.""
"I said don't!""
Her voice cracked.
Madison flinched.
I stood again.
"Do not scream at my mother.""
Vanessa looked at me, then at the envelope.
For the first time in our marriage, she seemed unable to find a convincing excuse.
Evelyn opened the envelope.
Inside were several printed bank statements, a handwritten note, and a photograph.
She slid the photograph toward me.
It showed Vanessa standing outside a small real estate office, holding hands with a man I didn't recognize.
The photograph was dated eight months earlier.
I looked at her.
"Who is he?""
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"That's nobody.""
"Then why are you holding his hand?""
"It's an old friend.""
Evelyn tapped the date.
"An old friend you met with every Thursday?""
Vanessa grabbed the back of her chair.
"How do you know that?""
My mother didn't respond.
Instead, she opened the bank statements.
"Daniel, look at these transfers.""
I picked up the papers.
There were multiple payments, each sent from an account bearing Vanessa's name.
Some were small.
Others were several thousand dollars.
The recipient's name appeared repeatedly.
MARCUS REED.
I looked up.
"Who is Marcus Reed?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
She glanced at Madison.
"Not here.""
Evelyn leaned forward.
"That's what you said last time.""
My heart started beating faster.
"Last time?""
My mother nodded.
"I saw them together three weeks ago. I asked Vanessa about the money. She told me it was a private family matter.""
Vanessa's voice became sharp.
"Because it is!""
I put the papers down.
"Why are you sending money to a man named Marcus?""
She wiped her forehead.
"He helped me with something.""
"What?""
"Something you wouldn't understand.""
I almost laughed.
"Try me.""
Vanessa looked toward the kitchen.
Then toward the stairs.
Then back at me.
She was searching for an exit.
My mother quietly removed another sheet from the envelope.
"This is why I wanted you to see everything.""
I looked down.
It was a printed document with a property address.
My property address.
The same address as the house we were sitting in.
Underneath it was a line containing my full name.
And beside it, in handwriting I recognized immediately, was Vanessa's signature.
I read the first sentence.
Then I read it again.
"Mom," I whispered.
"What is this?""
Evelyn's expression hardened.
"Your wife has been trying to make a deal involving this house.""
Vanessa suddenly lunged across the table.
She snatched the document from my hand.
"That's not what it looks like!""
I stared at her.
"Then what does it look like?""
She clutched the paper against her chest.
My mother slowly stood.
"Daniel, there's one more person who knows exactly what she was planning.""
Vanessa turned toward the hallway.
And when I followed her gaze, I saw someone standing near the kitchen entrance.
May you like
A man.
Holding a key to my front door.
