Chapter 7 - Vanessa's Confession“Put the gun down,” Detective Collins ordered.
Vanessa didn't.
She looked at Mason.
“I never wanted this.”
“You framed Emma.”
“I was trying to protect Lily.”
“You stole from me.”
“I was trying to survive.”
“You lied for six years.”
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
Emma stepped forward.
“Did you kill my sister?”
“No.”
“Did you order the fire?”
“No.”
“Did you know it would happen?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Emma's face hardened.
“You did.”
“I knew Adrian was going to destroy the apartment.”
“And you let him.”
“I was afraid.”
“So was she.”
Vanessa cried.
“I know.”
Mason stared at his wife.
“What happened after the fire?”
Vanessa lowered the gun slightly.
“Your sister survived.”
Emma froze.
“What?”
“She survived the fire.”
The world seemed to stop.
Mason looked at Vanessa.
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“You said she was dead.”
“I thought she was.”
Emma's voice broke.
“Thought?”
Vanessa nodded.
“She escaped the hospital before police questioned her.”
“Why?”
“Because Adrian found her.”
Emma felt dizzy.
“What happened?”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“She disappeared.”
“Did you help her?”
“No.”
The gun trembled in her hand.
“I wanted to. But Adrian threatened Lily.”
Mason stepped toward her.
“You used our daughter as an excuse.”
Vanessa's expression cracked.
“I know what I've done.”
“Then tell the truth.”
She looked at Emma.
“The necklace wasn't the beginning.”
“What was?”
“The ledger.”
Mason's eyes narrowed.
“What is in the ledger?”
“Everything.”
“Then where is it?”
Vanessa looked toward Thomas.
“He has a copy.”
Thomas stiffened.
Vanessa continued.
“But the original isn't with him.”
Emma asked:
“Where is it?”
Vanessa pointed toward the mansion.
“Under the room where your sister disappeared.”
Emma stared.
“My sister never disappeared from the mansion.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Mason's face went pale.
“What are you saying?”
“She came here.”
“Why?”
“To confront Adrian.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
Emma felt the air leave her lungs.
“My sister was inside this house?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Vanessa looked at the mansion.
“She discovered the hidden room.”
“And?”
“Adrian took her.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Then a shot rang out.
Vanessa's body jerked.
The gun fell.
She collapsed.
Mason caught her.
“Vanessa!”
Emma looked toward the trees.
A shadow moved.
Detective Collins shouted.
“Police! Stop!”
The figure ran.
Detectives chased.
Emma stayed beside Vanessa.
Blood spread across her shoulder.
Vanessa whispered:
“Don't trust Adrian.”
Emma leaned closer.
“Where is my sister?”
Vanessa's eyes fluttered.
Then she whispered the name:
“Grace.”
Emma froze.
Grace.
Her sister's name.
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“She isn't dead.”
Then she lost consciousness.
Emma stood.
For six years, she had mourned a dead woman.
Now she had a new reason to breathe.
Her sister might still be alive.
May you like
But somewhere nearby, someone had just tried to kill Vanessa.
And whoever pulled that trigger knew the truth too.
