Chapter 6 - VANESSA COMES TO MY DOOR
Vanessa arrived that afternoon.
She didn't knock.
She pounded.
“Alice!”
I opened the door halfway.
“Don't say her name.”
Vanessa stared at me.
“You're being ridiculous.”
“You hit my daughter.”
“She was disrespectful.”
“She was seven.”
“She ruined Christmas.”
“You ruined Christmas.”
Vanessa's face hardened.
“You've always thought you're better than us.”
“No.”
“I took care of Alice all day.”
“You slapped her.”
“She deserved consequences.”
I looked directly into her eyes.
“Never touch my daughter again.”
Vanessa laughed.
“You think you can threaten me?”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“I'm not threatening you.”
I held up my phone.
“I'm documenting you.”
Her expression changed.
“Carolyn—”
“And Rebecca Sloan is now handling everything.”
She went pale.
“You hired a lawyer?”
“Yes.”
“You wouldn't do that to family.”
I almost smiled.
“You stopped being family when you put my child outside.”
Vanessa stared at me.
Then she said something I'll never forget.
“You're going to regret this.”
I nodded.
“Maybe.”
Then I closed the door.
Five minutes later, Rebecca called.
“Good.”
“What?”
“Don't engage with her again.”
“I won't.”
“Because Vanessa just made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“She texted you.”
I looked at my phone.
There was one message.
You have no idea what your father did to Alice.
I stared at it.
My blood turned cold.
I called Rebecca immediately.
“Did you hear that?”
“Yes.”
“What does she mean?”
“I don't know.”
“But she mentioned Alice.”
“I know.”
“Rebecca…”
“Don't reply.”
I didn't.
But that night, I couldn't sleep.
Because for the first time, I wondered whether Christmas had been about more than money.
May you like
Maybe Alice had been targeted for another reason.
And maybe Vanessa knew something I didn't.
