Chapter 6 - Vanessa Changes Sides
Brendan lunged for the phone.
Vanessa pulled it against her chest.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Give me my phone.”
“No.”
Her voice shook.
Cassidy had never liked Vanessa.
Until that moment, she had assumed Vanessa was merely arrogant and cruel.
But the terror in the younger woman’s face looked genuine.
Vanessa scrolled upward.
Her complexion changed.
“What is Harbor?”
Brendan said nothing.
Vanessa looked at Cassidy.
“He told me you were unstable.”
Cassidy remained silent.
“He told me the pregnancy had made you paranoid.”
Cassidy’s jaw tightened.
“He said you were demanding money.”
“Vanessa,” Brendan warned.
She ignored him.
“He told me the insurance forms were because you’d threatened to disappear with the baby.”
“That never happened.”
“I know.”
Vanessa looked at the phone again.
“I know now.”
Evelyn walked toward her.
“You’ve misunderstood private family discussions.”
Vanessa stepped away.
“Stop.”
Evelyn froze.
“I heard you talking about a hospital.”
Brendan’s face hardened.
Vanessa continued.
“Two weeks ago.”
She looked between Brendan and Evelyn.
“You said, ‘After the delivery, Cassidy won’t be making decisions anymore.’”
Evelyn’s composure cracked.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean?”
Evelyn did not answer.
Vanessa handed the phone to Gabriel.
“Take it.”
Brendan cursed.
Gabriel sealed the device in an evidence pouch.
Vanessa wrapped her arms around herself.
“I want a lawyer.”
Naomi nodded.
“That would be wise.”
Cassidy studied Vanessa.
“Why were you laughing when Evelyn poured that water on me?”
Vanessa’s face filled with shame.
“Because I believed them.”
“That doesn’t excuse it.”
“I know.”
Cassidy looked away.
Some wounds did not disappear just because the person who caused them discovered they had been manipulated too.
A vehicle entered the driveway.
This time it belonged to the county sheriff’s office.
Naomi had contacted authorities after reviewing Project Harbor.
Two detectives approached.
Gabriel provided the preliminary evidence.
The older detective introduced herself as Lena Ortiz.
She read several pages without speaking.
Then she looked toward Martin.
“Mr. Vale, I need you to remain here.”
Martin laughed bitterly.
“You people think Brendan is the problem.”
Cassidy turned.
“What does that mean?”
Martin stared at Evelyn.
For the first time, Evelyn looked nervous because of him.
Martin smiled.
“You really should ask who first proposed Harbor.”
Evelyn snapped.
“Shut your mouth.”
Martin’s smile widened.
Detective Ortiz watched them.
Cassidy did too.
Martin looked at Cassidy.
“Brendan wanted money.”
He nodded toward Evelyn.
“She wanted the child.”
Cassidy felt the driveway disappear beneath her feet.
“What?”
Martin leaned closer.
“Your daughter isn’t merely the beneficiary of the Hale trust.”
Cassidy’s breathing became shallow.
“She’s the key to controlling it if you die.”
Naomi quickly opened the trust documents on her tablet.
She read in silence.
Then her eyes widened.
Cassidy whispered.
“What did you find?”
Naomi looked up.
“A provision your grandfather added twenty-three years ago.”
“What provision?”
“If you die leaving a minor biological heir, voting control transfers temporarily to the child’s legal guardian.”
May you like
Cassidy slowly turned toward Evelyn.
And Evelyn finally stopped pretending.
