Chapter 7 - VANESSA'S PERFECT LIE
Vanessa Reed wasn't the woman I thought she was.
Not because she was innocent.
She wasn't.
She'd knowingly entered a relationship with a married man.
But as the weeks passed, I learned that she was also trapped inside a story she'd helped create.
Dominic had promised her a future.
A home.
A family.
A life where she would never have to worry about money again.
She believed him.
Then I filed for divorce.
And suddenly, everything changed.
Vanessa called me again two weeks after Dominic visited Galena.
I almost ignored the call.
But something in her voice made me listen.
"Emma."
She sounded frightened.
"What is it?"
"Dominic knows about your baby."
"Yes."
A pause.
Then she whispered:
"He hasn't spoken to me in days."
I closed my eyes.
"Vanessa, I can't help you with your relationship."
"I know."
She swallowed.
"But there's something you should know."
I waited.
"Margaret told Dominic I was pregnant before I told him."
I frowned.
"What?"
"She found out from my doctor."
My stomach tightened.
"How?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"She arranged the appointment."
I stared.
"And?"
"She told Dominic before I was ready."
Silence.
Vanessa began crying.
"She said the family needed an heir."
I felt cold.
"Vanessa."
She sniffed.
"What?"
"Are you safe?"
A pause.
Then:
"I don't know."
I didn't invite her to my house.
I didn't become her confidante.
But I told her to contact her own attorney and medical team, and I gave her information about confidential support services.
Whatever she'd done to me, she still deserved control over her medical decisions.
A week later, Vanessa's attorney contacted Rebecca.
The situation had become complicated.
Vanessa claimed Margaret had pressured her to move into the Moretti estate and had begun making decisions about her pregnancy without her consent.
Dominic, according to his attorney, was trying to establish appropriate boundaries.
Margaret was furious.
She blamed me.
Of course she did.
For five years, I'd absorbed her criticism.
Now that I wasn't there, she needed someone else to hold responsible.
One evening, Gabriel called.
I answered reluctantly.
"Emma."
"Gabriel."
He sighed.
"I owe you an apology."
I said nothing.
He continued.
"I knew Dominic could hear."
My chest tightened.
"I know."
"And I laughed about it."
I closed my eyes.
"Yes."
His voice broke.
"I thought it was harmless."
I stared at the wall.
"Harmless?"
He swallowed.
"I was wrong."
I looked toward the window.
"Gabriel, do you know what it feels like to whisper 'I love you' to someone who pretends he can't hear?"
Silence.
I continued.
"Do you know what it feels like to spend years trying to make a home comfortable for someone who doesn't even want to talk to you?"
He said nothing.
I swallowed.
"Then don't call it harmless."
His voice was barely audible.
"I'm sorry."
I closed my eyes.
"Thank you."
Then I ended the call.
For the first time, someone from Dominic's world had acknowledged what happened without asking me to forgive it.
May you like
It didn't repair the damage.
But it mattered.
