Chapter 12 - Vanessa Tells the TruthVanessa entered in prison clothing.
Her pregnancy was visible.
The courtroom became still.
The prosecutor asked:
“Did you know Olivia was alive?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know she was being held against her will?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you free her?”
Vanessa looked at me.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Losing Ethan.”
The prosecutor continued.
“You married Ethan while his wife was alive?”
“Yes.”
“You knew Sophie was Olivia's daughter?”
“Yes.”
“You knew Sophie was afraid of you?”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why did you hurt her?”
A long silence.
“Because she remembered her mother.”
The words struck harder than any confession.
Vanessa admitted locking Sophie in the pantry.
She admitted ordering Claire to drug her.
She admitted lying about Olivia.
She admitted manipulating me.
Then she admitted something unexpected.
“I loved Ethan.”
Olivia looked at her.
Vanessa continued.
“But I loved winning more.”
The prosecutor asked:
“Did you know Adrian planned to kill Olivia?”
“I knew he wanted her frightened.”
“And when you found her after the crash?”
“I saved her.”
“Why?”
Vanessa looked at Olivia.
“Because for one moment, I remembered she was a person.”
Then her voice broke.
“And I hated myself for not letting her go.”
No one applauded.
May you like
No one forgave her.
But for the first time, Vanessa was telling the truth.
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