Chapter 2 - THE MORNING AFTER
I didn’t go home that night. I took Sophie straight to a hotel, far away from everything that reminded me of Vanessa. I sat on the edge of the bed long after Sophie had fallen asleep clutching her favorite stuffed bear, staring at the wall while my mind replayed every moment of that video.
How long had this been going on? How long had she been pretending to care while wishing my daughter didn’t exist?
My phone buzzed over and over. Vanessa’s name lit up the screen again and again. Texts poured in.
*“Adrian, please listen to me. It was a misunderstanding.”*
*“I was distracted. I didn’t mean it.”*
*“I love you. I love Sophie. Don’t let a stupid video ruin everything.”*
I read them all, feeling colder with every message. Distracted? You don’t accidentally swap warning labels. You don’t accidentally throw away life-saving medicine.
By morning, the calls had stopped. Instead, a lawyer’s email arrived. Vanessa was claiming the video had been edited. She was accusing me of overreacting and trying to ruin her reputation. She was demanding I meet her to “discuss this reasonably” or she would take legal action.
I stared at the screen, tightening my grip until my knuckles turned white.
Sophie wandered out of the bathroom then, rubbing her eyes. She looked small and fragile in her pajamas.
“Daddy?” she asked quietly. “Are we going home?”
I knelt down and brushed hair from her face.
“Not yet, baby. Not right now.”
“Is Vanessa mad at me?”
The question nearly broke me. I pulled her into a hug.
“No. Sophie, listen to me. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Never think that. Vanessa… she made a very bad choice. That is not your fault.”
She nodded slowly, but her eyes were still sad.
“Did she hate me?”
The question hung in the air, sharp and painful. I hesitated. I wanted to say no. I wanted to protect her from that terrible truth. But I also knew I couldn’t lie to her anymore.
“I don’t know, sweetheart. But whatever she feels… it is not your fault. You are perfect. And I will never, ever let anything hurt you again. I promise.”
Sophie wrapped her small arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder.
“Okay, Daddy. I trust you.”
Those words weighed on me like a promise I would have to spend the rest of my life keeping.
Later that day, I received another message. This one wasn’t from Vanessa. It was from Lila—Vanessa’s own sister. I barely knew her; she’d kept to herself at the engagement party. The message was short and sent with a trembling, hesitant tone.
May you like
*“I saw what happened. There’s something you need to know. Meet me. Alone.”*
I stared at those words, my heart beginning to race all over again. If Vanessa’s own sister was reaching out… whatever secret she held was far bigger than one terrible night.
