“Why give Vanessa the envelope?”
Patricia became quiet.
“I didn’t.”
“The photograph shows you holding it beside her.”
“I was taking it to you.”
“At midnight in a hotel?”
“I had finally decided to tell you everything.”
“What stopped you?”
“Dad.”
“Charles?”
“Yes. He followed me from the ballroom.”
“And Vanessa?”
“She overheard us arguing.”
My skin prickled.
“What did she hear?”
“Enough.”
Suddenly Vanessa’s entire role changed.
“Did she approach Daniel because she knew about the money?”
Patricia whispered, “Maybe.”
I sat down.
That possibility hurt differently.
Daniel’s affair had destroyed our marriage.
But if Vanessa had approached him deliberately, then someone had been moving pieces around us long before we understood the game.
“Where’s the envelope?”
“I thought Vanessa took it.”
“She says it’s safe.”
“Then she has it.”
“Why haven’t you told Daniel?”
“Because Dad made me promise.”
I almost laughed.
