Chapter 2 – The Woman Behind Every Disaster
Ryan drove straight to Vanessa's apartment.
She opened the door wearing his favorite shirt.
Smiling.
Until she saw the look on his face.
"You canceled Emily's insurance?"
Vanessa laughed.
"You finally know."
Ryan stared.
"You admitted it?"
She shrugged.
"I did more than that."
His heart sank.
Vanessa poured herself a glass of wine as if discussing the weather.
"I called the insurance company pretending to be Emily."
"I forged her signature."
"I redirected every hospital notice."
"And honestly..."
She took a sip.
"I thought the cancer would solve our little marriage problem for us."
Ryan's hands began to shake.
"You wanted my wife to die?"
Vanessa looked directly into his eyes.
"I wanted you to stop feeling guilty."
Ryan backed away.
As if he were standing in front of a stranger.
"No..."
She smiled.
"Oh, Ryan."
"You weren't innocent either."
"You ignored her."
"You humiliated her."
"You watched while your own mother treated her like a servant."
"I only finished what you started."
Ryan's breathing became uneven.
Everything Emily had endured...
He had allowed.
Not because he hated her.
Because he never bothered to notice.
Then the apartment buzzer rang.
Vanessa frowned.
She opened the door.
Two detectives stepped inside.
"Vanessa Carter?"
"Yes?"
"You're under arrest for insurance fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy to obstruct medical treatment."
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
She slowly turned toward Ryan.
"You called the police?"
Ryan answered quietly.
May you like
"No."
Emily did.
