Chapter 6: The Lawyer Called
I answered too quickly.
"Hannah?"
A calm woman's voice replied instead.
"Mr. Mitchell, this is Laura Bennett. I represent Hannah Mitchell."
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Is she there?"
"I'm not calling to discuss Mrs. Mitchell's location."
"Can I speak to her?"
"No."
I closed my eyes.
"Please."
"I just need to know if Grace is okay."
"Your daughter is safe."
I slowly sat down at the kitchen table.
Mrs. Bennett continued in the same steady, professional tone.
"Mrs. Mitchell has filed a request for temporary orders."
"Until the court hearing, all communication must go through legal counsel."
"You are not to contact her family."
"You are not to contact her friends."
"You are not to contact her employer."
"And you are not to attempt to locate her residence."
I stared at the empty nursery across the hallway.
"I'm her husband."
There was a brief pause.
"You are also the respondent in a divorce and custody proceeding."
The words landed with cold precision.
Not emotional.
Not cruel.
Simply factual.
"I want to see my daughter."
"That issue will be addressed by the court."
"When?"
"You'll receive formal notice."
I swallowed hard.
"Can you tell Hannah something?"
Another pause.
"I can relay messages that are relevant to legal matters."
"Please..."
"Tell her I'm sorry."
Silence.
Longer this time.
When Laura Bennett finally spoke again, her voice softened only slightly.
"Mr. Mitchell..."
"I'm going to be very direct."
"Do not make this situation worse by trying to find her."
"Your wife documented everything carefully."
"The court will not respond well to intimidation, emotional pressure, or attempts to bypass counsel."
"I would never hurt her."
"Intent is not the only thing courts consider."
The conversation ended less than two minutes later.
I lowered the phone slowly.
For the first time in my life...
I didn't feel like a husband.
I felt like a defendant.
Around noon...
A bright red convertible pulled into the driveway.
I recognized it immediately.
Vanessa.
She stepped out wearing oversized sunglasses.
High heels.
And the cream-colored coat I once told her made her look expensive.
She walked confidently toward the front door.
Then knocked.
"Trevor."
"I know you're home."
I stayed where I was.
Motionless.
She knocked again.
Harder this time.
Finally...
I walked to the door.
Opened it.
Her eyes immediately wandered past me.
The empty walls.
The missing furniture.
The stripped living room.
She smiled faintly.
"Wow."
"She really cleaned you out."
I looked directly at her.
"Leave."
She blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"I said leave."
She slowly removed her sunglasses.
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
"You're upset."
"Yes."
"So don't take it out on me."
A dry laugh escaped my throat.
"Who should I take it out on?"
"Hannah."
The answer came without hesitation.
"She took your child."
"No."
I shook my head.
"She took Grace somewhere safe."
"Safe from what?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"You?"
I didn't answer.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Trevor..."
"Look at me."
"She's punishing you."
"That's all this is."
"No."
I answered quietly.
"She's protecting herself."
"And now you're defending her?"
"She's my wife."
Vanessa frowned.
"She was your wife yesterday too."
The words stung because they were true.
She reached out and took my hand.
Her voice became gentle again.
"Baby..."
"Listen."
"I know this is scary."
"But maybe..."
"This is an opportunity."
"We don't have to hide anymore."
I looked down at her hand resting on mine.
Perfect nails.
Gold bracelet.
Smooth skin.
No wedding ring mark.
No hospital wristband.
No sleepless nights holding a crying baby.
No scars from childbirth.
Slowly...
I pulled my hand away.
"I don't want this."
Her expression froze.
"What?"
"I don't want us."
"You're panicking."
I shook my head.
"No."
"I'm finally not."
For the first time since I had known her...
Vanessa had no words.
Then her face changed.
The warmth disappeared.
Something colder took its place.
"You think you can just end this?"
"Yes."
"You think you can use me for months..."
"Tell me you loved me..."
"Promise me a future..."
"And then throw me away because your wife embarrassed you?"
I met her eyes.
"I lied to you too."
She stared.
"I lied when I said I'd leave Hannah."
"I lied when I said we'd have a future."
"I lied because..."
"I wanted both."
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"You coward."
I nodded.
"Yes."
That single word seemed to anger her more than any argument could have.
She wanted a fight.
I had nothing left to fight with.
"Leave."
I said it one last time.
She leaned closer until we were only inches apart.
Then she whispered,
"You're going to regret this."
"I already regret everything."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
Cold.
Cruel.
Almost satisfied.
"No."
She whispered.
"Not everything."
She put her sunglasses back on.
"There are things Hannah still doesn't know."
Every muscle in my body tightened.
"What things?"
She smiled again.
"You should check your email."
Without another word...
She turned around.
Walked back to her convertible.
Started the engine.
And drove away.
I stood frozen in the doorway long after her car disappeared around the corner.
Then I ran inside.
Opened my laptop.
My inbox filled the screen.
Advertisements.
Work emails.
Automatic bills.
Nothing from Vanessa.
I refreshed.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
On the third refresh...
A new message appeared.
No subject.
From: Vanessa Reed.
My pulse began pounding.
I clicked it open.
There was no message.
Only one attachment.
A video file.
My cursor hovered over it.
Every instinct told me not to click.
I ignored every instinct.
May you like
I pressed play.
End of Chapter 6.
