Chapter 10 - THE WOMAN IN THE GREEN DRESS
Vanessa remained at the mansion under police supervision.
Her attorneys insisted she was a victim.
They claimed the staircase video had been altered.
They claimed the kidnapping was organized by Grant Mercer.
They claimed Margaret’s bracelet had been stolen.
Vanessa entered the dining room wearing a white suit instead of the green dress.
The green dress had disappeared.
Detective Park noticed.
“Where is the dress you wore last night?”
Vanessa poured herself a glass of water.
“I changed.”
“Where is it?”
“The laundry room.”
Investigators searched the laundry room.
The dress was not there.
Park returned.
“Try again.”
Vanessa smiled.
“You do not frighten me.”
Park placed a photograph on the table.
It showed green silk fibers caught beneath Emma’s fingernails.
“When Emma tried to stop herself from falling, she grabbed your sleeve.”
“We have the fibers.”
“You have nothing.”
“We also have your handprint on Emma’s shoulder.”
“I touched her after she fell.”
“The recording shows you never went downstairs.”
Vanessa’s smile weakened.
Park leaned closer.
“Where is the dress?”
Vanessa said nothing.
At the hospital, Emma was finally cleared to leave.
Cole arranged a secure apartment for her.
Daniel asked whether he could come.
Emma looked at him for a long moment.
“No.”
Daniel accepted the answer.
“Do you want me to stay away completely?”
“I need time.”
“I understand.”
“No, Daniel.”
“I do not think you do.”
Emma stood slowly, one hand supporting her belly.
“For years, every time your family insulted me, you asked me to be patient.”
“When Vanessa searched my things, you called it a misunderstanding.”
“When Margaret told me I was not worthy of carrying a Whitmore child, you said she was traditional.”
“When Charles placed forged papers in front of you, you signed them because questioning him felt disrespectful.”
Daniel’s eyes lowered.
“I abandoned you long before you fell.”
“Yes.”
The truth remained between them.
Emma picked up her bag.
“The police may prove that you were used.”
“But that does not automatically make you a good husband.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
Emma left with Cole and Park.
Daniel remained in the empty hospital room.
That evening, he returned to the mansion under police supervision.
He entered Vanessa’s bedroom.
The walls were lined with photographs of Whitmore charity events.
In every picture, Vanessa stood near the center.
Emma was either at the edge or missing completely.
Daniel searched the closet.
Behind a row of designer coats, he found a narrow door leading to an unfinished storage space.
Inside was a metal trash container filled with ashes.
Something green remained beneath the burned fabric.
The missing dress.
Daniel called Cole.
As he waited for the detective to answer, he noticed a small object inside the ashes.
It was a memory drive protected by a metal case.
Vanessa had tried to burn it.
The casing was damaged, but the storage chip remained intact.
Cole arrived with investigators.
The drive contained dozens of recordings.
Vanessa had secretly recorded family meetings for years.
“She was collecting leverage,” Cole said.
Daniel stared at his sister’s files.
“She did not trust any of them.”
One recording was labeled DANIEL’S ACCIDENT.
Daniel’s face drained of color.
“I never had an accident.”
Cole opened the file.
Vanessa’s voice filled the room.
“Once Daniel is gone, the company shares transfer to Emma.”
“Then we remove Emma.”
May you like
Margaret answered calmly.
“And the baby becomes the sole Whitmore heir.”
