Chapter 4 - The Family Meeting
We went to Diane’s house the next afternoon.
Monica advised us not to.
Then she advised us exactly what to do if we ignored her.
Ryan wore a small recorder beneath his jacket.
I kept my phone recording inside my purse.
Lily stayed with my sister.
I wasn’t bringing her anywhere near Vanessa.
Diane had arranged the family room as though we were gathering for Thanksgiving.
Coffee.
Pastries.
Fresh flowers.
My father-in-law, Thomas, sat near the fireplace looking confused.
Ryan’s younger brother, Eric, stood by the window.
Vanessa sat on the sofa wearing a scarf over her damaged hair.
She glared at me.
Diane began immediately.
“Claire assaulted Vanessa.”
I sat down.
“And Vanessa cut Lily.”
“It was an accident.”
“We have video.”
Diane’s mouth tightened.
“A video without context.”
Ryan laughed once.
It wasn’t a pleasant sound.
“What context makes cutting a terrified five-year-old’s hair acceptable?”
Vanessa jumped in.
“Lily agreed to participate.”
“She asked for her mother.”
“She gets emotional.”
Ryan stared at her.
“She’s five.”
Thomas finally spoke.
“What trust account?”
The room went still.
Diane turned toward him.
“What?”
“Ryan called me this morning.”
His eyes moved from his wife to his daughter.
“He said there’s a media trust in Lily’s name.”
Diane’s face hardened.
“I was protecting family income.”
“Whose income?”
No one answered.
Thomas stood.
“Whose income, Diane?”
Vanessa looked at her mother.
That tiny movement told me where the real authority lived.
Diane sighed.
“Chloe had an opportunity.”
I leaned forward.
“What does Chloe have to do with Lily?”
“Everything became about Lily.”
Her answer came too quickly.
“Every agency wanted Lily.”
I stared at her.
“No agency should have known Lily existed.”
Diane ignored me.
“Vanessa has worked for years building Chloe’s profile.”
Ryan looked disgusted.
“Chloe is six.”
“And talented.”
“She’s six.”
Diane slapped her palm against the table.
“You don’t understand the industry.”
“No.”
Ryan’s voice was quiet now.
“I understand you forged my wife’s signature.”
Thomas turned sharply.
Diane froze.
Ryan continued.
“I understand you made money from my daughter without our permission.”
“That money was for the children.”
“Then why did ninety thousand dollars leave the account?”
Vanessa stood.
“This meeting is over.”
I looked at her.
“What campaign required you to cut Lily’s hair?”
She stopped.
For the first time, Diane looked frightened.
Then Thomas spoke from behind us.
“Vanessa.”
She turned.
“What campaign?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
But I didn’t believe them.
Finally, she whispered.
“The EverBelle campaign.”
Ryan frowned.
I knew the name.
EverBelle was one of the largest children’s hair-care brands in the country.
Diane closed her eyes.
And Vanessa said the sentence that changed the direction of everything.
May you like
“They chose Lily instead of Chloe.”
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