A Secret Revealed
727 Words
Chapter Nine: A Secret Revealed
(Anna’s POV)
There had been weeks since Vanessa arrived, and I had kept up the charade—playing the role of Levi's sweet and obedient fiancée. But deep down inside me, I was restless. Something was off. Vanessa was not a childhood friend. The manner in which she wandered around the house like she was the boss, the manner in which she kept looking at me, and the manner in which she gazed at Levi—it was not right.
On one morning, while I was reading in the living room with a book, Levi entered, fidgeting with the cuffs of his suit.
"I have to step out for a bit," he stated, acting casual. "I have to check something out."
I nodded, pretending I didn't care. "Okay, be careful."
He stooped down and kissed me on the forehead and then departed. The moment the front door was closed behind him, I exhaled a sigh of relief. Now I was alone.
Now my turn.
I pulled out my phone from my pocket and dialed Daniel's number. It rang several times without him answering.
"Answer, Daniel, please," I mumbled to myself in my tense state.
I waited a couple of seconds and then called again. This time, after two rings, he answered.
"Anna?" His voice was hushed, almost frantic.
"Daniel, I don't have much time," I spoke quickly. "I have to be cautious. Someone is staying with us now, and I think she is in on the game."
There was a moment of silence on the other end. Then Daniel spoke, his voice serious. "Are you sure?"
Yes, I checked. "Her name is Vanessa. She claims she is Levi's childhood friend, yet she is too invested. I heard something beforehand, and she appeared to know what really is going on."
Daniel exhaled sharply. "I was about to call you. The investigator I had on the case has found something."
My heart started racing. "What is it?
"Your father has been looking for you," Daniel said. "He wants to carry out his will. If he doesn't find you quickly, he'll leave everything to Levi."
A wave of emotions—anger, confusion, and the burning knowledge that my father was alive but had never come back for me—overwhelmed me.
"Are you sure of this?" I asked, gripping my phone tightly.
"Yes," Daniel replied. "The detective is still looking, but your father is losing time. If he signs the will before he locates you, Levi stands to gain everything."
I swallowed. "Then we have to move fast."
"We will," Daniel assured me. "But we have to be cautious. If they find out we're doing some digging, they will attempt to shut us down."
"I get it," I whispered.
"Keep an eye out, Anna. I'll contact you the moment we hear something."
And with that, the phone stopped.
I took a breath and concealed my phone. My dad was searching for me, and I needed to devise a way to call him before he would assume something terrible had occurred to me.
I stood up and was walking toward my room when I heard the voice of Vanessa and Levi coming from the kitchen.
I moved cautiously, being at the doorway but out of sight.
"I've had my fill of watching you and Anna together," Vanessa's voice was biting, tinged with anger.
I froze.
"You embrace her, you kiss her, you treat her as if she's everything to you," she continued bitterly. "I cannot endure watching this anymore."
I took quiet breaths.
"Vanessa, listen," Levi asked softly in a soothing voice.
No, I won't calm down," she snapped. "You promised it would be different. It wouldn't take so long."
Levi sighed. "I promised it, everything has to be done the proper way."
"I don't care about your proper way at all" Vanessa hissed.
My heart was pounding in my chest. Out of the picture?
Levi's voice became frosty. "You need to have trust in me, Vanessa. Just be patient.".
Vanessa let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine. But I can't maintain this charade with her indefinitely."
I edged backward slowly, my head spinning.
Vanessa was more than a little friend. And whatever Levi had in store, I was the recipient.
I needed to find out what was actually going on before time ran out on me.
- Writer
