Chapter 10 - The Truth About Why Vanessa Married Him
Daniel believed he understood the story.
Vanessa had loved him, resented Lily, absorbed Margaret’s bitterness, and become cruel.
Then Vanessa told him something that complicated it.
During one supervised conversation with their attorneys aware, she brought an old journal.
“I started seeing a therapist.”
Daniel said nothing.
“She asked why I stayed after I realized I hated being a stepmother.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
Vanessa continued.
“I didn’t marry you because I thought Lily would disappear.”
“Then why?”
“Because I thought loving you would make me love her.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I did try.”
He wanted to reject that immediately.
Then she showed him photographs from the first six months.
Vanessa feeding Lily.
Sleeping beside her crib when she had RSV.
Taking her to pediatric appointments while Daniel worked.
Those moments had been real.
So what changed?
Margaret.
The miscarriages.
And Daniel himself.
Vanessa said after the second miscarriage, Daniel avoided talking about it because he was terrified of falling apart again after losing Megan.
Instead, he buried himself in work.
Vanessa grieved mostly with her mother.
Margaret gave that grief a target.
Lily.
Three earlier clues shifted.
Vanessa’s resentment had intensified after the miscarriages.
Margaret’s comments became more openly hostile.
Daniel had become increasingly absent during the same period.
Daniel sat very still.
“So this is partly my fault?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
Then she corrected herself.
“You left me alone emotionally. That hurt our marriage.”
She looked straight at him.
May you like
“But what I did to Lily is mine.”
That was the first time Vanessa separated explanation from excuse.
