Ethan lifted Lily into his arms and carried her out of the kitchen.
He brought her up to her bedroom and locked the door behind them.
He sat with her on the bed until her breathing slowed down.
Ethan: I am so sorry I did not notice sooner, sweetie.
Lily: She told me you would leave if I said anything.
Lily: She said I was ruining your new happiness.
Ethan felt a wave of rage wash over his entire body.
He realized his wife had manipulated his daughter into silence.
He promised Lily that she was completely safe now.
Ethan called his trusted family lawyer right away from the bedroom.
He asked the lawyer to run a complete background check on Vanessa.
Within two hours, the attorney sent a private file to Ethan's phone.
The documents contained shocking details about Vanessa's past life.
She had been married once before to a wealthy businessman in another state.
That marriage had ended in a messy court case involving lost custody.
Vanessa had taken a large financial settlement during her previous divorce.
She had lied on her legal forms when she married Ethan.
She had hidden her previous marriage and the restraining orders against her.
Ethan read every single page of the police reports with utter disbelief.
He realized Vanessa was a dangerous woman who targeted wealthy fathers.
She used children to exert control and extract money from wealthy men.
Ethan put his phone in his pocket and stood up straight.
He walked back downstairs to confront his lying wife once and for all.
Vanessa was pacing back and forth in the living room area.
She held a glass of water, trying to look calm and relaxed.
Vanessa: Ethan, we need to talk about Lily's behavioral issues.
Ethan: I know about your first husband, Vanessa.
Vanessa dropped her glass, sending water and sharp shards across the floor.