Chapter Twenty Four

That message that Lucas Bennett sent Emily made her even more angry. She tried to read the message again, If she could feel less angry this time.  We need to talk. It is about Vanessa. She told me something before I found out about the affair. I know that she played both of us.”

“Lucas has something important to tell me about his girlfriend, Vanessa. Who I just finished talking to by the way.” Emily said as she gazed at Sophia. “He should have at least revealed some details about what he wants to tell you.” Sophia responded, as she checked her phone.  “I think I should at least see him and hear what he wants to say. After all, he was also betrayed by Vanessa.”  Emily said.

“If you are going, then I am going with you. I will not let you go there alone “ Sophia said as she got up from the sofa.                    Emily and Sophia put on some decent clothes and entered the car. It was Sophia's car, so she was the one driving.       “Where are we meeting Lucas?” Sophia asked. “Let me text him and confirm the address.” Emily responded.                            The address was a small cafe downtown. It was not very far from Emily's apartment, so Sophia and Emily arrived early. After about twenty minutes, Lucas came in looking tired and disappointed. He had a confidence that could light up every room, but now that confidence is gone. All that is left is rage. When they all exchanged pleasantries, there was a moment of silence because things felt awkward between them.

“I deliberately refused to contact you all this while, because I did not know if it was a good idea to contact you after everything that had happened.” Lucas said, as he pulled out a chair and sat down.                       “Why did you change your mind?” Sophia asked as she looked at Emily.                      “I wanted to talk to someone because I could no longer bear it. While scrolling through old messages Vanessa and I had sent each other, I discovered something she said about your marriage,” He said.            “What did Vanessa have to say about my marriage?” Emily asked. “A few weeks prior to your third anniversary, Vanessa told me how miserable you were in your marriage, she said you were sad and devastated. She said she was going to help you get through it.” Lucas said as he brought out his phone from his pocket.              “That conversation never happened between Vanessa and me. She made that whole thing up,” Emily said in anger.                   “Of course she did,” Lucas said as he became more uneasy. “Vanessa also told me that you confided in her that you are going to leave the marriage since you and Ryan are going through a rough patch,” Lucas added. “I don't want to keep sounding like a broken record but I never said that, and you know that your girlfriend is lying.” Vanessa said.  “I now know she is,” Lucas said as he searched for another line of messages that she sent. Vanessa told Lucas that Emily no longer had time for Ryan but physically and emotionally. That is why she wanted to divorce him.” He quoted.   “Vanessa painted me like a villain in those messages. Vanessa and I had perfectly planned our third anniversary. She even helped me pick out the dress I wore that night. When did I ever tell that liar that I was leaving? Why would she do this to me?” Emily asked bitterly.                   “I have no idea.” Lucas responded.

Vanessa's behavior on the week of their third anniversary made Emily question her intentions. The way she was unusually interested about union and the bizarre things she tried to find out about Ryan made Emily feel as though she was up to something.                                        “That is not all,” Lucas said as he searched for yet another message. Vanessa sent this message just two days before the anniversary.

Apparently, Vanessa lied to Lucass two days before Emily and Ryan's anniversary that she wanted to spend the night at Emiiy's place so that she can comfort her.                                                        As Emily read that message, she was so disappointed in herself for trusting someone like Vanessa. Someone who could lie so effortlessly. Vanessa had also told Emily that she had something important to handle that same night. “She also lied to me. She has played you for a fool.” She told Lucas, as she gave him back his mobile phone.

It was not clear to them that Vanessa had always been in love with Ryan. She had loved him from the beginning. So she used Emily to achieve what she desperately wanted.

“Did Vanessa ever ask you anything about your parents?” Sophia eventually said something because she had been quiet all through the conversation. “She was pestering me about my parents. She wanted to know if they left me anything.”.             “Can you remember when she asked you this?” Sophia asked Emily.                                         “It was just a few months ago. I thought it was just an innocent question.”                                   

“From what I have seen, Vanessa could be up to something,” Sophia said as she became more concerned. “I am not sure what it means yet. She could be asking as a concerned friend.” Emily told Sophia as she grabbed her phone.  

“From what we have read here today, we all know that Vanessa is not a concerned friend,” Sophia said.                                     “There is another thing left,” Lucas said as he put down his phone. "What else is left? What has this lady not done,” Emily said as she eagerly waited  to hear what Lucas had to say. 

“Vanessa secretly met somebody. I knew she was plotting something because of the way she always snuck out to make the phone call everytime.” Ryan said.

“Do you know who she met with and where?” Emily asked in anticipation.

“I don't know his name. But I saw them together twice.”

“When did she meet this person?”

“She met him just before your anniversary,” he said.

“Did you find out the exact location?” Emily asked.

“I saw them outside of Carter Holdings,” Lucas responded.

“Carter Holdings? Are you certain of this?” She asked.

“I am sure because I followed them there myself. I even took pictures,” he said.

“Do you know what the meeting was about?” Emily asked.

“I was not close enough to hear what they talked about,” Lucas responded.

“The next time they met, Vanessa gave him a brown envelope, but I don't know what it contained.” Lucas said without hesitation.

“Did you take a picture of them?” Emily asked him.

Lucas said yes, I do. And he brought out his phone again and showed her the picture that  he took.

In the picture, Vanessa was standing close to a dark-haired man with an envelope in her hand.

Emily glared at the picture because there was something about that man. It looked like she had met him before. Sophia also looked at the picture but she did not not remember the man in it. But Emily did recognize him. The quality of the picture is not very clear. And it looked like Lucas had taken it from afar. But Emily was sure that she had seen that man before. She cannot remember where but she was so sure he had something to do with Victor Knight. Her instincts are never wrong.

Emily glared at the picture again. “So Vanessa has been secretly meeting with somebody from Damian's family,” she said.    “This is no longer an ordinary coincidence. There is something more to this betrayal.” Sophia told them. At that moment, her cellphone buzzed. She picked it up from the table and saw that it was Vanessa. Vanessa decided to call her again. She told Lucas not to utter a word as she picked it up.

“Does Ryan know you were meeting secretly with someone who works for Victor Knight?” Emily began with that cold question, because she decided to trust her instincts.

 Vanessa was calm and didn't say anything. She was quiet for almost thirty seconds.

“Did a cat cut your tongue?” Emily asked.

“This was never supposed to happen. I did not betray our friendship because of Ryan,” she responded with a shaky voice after seconds of silence. “What do you mean you didn't betray me because of Ryan? Explain immediately.” Emiiy commanded. “I got close to him, to find out the dirt he had on Damian.”