Chapter 8: The Friend Who Knew Everything
The name stayed on the screen.
Catherine Vale.
A person Isabella had trusted more than almost anyone.
A person who had stood beside her during the darkest moments of her life.
A person who knew every secret.
Every fear.
Every weakness.
Vincent looked at his wife.
“Your best friend?””
Isabella nodded slowly.
But the expression on her face said she wished she could say no.
“She was there when I lost my first baby.””
The room became quiet.
Daniel looked confused.
“Catherine?””
Isabella nodded.
“She was the one who stayed with me when everyone else left.””
Vincent watched her carefully.
Because he could hear the conflict in her voice.
Catherine was not just a name.
She was a memory.
A person attached to the version of Isabella who had been broken and needed someone to hold her together.
“How long have you known her?”” Vincent asked.
“Since college.””
“And she was named as Bella’s emergency guardian?””
Isabella looked down.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes lifted.
“Because it was never supposed to matter.””
Vincent frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“She was just a backup.””
A painful pause.
“I never imagined anyone would actually need to use it.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Mom knew about Catherine.””
Isabella turned.
“What?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“She knew Catherine was listed.””
“How?””
“Because I saw the paperwork.””
Vincent looked at him.
“What paperwork?””
Daniel hesitated.
“The hospital preparation forms.””
A terrible realization passed through Isabella’s face.
“The ones before I gave birth.””
Daniel nodded.
“Mom had copies.””
Vincent’s expression darkened.
“So she knew every person Isabella trusted.””
Daniel said nothing.
Because that was exactly what had happened.
Evelyn hadn’t just planned around Isabella.
She had mapped her.
Every relationship.
Every person who could help.
Every person who could be controlled.
Amelia picked up her phone.
“The location is changing.””
Vincent looked at her.
“What?””
“The person who has the baby knows we’re coming.””
Isabella stepped forward.
“Where is my daughter?””
Amelia looked at the screen.
“She was at the Vale residence.””
“Was?””
Amelia didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough.
Vincent grabbed his jacket.
“We’re going.””
Daniel stopped him.
“You don’t know what you’re walking into.””
Vincent turned.
“My daughter is there.””
Daniel looked away.
“I know.””
“Then move.””
For once, Daniel didn’t argue.
Catherine Vale’s house was fifteen minutes outside the city.
A quiet neighborhood.
Large homes.
Perfect lawns.
The kind of place where neighbors waved and nobody imagined anything terrible could happen behind closed doors.
When Vincent arrived, the house looked empty.
No cars.
No lights.
No movement.
Isabella stepped out slowly.
“She’s not here.””
Vincent looked at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because Catherine always leaves the porch light on.””
He stared.
“What?””
“She said it made the house feel welcoming.””
A sad smile crossed Isabella’s face.
“She hated darkness.””
Vincent looked at the house.
“Maybe she wanted people to think nobody was home.””
They approached the door.
It was unlocked.
Inside, everything was neat.
Too neat.
A baby blanket sat folded on the couch.
A bottle rested beside the sink.
A tiny stuffed rabbit was on the floor.
Isabella picked it up.
“This is Bella’s.””
Her voice broke.
“She had this in her crib.””
Vincent looked around.
The house felt wrong.
Like someone had left in a hurry.
Daniel searched the hallway.
“Here.””
They followed him.
On the wall was a collection of photographs.
Catherine and Isabella.
Years of friendship.
Birthdays.
Trips.
Graduations.
Then Vincent noticed something.
A photograph from the hospital.
Five years ago.
Catherine standing beside Isabella’s hospital bed.
Holding her hand.
He looked closer.
Something was written on the back.
Isabella took it.
Her face changed.
“What?””
She turned the photograph around.
A message.
*You promised you would help me fix this.*
Vincent looked at her.
“Fix what?””
Isabella shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
A sound came from upstairs.
Everyone froze.
A baby crying.
Isabella ran.
“Bella!””
She rushed up the stairs.
Vincent followed.
They reached the nursery.
The door was open.
Inside was a crib.
Empty.
But the crying continued.
A speaker.
A recording.
Someone had left it playing.
Isabella covered her mouth.
“No.””
On the wall was a note.
Vincent picked it up.
Three words.
*YOU WERE CLOSE.*
Daniel searched the room.
“She knew we’d come here.””
Vincent looked at the note.
“No.””
“What?””
“She wanted us to come here.””
A phone rang.
Everyone looked around.
The sound came from inside the closet.
Vincent opened it.
A phone sat on the shelf.
Catherine’s phone.
The screen showed one active call.
Someone was listening.
Vincent answered.
“Where is my daughter?””
Silence.
Then a familiar voice.
Catherine.
“I’m sorry, Isabella.””
Isabella froze.
“Catherine?””
Her voice broke.
“Where is Bella?””
“I didn’t want it to happen this way.””
“You took my baby.””
“I protected her.””
Isabella closed her eyes.
“Everyone says that.””
Catherine was silent.
Then she whispered:
“Because everyone is telling the truth.””
Vincent’s expression hardened.
“No. You’re lying.””
Catherine ignored him.
“Isabella, do you remember what happened five years ago?””
Her breathing changed.
“Don’t.””
“You remember.””
“Stop.””
“You asked me to help you.””
Isabella went still.
“What?””
Catherine’s voice became softer.
“You were terrified.””
Vincent looked at Isabella.
She shook her head.
“No.””
“You told me you couldn’t survive losing another child.””
Tears filled Isabella’s eyes.
“I never said that.””
“You did.””
“No.””
Catherine continued.
“You told me you would do anything to make sure your next baby was safe.””
Vincent stepped closer to Isabella.
“Bella?””
She looked confused.
“I don’t remember.””
Catherine’s voice cracked.
“I tried to help you.””
“You helped them steal my daughter?””
“No.””
“Then where is she?””
Silence.
Then Catherine answered:
“With someone who can give her what you couldn’t.””
Isabella’s face changed.
The pain became anger.
“You think I’m not her mother?””
“I think you love her.””
“Then why?””
“Because love isn’t always enough.””
The call went silent.
Then Catherine said:
“I’m sending you something.””
A file appeared on Vincent’s phone.
A video.
Recorded five years ago.
Isabella’s hands started shaking.
“No.””
She recognized the date.
The same night she lost her first child.
The same night everyone told her she was confused.
Vincent opened it.
The video showed a hospital room.
A younger Isabella sat on the bed.
Crying.
Catherine was beside her.
But there was another person in the room.
Evelyn.
And Dr. Amelia Voss.
Vincent watched.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Then younger Isabella said:
“I don’t want to lose another baby.””
Catherine held her hand.
“You won’t.””
Amelia stepped closer.
“There is a solution.””
The video cut briefly.
Then Isabella heard her own voice.
A voice from five years ago.
“If something happens…”
She stopped.
The room went silent.
Because younger Isabella said something nobody expected.
Something that changed the entire story.
“If I can’t protect my baby…”
She looked at Catherine.
“I want you to.””
Vincent stopped the video.
Nobody spoke.
Isabella looked destroyed.
“I never said that.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Bella.””
“I never agreed to give away my child.””
Vincent looked back at the screen.
The video had not ended.
It was still playing.
The final seconds loaded.
And then they saw the missing piece.
After Isabella left the room, Catherine stayed behind.
She looked at Evelyn.
Then Amelia.
And said:
“She’ll forget.””
Amelia nodded.
“And when she has another child?””
Catherine smiled.
“She won’t remember enough to fight.””
Vincent’s blood turned cold.
But then the final line played.
The line that made everyone freeze.
Catherine looked directly at the camera.
Almost like she knew they would watch it one day.
And said:
“Bella was never the plan.””
The video ended.
Isabella stared at the black screen.
“Then what was?””
Nobody answered.
Until Daniel noticed something on the floor.
A small hospital bracelet.
Not Bella’s.
Not Isabella’s.
One from five years ago.
With a name printed across it.
A name Vincent had never seen.
May you like
A name that made Catherine’s entire plan finally make sense.
*Baby: Vale, Emma Catherine.*
