Chapter 13 - Vanessa Deletes the Last Recording
Vanessa had hours of recordings from the months before the trust
transition.
Some documented Margaret’s manipulation.
Others captured private family moments that had nothing to do with
wrongdoing.
Once legal matters ended, Vanessa asked everyone what should happen to
them.
Emma answered first.
“Preserve what the attorneys say must be preserved.”
“And the rest?”
“Delete it.”
Vanessa hesitated.
“They’re evidence of what happened.”
“They’re also people’s lives.”
Daniel agreed.
Ethan did too.
Margaret had no authority over the decision.
Vanessa deleted the unnecessary recordings with counsel documenting the
process.
The final video was the penthouse dinner.
Emma watched only the first minute.
She saw herself enter holding Lily.
The suitcase.
The bottle.
Margaret’s face.
Ethan’s panic.
Vanessa’s faint smile.
Then she stopped playback.
“I don’t need it.”
Vanessa deleted the personal copy after the required evidentiary version
was properly handled.
She looked at Emma.
“I’m sorry I watched instead of warning you.”
Emma nodded.
“I know.”
“Do you forgive me?”
“Mostly.”
Vanessa laughed.
“I’ll take mostly.”
May you like
Their relationship became less dramatic after that.
Emma preferred it.
