CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Vanessa had not spoken to Daniel properly in weeks.
When she finally called him, her voice sounded unusually serious.
"Daniel, I need to tell you something about Robert."
He arranged to meet her at a café near her office.
Vanessa arrived carrying a folder.
"I recently attended a business event," she explained. "A man there mentioned Robert Cole. He said Robert had been trying to sell his shares in a company connected to Richard."
Daniel frowned.
"Why would he be selling now?"
"I don't know. But when I mentioned your father's name, he became uncomfortable and changed the subject."
She handed Daniel the folder.
"These are notes I made after the event. I thought they might help."
Daniel read through them carefully.
"Thank you, Vanessa. You didn't have to get involved."
"I know. But I remember what happened after graduation. I saw how much Aisha was hurt, even though I didn't understand why she disappeared."
Daniel lowered the folder.
"She thought we were together."
Vanessa sighed.
"I wish I'd realised that night. Maybe I could have explained things before it was too late."
"You weren't responsible for our misunderstanding."
"Perhaps not. But I could have been more thoughtful."
Daniel thanked her again.
Before he left, Vanessa smiled.
"For what it's worth, I'm glad you and Aisha are finally talking."
He smiled back.
"Me too."
Later, Daniel showed the notes to Aisha. She read them and immediately forwarded them to the detective.
The information was useful, but it wasn't proof of wrongdoing. The investigators would need to establish whether Robert's proposed sale was connected to the case.
Aisha looked at Daniel.
"Vanessa has helped us more than once."
"She has."
"I think I judged her unfairly because of what happened that night."
Daniel considered that.
"We were all young. We didn't know how easily silence could change our lives."
Aisha nodded.
For years, Vanessa had existed in her memories as the girl who stood between her and Daniel. Now she was beginning to see her as another person who had been caught in a misunderstanding.
That evening, Aisha sent Vanessa a message thanking her for helping them.
Vanessa replied warmly, wishing them both well.
Aisha put her phone away and looked at Daniel.
"Maybe it's time I stopped blaming the wrong people."
Daniel took her hand.
"Maybe it's time we all started telling the truth."
They shared a quiet smile.
Their past had taken enough from them already.
They didn't need to keep carrying anger that no longer belonged to them.