Chapter 10 - RENEE’S VERSION OF THE TRUTHRenee asked Sophie to browse the shelves while we talked.
The girl hesitated before walking toward the science section.
Renee watched until she was out of hearing range.
Then she placed both hands flat on the table.
“I know what you think of me.”
“You knew he was married.”
“Yes.”
The honesty unsettled me more than an excuse would have.
“You sat with his family in the hospital,” I said. “You watched Elaine reach for my card.”
“I did.”
“You accepted money taken from my household.”
“I did.”
Her voice broke on the second word.
But remorse does not erase participation.
I had learned that from Elaine.
“Then don’t ask me to tell you that Daniel manipulated you into every choice.”
“I’m not.”
Renee looked toward the shelves where Sophie stood pretending to read.
“Daniel told me your marriage was over financially, even if you were still living together. He said you had separate lives. I chose to believe him because believing him gave me what I wanted.”
That was the first thing she said that reached me.
Not because it absolved her.
Because it did not.
“He made me feel selected,” she continued. “I didn’t ask what being selected required me to ignore.”
Daniel had used different bait for each of us.
With me, he used duty.
With Elaine, family.
With Mark, easy money.
With Renee, rescue.
And with Sophie, a future.
Renee removed a small flash drive from her purse.
“I found this inside an old camera bag. Daniel recorded voice notes. Most are meaningless. But some mention the company.”
“Why didn’t you give it to investigators?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of being charged?”
“Of Sophie hearing what kind of person I became.”
I did not take the drive immediately.
“You cannot protect her by hiding the truth that shaped her life.”
“I know.”
“No,” I said. “You know hiding is becoming harder. That isn’t the same thing.”
Renee lowered her eyes.
After a moment, she pushed the drive closer.
“I’m trying to make it the same thing.”
I took it.
Not as forgiveness.
As evidence.
Before leaving, Sophie returned carrying an astronomy book.
“Did he ever promise you things?” she asked.
I looked at Renee.
Then at the child Daniel had taught to doubt every memory.
“Yes,” I said. “Many things.”
“Did he mean them?”
“Sometimes people mean a promise when they make it. Then they choose themselves when keeping it becomes difficult.”
Sophie considered that.
“So it can be real and still be a lie?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled, but she did not cry.
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That was the moment I stopped seeing her as part of Daniel’s betrayal.
She was one of its survivors.
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