Chapter 5 - THE SECRET UNDER THE HOUSE

Nico stared at the papers.

“What is this?”

Camille sat beside him.

“Protection.”

“For who?”

She smiled.

“For us.”

Adeline watched silently.

She already knew.

This was not protection.

It was control.

Nico pushed the papers away.

“I’m not signing anything.”

Camille’s smile disappeared.

“You don’t understand your situation.”

“My situation?”

“Yes.”

She looked at his wheelchair.

“You need help.”

Nico’s face hardened.

“I need help. I don’t need ownership.”

The room became silent.

Camille stood.

“You’re being difficult.”

“No.”

He looked directly at her.

“I’m finally paying attention.”

That sentence changed everything.

Because Camille realized something.

Nico was waking up.

And awake people were dangerous.

Later that night, Adeline found Edna in the kitchen.

“You knew.”

Edna stopped.

“Knew what?”

“That something was wrong.”

The old housekeeper looked away.

“I have worked here twenty years.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Edna sighed.

“You think you’re the first person who noticed?”

Adeline became quiet.

“How many?”

Edna looked at her.

“How many what?”

“How many people tried to help him?”

Edna did not answer.

She didn’t have to.

The silence was enough.

Then Edna whispered:

“Be careful, Adeline.”

“Why?”

“Because the person hurting Nico…”

She looked toward the second floor.

“Has access to everything.”

Adeline felt a chill.

“What does that mean?”

Edna’s voice dropped.

“It means the person who wants him destroyed…”

“Doesn’t have to break into the house.”

A pause.

“They already live here.”

At that exact moment, Adeline’s phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

One message.

A picture.

It showed her brother Wes leaving school.

Under the picture were five words.

Stop asking questions. Or else.

Adeline stared at the screen.

Her hands started shaking.

Because now she understood.

This was never only about Nico.

May you like

THE MAID’S DAUGHTER

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE,” HIS FIANCÉE TOLD THE MAID—THEN THE MAFIA BOSS LOOKED AT HER LITTLE GIRL“Get out of my house. And take that...

**MY HUSBAND CALLED ME A “BARREN LEECH”—HE DIDN’T KNOW MY MONEY WAS KEEP...

My husband threw his wedding ring at my feet and told security to remove the “barren leech” from the ballroom.He had no idea he wa...

MY DAUGHTER’S NOTE STOPPED MY WEDDING—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE

MY DAUGHTER SLIPPED ME A NOTE BEFORE “I DO”—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE’S PLANPART 1 — TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE VOWS“Daddy, if you marry he...

They had found her weakness.

And they were willing to use it.