Chapter 4 - The Maid Became the Only Person He Could Trust
The investigation spread through the estate.
The doctors remained.
The security team expanded.
The family began fighting.
Marcus returned with lawyers.
He claimed he had left because he felt threatened.
Vincent didn't believe him.
Anna didn't either.
But she had no proof.
One afternoon, she found Vincent standing by the window without assistance.
“You shouldn't be standing.”
“I hate the bed.”
“You nearly died in it.”
“I know.”
“You should sit.”
He smiled.
“You sound like my doctor.”
“I clean your room.”
“You're becoming bossy.”
“Someone has to.”
He sat.
Then looked at her.
“You're not afraid to speak.”
“I've been poor too long to be impressed by rich men.”
He laughed.
It was the first time Anna had heard him laugh.
She smiled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You laughed.”
“So?”
“I didn't know you could.”
“Apparently I can.”
They started spending more time together.
Not intentionally.
It simply happened.
Anna brought his medications.
He asked about her brother.
She told him Noah wanted to become an architect.
Vincent arranged a scholarship anonymously.
Anna found out.
She confronted him.
“I told you I don't want favors.”
“It isn't a favor.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“It’s an investment.”
“In what?”
“Your brother.”
She shook her head.
“I can't repay you.”
“I don't want you to.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is.”
She smiled.
He smiled back.
Their relationship changed quietly.
The security staff noticed.
The doctors noticed.
Even Luca noticed.
One evening, Luca told Vincent:
“You're falling in love with the maid.”
Vincent looked at him.
“Don't be ridiculous.”
“You asked her brother's name three times.”
“I forgot.”
“You memorized it.”
Vincent said nothing.
Luca smiled.
“You've been dead for six years.”
Vincent looked toward the hallway.
Then said:
“Maybe.”
Meanwhile, Anna discovered something in the laundry room.
A jacket belonged to Marcus.
There was a small tear inside.
A hidden pocket.
Inside was a memory card.
She didn't touch it.
She called Vincent.
They opened it together.
It contained security footage.
The footage showed a man entering the medical supply room.
He was wearing a hood.
But the timestamp was clear.
Three months ago.
Before Vincent became sick.
The man removed medication.
Replaced it.
Then left.
Vincent watched carefully.
“Stop.”
Anna paused the footage.
“What?”
“His walk.”
Vincent stared.
“I know him.”
“Who?”
“My father's driver.”
The driver had died seven years earlier.
Or so Vincent thought.
They checked records.
The man in the footage was alive.
He was working for Marcus.
That connected Marcus to the poisoning.
But there was another clue.
The driver had met with a woman.
Anna recognized her.
Her old supervisor.
The woman who had hired her as a maid.
Anna felt sick.
“I was placed here.”
Vincent nodded.
“Yes.”
“Someone hired me intentionally.”
“Apparently.”
“Why?”
“Because they wanted you near me.”
She looked at him.
“What did they expect?”
“Maybe you were supposed to poison me.”
Anna stepped backward.
“You think I was part of this?”
“No.”
“But you just said—”
“I think someone wanted me to think you were.”
She stared.
“And you still trust me?”
“I do.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because you had every opportunity to hurt me.”
She said nothing.
“You saved me instead.”
Her eyes filled.
“Vincent.”
He reached for her hand.
She didn't pull away.
“I don't know how this ends.”
“Neither do I.”
“But I know one thing.”
“What?”
“I don't want you to leave.”
She looked at him.
“I don't want to.”
They kissed.
It was brief.
Quiet.
Unexpected.
The kind of kiss that happened when both people were too tired to lie anymore.
Then the bedroom door opened.
Marcus stood there.
He saw them.
His face changed.
“Well.”
Vincent released Anna's hand.
“What do you want?”
Marcus smiled.
“Nothing.”
But when he left, Anna knew the balance had shifted.
The next morning, her brother disappeared.
Noah failed to answer his phone.
His apartment was empty.
A note sat on the table.
TELL COSTA TO STOP LOOKING.
Anna nearly collapsed.
Vincent found her.
“What happened?”
“My brother.”
He read the note.
His face went cold.
“You're staying here.”
“No.”
“Anna.”
“They have Noah.”
“Then we get him back.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand exactly.”
“You can't save everyone.”
He stepped closer.
“I'll save him because he's yours.”
She stared at him.
Then whispered:
“Why?”
Vincent's answer came without hesitation.
“Because you're mine.”
Neither of them knew whether he meant family, loyalty, or love.
May you like
But the enemy heard the threat.
And that night, Noah was taken to a warehouse outside the city.
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