“Mr. Cole, the meeting’s been canceled… no reschedule yet.”
Silence.
Canceled? Just like that?
That never happened.
But instead of frustration… a different thought crossed his mind.
I’ll go home early.
A faint smile appeared. It had been weeks since he’d had dinner with his family. Work had consumed everything—days and nights.
He picked up his phone and texted his fiancée, Vanessa:
“I’ll be late tonight.”
It was a lie.
A small one… just to surprise them.
Especially his five-year-old son, Ethan—a quiet, observant boy with eyes that seemed to understand more than most adults.
But as the car pulled through the gates of his mansion, Adrian felt something strange.
A tightness in his chest.
Not fear.
A warning.
The house was lit… but far too quiet.
No laughter.
No TV.
No life.
He entered through the side door, loosening his tie as his footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Then—
A hand yanked his arm.
Another covered his mouth.
Before he could react, he was dragged into darkness.
A closet.
The scent of old wood.
His breath caught.
And then a whisper—low, shaky, but firm:
“Mr. Cole… don’t make a sound.”
He recognized her instantly.
Martha.
The housekeeper. The one who had practically raised Ethan.
But her eyes… were different.
Afraid.
Yet determined.
“If they hear you… it’s over.”
They.
The word echoed in his mind.
He stopped struggling.
And listened.
Voices in the living room.
Vanessa’s.
Soft… sweet… but different.
More intimate.
More dangerous.
And another voice.
Male.
Adrian frowned.
He knew it.
Derek—her cousin. Staying with them for weeks under the excuse of “helping with a nonprofit project.”
Adrian leaned closer to the crack in the closet door.
What he saw made his stomach drop.
They stood too close.
Laughing quietly.
Drinks in hand.
Like nothing in the world was wrong.
“No one suspects anything…” Vanessa said, swirling her wine.
“Of course not,” Derek smirked. “You handled everything perfectly… nice and slow.”
Adrian’s heart pounded.
Slow… what?
Martha’s grip tightened on his arm.
A warning.
Stay quiet.
Derek continued:
“And the kid?”
Silence.
Vanessa sighed.
Not with concern.
With irritation.
“He’s still holding on… the fever comes and goes… but it’s not enough.”
Not enough?
Adrian’s world tilted.
Derek lowered his voice.
“You sure you’re not taking too big a risk?”
Vanessa took a sip.
“The maid serves the food… the medication is mixed in… no one notices.”
Adrian’s blood ran cold.
Martha.
Beside him, she trembled.