Chapter 3

Jane stepped down from the cab she had taken from the bank. The car stopped right in front of the Vale mansion.

She paid the driver the exact fare. The driver collected it without a word and drove off immediately.

Jane turned slowly to face the mansion. For the first time in her life, it felt distant.

She had lived in that house all her life. She had slept in those rooms, celebrated birthdays there, cried there, and worked there. Yet after just one night in a police station, the place suddenly looked unfamiliar. Even the days she spent at Greg’s place had never made her feel this way.

Jane breathed in deeply, held it for a few seconds, then breathed out, then walked toward the gate.

The security man opened it as soon as he saw her.

“Welcome, ma’am,” he said.

But something was in his tone that sounded like pity. Jane noticed it immediately, but she was too tired to question it. After all, she did deserve pity after spending the night locked in a station cell.

She continued toward the front door. As she got closer, her eyes landed on the cars parked neatly outside. Her father’s,  mother’s, Leo’s, Lila’s and Greg’s.

Jane stopped walking. Her eyes remained fixed on Greg’s car.

If Greg was here with her family,  why had he ignored her calls at the station?

‘Maybe he was here helping them plan how to get me out.’ She made an excuse in her head.

Then laughter came from inside the house, disrupting her thoughts.

Jane frowned.

“Laughter? At a time like this? What could they possibly be celebrating while I was at the station being questioned for something I know nothing about?”

Anxious, Jane reached the door and placed her thumb on the scanner, but failed. She blinked and tried again, failed. She pressed harder the third time, but failed.

The laughter inside continued. Her heart began to pound.

She lifted her face toward the scanner, failed. She tried two more times and failed.

That was when it hit her. Her fingerprint and facial access had been deleted.

Jane took a step back, stunned. Then she turned sharply and headed for the kitchen.

The kitchen door was always left open because of ventilation. With more than eight staff working inside daily, plus the heat from the stoves, it was never fully shut.

She walked in, and the kitchen staff looked up in surprise.

“Welcome, ma’am,” a few greeted quickly.

Jane barely nodded as she walked past them.

She didn’t go upstairs, she didn’t stop to wash up, she went straight toward the living room, the same place the laughter she heard outside was coming from.

When she entered, everyone turned. Her family sat around the dining table, eating and drinking. Greg was there too.

Jane stared at them. “Mom, Dad, Greg, Leo, Lila, what are you all celebrating?”

“Oh, you’re out?” Lila said brightly, smiling as she tore into a large chicken leg. “Congratulations to you.”

“How did you get out?” Leo asked bluntly.

“The officer got a call,” Jane replied, still confused. “I thought it was from Dad.”

“I didn’t make any call for your release,” Henry Vale said flatly.

Jane forced a weak laugh. “I’ll take that as all of you trying to tease me.” She moved toward an empty chair beside Greg.

“So, what are we celebrating?”

Before she could sit, Kate Vale slammed her palm on the table.

“The seat on this table was not prepared for you,” she snapped. “You are not part of this celebration.” Jane froze.

The words barely settled when something else caught her eye.

Greg was gently wiping sauce from Lila’s mouth, and Jane’s body stiffened. She stormed toward them and removed Greg’s hand.

“What do you think you’re doing right in front of me, Greg?” she shouted.

Greg looked up lazily. “I’m clearly cleaning stains from my wife’s face, Jane. You can see that, can’t you?”

Jane swallowed the words confusedly. “Wife? I am your wife. We are legally married, Greg.”

He smiled. “Sorry to tell you this, but our marriage was fake. I actually married Lila, not you.” He leaned back comfortably. “I was only with you because I had a mission.”

Laughter burst around the room, and Jane looked from face to face.

“A mission?” she whispered. “What do you mean?”

Lila wiped her lips with a napkin before talking.

“Let me explain. Greg stayed with you because he needed to help us set you up for the illegal drug case.”

“What?” Jane stumbled backwards.

“Yes,” Leo said calmly. “Everything was planned. You were just the scapegoat the Vales trained to take the fall.” He crossed one leg over the other.

“We needed someone whom you would give access to everything without suspicion. Someone whom you would let your guard down for.” His lips curled. “And Greg was perfect because we knew you liked him.”

“And she really did fall for it,” Lila added smugly. “Greg had been my man long before anyone knew him. His mission is complete now, so he’s back where he belongs.”

Jane’s chest rose sharply, and she turned to Henry Vale.

“Dad, is this true?”

“Yes.” The answer came without hesitation.

Jane’s lips parted.

“We needed someone to take the blame,” Henry continued. “The police had begun investigating. Vale Corp cannot crumble, so we created a loophole from your end, and they found it.” He looked at her with no emotion.

Jane grabbed the back of a chair to steady herself, her vision blurred immediately

“But Dad…” Her voice cracked. “I am also your daughter.”

“That’s where you are wrong, Jane.” Kate laughed softly. “You are not a Vale. You don’t have the Vale blood in your veins.” She paused and continued. “You were a stray child we found at our gate. In a way, you brought yourself here to be used.”

Jane held her head, the room began to spin.

Everything suddenly made sense. The distance, the coldness, the favouritism, the way she was always expected to give and never receive. For two full minutes, no one spoke.

Then Lila suddenly squealed. “Babe, I have good news for everyone!”

Greg straightened immediately. “What is it?”

Lila beamed and placed a hand on her stomach.

“I’m pregnant!”

Cheers exploded in the room. Everyone rushed toward her with laughter, hugs, and excitement.

In the chaos, someone shoved Jane, and she fell hard to the floor. Tears soaked her face as she watched them celebrate. No one looked at her, no one cared.

“Oh, she’s still here,” Kate said irritably. “Someone get her out before she ruins this joyful moment.”

Two guards entered at once, grabbed her arms, dragged her outside, and dropped her near the entrance.

Jane remained on the ground, numb. Thoughts crashed through her mind until she could barely breathe.

Footsteps approached quietly, and she looked up. It was the maid, the same one who had asked to speak with her before the gala. The woman knelt quickly and handed Jane a file.

“These are your important documents, ma’am,” she whispered. “I wanted to warn you last night when I overheard them, but you didn’t wait.” Jane stared at her through tears. 

“I pray you find help,” the maid continued, voice shaking. “And justice for what they’ve done to you.” She stood at once and hurried back through the kitchen entrance.

Jane watched her disappear, her chest tightened painfully. After a lifetime spent loving that family, only a househelp had shown her kindness.