Chapter Three - Her Information

[Employees' Room]

Vanessa sat quietly in a corner of the breakroom, her mind constantly replaying the encounter from hours ago. She could have sworn she had heard that man's voice somewhere before.

But where?

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Rachel enter the room.

"Vanessa?" No response.

"Vanessa!" Rachel called out again. Still nothing.

With a soft sigh, Rachel walked over and gently tapped her shoulder. Vanessa blinked, snapping out of her trance.

"Huh?" she asked, looking confused. "Is something wrong?"

Vanessa hurriedly stood up, instinctively reaching for her cleaning cart, but Rachel stood there studying her, her face filled with concern.

"Uhm... yes, there is," Rachel said. "I've been calling your name for the past five minutes, but you were completely lost on another planet."

Vanessa let out a quiet breath, realizing her friend was only worried. "I'm alright," she said, forcing a small smile. "Just thinking about what's waiting for me at home."

It wasn't a lie.

Rachel's expression softened instantly. "Just take my offer," she urged gently. "You don't have to stay in that toxic house forever, you know."

Vanessa lowered her head. "I know, Rachel. I promised you I'd think about it... but I can't just leave like that." She paused, her voice growing smaller. "I still have things to handle. Don't worry... it'll all be over soon."

Rachel stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Vanessa in a warm, tight hug. Vanessa slowly melted into the embrace.

"Thank you," she whispered, tightening her arms around her friend.

Rachel smiled as she pulled away. "C'mon. It's almost time to clock out. I'm going to head home. Bye, Van!"

"Bye, Rachel."

Rachel walked out, leaving Vanessa alone once again. As the silence returned, Vanessa stared blankly at the floor, dreading the journey back to her family's house.

She had only reassured Rachel so her friend wouldn't worry. Rachel had been more of a sister to her than her own blood sisters had ever been. Vanessa had endured years of emotional pain, insults, and abuse under her parents' roof. But how much longer could she keep surviving like this?

'Will I ever escape them?'

Exiting the hotel through the staff doors, she chose to walk the long distance home instead of taking a taxi, hoping to arrive late enough that everyone in the house would already be asleep.

By the time she reached her neighborhood, night had fully fallen. She waited near the perimeter wall for a few minutes until she was sure the house was dark, then slipped through the main gate.

Unbeknownst to her, a black luxury sedan had been trailing her at a distance the entire time.

Inside the rear seat sat Devian. He hadn't left the hotel earlier; instead, he had sent his secretary ahead and waited until Vanessa finished her shift. His security team followed in a discrete SUV behind him. He had watched her walk all thirty minutes from her workplace to this gated neighborhood without stopping once.

His gaze remained fixed on the grand estate before him.

She works as a hotel housekeeper... yet she lives in a mansion like this? he thought, his sharp brow furrowing. The contradiction didn't make sense.

Just then, his phone vibrated against his palm. The screen lit up with Informant displayed across the caller ID.

He answered instantly. "Speak," he commanded coldly.

"Regarding the file you requested, sir—I've just sent the complete background report to your email."

Without another word, Devian ended the call. He opened his encrypted email and pulled up the attached document:

SUBJECT:

Name: Vanessa Brown

Age: 21

Date of Birth: July 20, 2003

Mother: Anita Brown (40)

Father: Thomas Brown (42)

Siblings: Mira Brown (18), Anna Brown (18)

Highest Education: High School Drop out

'That's all?'

"So she's their daughter?" Devian spoke aloud, his expression darkening with realization.

His dark eyes lingered on the Brown mansion for a few moments longer before he slipped his phone back into his tailored jacket. "Drive," he ordered smoothly.

The sleek sedan drove away into the night.

*********

[The Brown's Residence]

Vanessa stood in the shadow of the driveway, looking up at the house just as the final light on the second floor clicked off, swallowing the mansion in darkness. She hugged her arms tight against the chilly evening breeze.

Taking a deep, quiet breath, she pushed open the heavy front door and tiptoed inside. No security guards or household staff were in sight.

She crept up the staircase, stepping carefully to avoid making a sound. Every faint creak of the wooden steps made her heart hammer against her chest. Reaching her bedroom door at the end of the hall, she froze.

Please don't be locked...

Slowly, she turned the doornob. It clicked open softly.A wave of relief washed over her. She slipped inside, reached beneath the small nightstand where she hid her spare key, and quickly locked the door from the inside. Leaning her back against the wooden frame, she listened carefully to the quiet hallway.

Silence.

She counted to ten. Nothing.

"I'm safe..." she whispered softly. 'For now.'

She pushed herself away from the door and walked toward her bed. She wanted nothing more than to take a hot shower and wash away the grueling day, but she didn't dare turn on the faucet—the sound of running water might wake her parents or her sisters.

Then, panic struck.

My phone!

She opened her top nightstand drawer. Nothing. She searched the second drawer. Still empty.

"Please..." she whispered under her breath, panic taking over.

She knelt beside the bed and reached underneath, finding only dust. She checked beneath her thin pillow. Empty. She pulled open her wardrobe, desperately checking every shelf and pocket.

Nothing.

Her shoulders slowly slumped in defeat as her eyes widened in realization. "Where is it?"