chapter 7

The sound of the front gate opening pulled my attention away from the laundry I was folding. I glanced toward the window and saw Adrian's car entering the compound.

They were back.

A few moments later, the front door opened, and Vivian walked in carrying several shopping bags. Mason followed behind her with a small toy tucked under his arm, while two more bags were handed to them by the driver.

I stared at the amount of shopping they had brought home. It looked like they had emptied an entire store.

“Mia!”

I immediately walked toward Vivian. “Yes, ma'am?”

“Come and help with these.”

I took several of the bags from her without saying anything. Mason walked past us, holding his new toy proudly.

“Look what Mommy bought me!”

I glanced at it. “That's nice.”

He smiled before running upstairs.

Vivian watched him go with a satisfied expression.

“He wanted it, so I bought it.”

Of course she did. I carried the bags into the living room and began arranging them where she directed.

There were clothes, shoes, toys, perfume, and several beautifully wrapped boxes. As I placed one of the boxes on the table, Vivian stopped me.

“Be careful with that.”

I immediately withdrew my hands.

“Yes, ma'am.”

She took the box herself and placed it beside the others. Then she looked around the room.

“Mia, I need you to clean this entire place properly.”

I frowned slightly.

“The entire house?”

“Yes. Every room.”

She spoke as though she had just asked me to wipe a single table.

“And I want everything looking perfect. The curtains, the floors, the guest rooms, the kitchen, everything.”

I nodded.

“Yes, ma'am.”

She folded her arms. “And make sure you prepare yourself properly too.”

I looked at her, confused.

“Prepare myself?”

“For tomorrow.”

She gave me an impatient look.

“Tomorrow is Adrian's birthday.”

My hand stopped halfway through arranging the bags.

His birthday.

I have completely forgotten about it, How could I?

There was a time when I had been the first person to wish him a happy birthday. I remembered the birthday dinners, the gifts I spent weeks choosing, and the way he used to smile whenever I surprised him.

Those memories felt like they belonged to another woman now.

Vivian continued speaking.

“We're having people over tomorrow, so I don't want you looking untidy. You'll be serving the guests, so wear something decent and make sure your hair is properly done.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“And don't embarrass me.”

I lowered my eyes.

“I won't.”

She walked away, leaving me standing among the shopping bags.

I stared at them for a moment.

So they were planning a big birthday celebration. That meant the house would be filled with people tomorrow.

People who knew Adrian. Business associates. Friends. Family, perhaps.

And that meant opportunities. I slowly smiled to myself. Vivian thought she was simply giving a maid instructions. She had no idea she had just handed me an advantage.

Tomorrow, everyone would be looking at Adrian. But I would be watching them.

I would listen to their conversations, observe who came close to him, and pay attention to anything that could help me understand the life he had built after my disappearance.

Most importantly, I might finally learn more about Mason. I picked up another shopping bag.

“Tomorrow,” I whispered under my breath. I carried the bags upstairs, hiding the smile that threatened to appear.

________

By nightfall, the house had finally become quiet. Vivian had gone upstairs with Mason, and Adrian was in his study. The rest of the staff had finished their duties and retired for the night, leaving the house unusually peaceful.

That was exactly what I had been waiting for. I finished putting away the last of the dishes before returning to my small room at the back of the servants' quarters. I closed the door, checked the hallway through the narrow gap, and waited until I was certain nobody was nearby.

Then I reached beneath my mattress and pulled out my second phone. There was only one person I could trust with what I was about to do.

I dialed Sophia. She answered after a few rings.

“Elena?”

“It's me.”

Her voice immediately became more serious. “Is everything all right?”

“Not exactly. I need your help.”

“What happened?”

I sat on the edge of the bed and lowered my voice.

“Tomorrow is Adrian's birthday. Vivian is planning a party, and the house will be full of people.”

Sophia was silent for a moment before asking, “And?”

“I need eyes inside the house.”

“You mean cameras?”

“Yes.” I looked toward the door.

“My eyes can't be everywhere tomorrow. I need to know what is happening in different parts of the house, especially when I'm serving or greeting guests or when I'm nowhere near Adrian.”

Sophia understood immediately.

“You want surveillance.”

“Exactly.”

She exhaled quietly. “I'll arrange it.”

“Not just ordinary security people. I need professionals who know how to remain invisible.”

“I know who to call.”

I relaxed slightly.

“Have them come tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes. They'll need to be inside before everyone wakes up tomorrow. I want them to come disguised as a cleaning team preparing the house for the party.”

Sophia paused.

“That can be arranged.”

“Good. They need to place the cameras where they can monitor the important areas without making anyone suspicious. The study, living room, hallways, and anywhere the guests are likely to gather.”

“And the audio?”

“If it's possible, I want both.”

Sophia was quiet again.

“Mia, are you sure you're ready for this?”

I looked at the wall in front of me.

“I didn't come back here to hesitate.”

“Then I'll make the call.”

“Make sure nobody knows who they're working for.”

“They won't.”

I ended the call and put the phone away.

Less than two hours later, a quiet vehicle entered the compound. I watched from my window as several people stepped out wearing ordinary cleaning uniforms. They carried mops, buckets, vacuum cleaners, boxes, and other supplies that made them look like nothing more than workers hired to prepare the house for the following day's celebration.

But beneath their uniforms was an entirely different purpose.

Sophia had kept her word. They were professionals.

I waited until they were brought inside before quietly joining them.

One of the men glanced at me.

“Mia?”

I nodded.

“Good. Sophia briefed us.”

I looked around the hallway.

“Then let's begin.”

They moved through the house without attracting attention. To anyone watching, they were simply cleaners doing their job late at night before a major event. I showed them the areas I wanted monitored, explaining which rooms were most important.

The cameras were small enough to disappear into the surroundings, and the team worked quickly and carefully. Nothing was left out of place.

When they finished, one of them handed me a small device.

“All feeds can be monitored from this.”

I looked at the screen.

Several different views appeared at once.

The living room.

The hallway.

The entrance.

Adrian's study.

My pulse quickened.

This was what I needed.

Tomorrow, while everyone was distracted by the celebration, I wouldn't have to rely solely on what I could see with my own eyes.

I could watch and listen. I looked at the screen one last time before slipping the device into my pocket.

“Thank you.”

The team packed everything they had brought and quietly left the way they had come. Within minutes, the house was silent again.

I returned to my room and sat on the edge of the bed. I switched on the device.

The cameras came alive one after another.

I smiled.

“Can't wait for tomorrow, I have a special gift for you my dear husband”