Chapter 16
On the video call, Emily hit the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road, her face serious as she asked, "What's going on?"
Suddenly, I heard a faint noise in the hallway. I immediately became alert, got up with my phone, and quietly opened the bedroom door.
The hallway was empty, but I still walked toward the staircase, uneasy.
Standing at the railing on the second floor, I had a full view of the first floor—also empty.
But just as I returned to the bedroom, Emily, who was on the video call with me, suddenly sent a text message.
Emily: [Your housekeeper hasn't left. When your phone moved just now, I saw her hiding in the blind spot under the stairs.]
Reading her message, my heart sank. I couldn't help but admire Lika's eavesdropping skills.
Of course, I was even more impressed by Harper hiding in the shadows, and I deeply realized that in the three years since I married into the Brown family, she had never accepted me.
Whatever. I'd already decided to leave anyway, so let them guard against me however they wanted.
Maybe they could even help me get what I wanted.
I pointed at the screen for Emily on the other end, indicating we should communicate by text.
I quickly typed a message, filling her in on Ethan's situation and telling her about how William had threatened me with Ethan last night.
[Emily, I remember your cousin works in Novaria. Could you ask your cousin to take in my brother temporarily? As long as my brother has a place to stay in Novaria, William won't be able to threaten me.]
[I'll pay your cousin's monthly rent and living expenses. William can't reach Novaria. He only has a property there, so he won't affect your cousin's life.]
After I sent the last message, Emily made an "OK" gesture at the camera.
"Leave it to me."
Seeing her confident look, the weight on my chest finally lifted.
I sent Emily all of Ethan's information in Novaria—his phone number, address, and school details: [Emily, I'm counting on you for my brother's situation. I can handle things on my end, but William is your boss after all. I don't want to cause you trouble or let him threaten you. So let's not contact each other for the next few days. If he asks, just insist you haven't seen me.]
[Once things blow over in a few days, I'll contact you.]
We nodded slightly at the camera in mutual understanding.
After ending the call, I quickly washed up and ate something to restore my energy.
Thanks to Emily discovering that Lika was hiding in the house, I carefully observed my surroundings the whole time. Casually, I actually spotted her hiding place—behind a large decorative vase.
Pretending not to know, I carried out my escape plan and successfully crawled out through the dog door.
Just as Lika had said, no bodyguards were stationed there. I left as if walking through an empty space, smoothly making it back to the apartment Matthew had arranged for me.
Everything was too easy, so easy I thought I was dreaming. Even lying in bed, it all felt unreal.
Perhaps my nerves had been too tense, because lying on the soft bed now made me feel drowsy, and before I knew it, I'd fallen asleep.
I didn't know how long I slept, but half-awake, I seemed to hear violent banging on the door.
The sound was so close, as if it were right by my ear.
"Layla! Open the door right now! I know you're in there!" William's angry voice rang out, making me sit up abruptly. The banging and shouting instantly surrounded me, and I realized I wasn't dreaming.
How did he find this place?
Could Matthew have tipped him off?
I carefully moved to the door and looked through the peephole to see William outside, furious, with two bodyguards behind him.
And Lika was hiding by the elevator!
"Layla, come out right now! Don't make me break down this door—I know you're in there!" William's angry roar echoed through the building. Even though it was one apartment per floor, the neighbors could hear.
I heard someone opening their window and yelling at us to keep it down, saying they'd call the police if we didn't stop.
Hearing this, I was instantly delighted.
"Layla, you're forcing me to do this! You guys, tear this door down!"
Inside, I silently prayed for property management or the police to arrive quickly.
Outside, William, that maniac, had lost all patience and ordered the bodyguards to remove the door.
My heart jumped in alarm.
Just as the bodyguards took out their tools to remove the door, the elevator suddenly opened.
When I saw the property manager leading seven or eight security guards out, my whole body was drenched in sweat, and I collapsed on the floor in relief.
"Sir, are you the owner of this unit?"
William frowned, his eyes unfriendly as he looked at the property manager. "Do you know who I am?"
"I'm sorry, sir, I don't know who you are. But I've confirmed with the owner of this unit that you are not the owner, and you don't have an access card for this building. May I ask how you got up here? Could you please show me your ID?"
Through the peephole, I saw the property manager remain calm and unafraid of William, and I gradually felt a sense of security.
"Who's the owner here? Give me that person's phone number. I want to ask what their relationship is with my wife and why they're hiding her here!"
"I'm sorry, we cannot disclose the owner's privacy. Sir, if you cannot show relevant identification, I'll have to ask you to leave."
The property manager didn't indulge William's bad temper. His words were gentle, but his actions were swift and decisive. With just a look, he had the security guards push William and his people into the elevator.
"Sir, let me escort you down."
The manager swiped his elevator card. I seemed to hear William shout something, but I couldn't make it out before the door closed.
The property manager politely knocked on the door. I carefully opened it and immediately thanked him. "Thank you so much. If you hadn't come in time, I don't know what I would have done."
"It's no problem. I've already communicated with the owner. Please stay here without worry. We'll strengthen security and won't let this happen again."
"Thank you."
After seeing the property manager off, I let out a long breath.
I thought I was safe for the night, but I'd underestimated how low William, that maniac, could go.