Chapter 3 - The Gardener’s Warning
The grounds of the Vanguard chateau were sprawling, a labyrinth of sculpted hedges and cliffside pathways. On her designated hour of "outdoor recreation"—a strictly monitored walk in the courtyard—Maya met Liam.
He was the groundskeeper, roughly her age, with dirt-stained hands and sharp, observant green eyes. He was trimming a rosebush near the security cameras, whistling a low tune.
"You're the new one," Liam said without looking up, his voice barely carrying over the sound of the ocean.
"I'm the tutor," Maya corrected, pulling her cardigan tighter against the coastal chill.
"Right. The tutor." Liam finally looked at her. "Just like Sarah was."
Maya paused. "Who is Sarah?"
Liam stepped closer, his body blocking the view of the security camera mounted on the eaves. "Sarah was the girl here before you. Sweet girl. Needed the money, just like you probably do. She started asking questions about why a healthy teenager is locked in a vault, given heavy sedatives in her nightly tea."
Maya’s stomach plummeted. "Sedatives? Eleanor said it was vitamins for her immune system."
"Yeah, and Arthur says his company respects user privacy," Liam scoffed softly. "Sarah figured out what they were putting in the tea. She told me she was going to confront them. The next morning, her bags were gone. Eleanor told the staff she quit in the middle of the night. Left her car here, though. Odd way to quit."
May you like
Liam leaned in closer, handing her a clipped white rose. "Don't drink the tea, Maya. And don't give it to the girl. Figure out what's in this house, but don't let them catch you looking."
He walked away, leaving Maya holding the rose, its thorns biting into her palm. She knew she had to leave. But if she ran now, the Vanguards would demand their money back, and her family would be destroyed. She was trapped.
