Chapter 10


    I rummaged through his pen holder, no luck. It was improbable that he''d be carrying around all the keys


    that were usually there.


    My eyes darted to the corner, falling on the safe. The key to the safe.


    I swung around and headed straight for the gilded statue by the entrance, towering as high as a man.


    There was an obscure ornament at its base that I pressed hard. With a click, the base sprung open. I


    quickly reached in and found a set of keys.


    I paused, he hadn''t moved them. For a fleeting moment, a question shed through my mind: who was


    he locking his study against?


    Because the hiding spot for these keys was my idea.


    The hiddenpartment was ingeniously designed, almost impossible to discover. He agreed


    enthusiastically when I suggested it, and only Jan and I knew about it.


    He must have assumed that I spend all day sleeping like a log, so there was no need to change the


    location. But who was he keeping this secret from?


    I didn''t have time to ponder. I rushed back to the desk, using the smallest key to unlock the drawer. The


    lock opened with a satisfying click.


    Just as predicted, in the second drawer on the right, I found my phone and tablet. I quickly reached out


    and grabbed them. My phone was turned off. My hands shaking, I quickly pressed the power button.


    As I waited for it to boot up, I opened Jan''sputer, nning to check the home surveince


    footage. I entered the familiar password for the webpage, but it showed that I had entered it incorrectly.


    He had changed the password!


    I tried numerous times, all resulting in failure. I couldn''t ess hisputer.


    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Damn you, Jan! I smacked theputer hard in my frustration, the loud sound startling even myself.


    I picked up my phone, and it also showed that the password was incorrect. He had even changed my


    phone''s password.


    Fortunately, when I got this phone, I had recorded my fingerprint. I used it to unlock my phone.


    I quickly checked the battery level, it was almost dead. The most recent call in the call history was from


    my mom. Tears blurred my vision instantly.


    I so wanted to call my mom, but I couldn''t. Firstly, I knew I wouldn''t be able to control my emotions, and


    I didn''t want to worry her. Secondly, I was afraid the battery might run out. The most important thing


    now was to contact Catherine.


    Without thinking, I went to the numerous missed calls and directly dialed Catherine''s number.


    But as soon as I did, I immediately ended the call. No, I couldn''t call her directly, it would be too easy to


    trace.


    I quickly opened WhatsApp, finding Catherine''s ount without any difficulty. She had sent me


    countless messages. I didn''t have time to go through them and directly made a voice call.


    It took a while for her to pick up, and when she did, she sounded furious. "Aaliyah, so you finally


    remembered me, huh? I thought you were dead. If I didn''t hear from you soon, I was going to start


    nning your funeral..."


    I quickly cut her off, "Catherine, listen to me…"


    As soon as I started talking, I broke into a sob, "…I… I need your help!"


    "Aaliyah? What''s going on? …Don''t cry, what happened? Speak up, you''re making me nervous!"


    I took a deep breath, steadying myself, "Catherine, don''t ask now, it''s a long story. You need to help


    me. I can''t exin everything over the phone, but listen..."


    I started rambling, not even sure what I was saying myself.


    Catherine seemedpletely lost and interrupted me, "Aaliyah, have you gotten into some sort of


    trouble?"


    "Yes, I''m in trouble…"


    At this point, I saw no reason to hide my ordeal any longer. I quickly exined my situation and how


    she could help, and then the phone made a small noise and turned offpletely due to low battery.


    For a while, I sat there stunned, there were still so many things I hadn''t exined. I let my hand fall


    helplessly, reluctantly cing the phone back in the drawer. I couldn''t make Jan suspicious before I


    found any evidence.


    I wanted to see what else he had hidden in the drawers that he felt the need to lock them even at


    home. But then, the lights flickered before plunging back into darkness.


    Crap, the power was about to restore.