The Midnight Scheme

The clock struck exactly midnight. In the dim shadows of the hallway, I pressed myself against the velvet curtains, holding my breath as I watched. Lien, the maid who usually dressed in simple, modest clothes, was now draped in a daring, high-slit red silk dress. She crept along, holding her high heels in her hands to avoid making a sound, before disappearing through the back door.

I followed her silently. When I reached the back garden, under the flickering streetlights, my heart felt like it was being squeezed, and I turned pale. Waiting by the ancient tree was none other than my husband—the man who was supposed to be fast asleep after his long business trip.

As it turned out, the anonymous letter I received this morning was true. They were whispering about a “new will” and the safe in my study.

Instead of rushing out and screaming, I regained my composure, took a deep breath, and decided to play along with their scheme. I intentionally dropped my phone to create a small noise.

“Who’s there?” my husband asked, startled.

I didn’t show myself but quickly sent a text to his phone: “I know you’re out there. I left the safe key on the desk; take it quickly before I change my mind.”

The two traitors exchanged a look of smug satisfaction. They thought I had been defeated or was too exhausted to care. Lien and my husband hurried back into the house, heading straight for the study. Just as their hands touched the handle of the safe, I calmly flipped the lights on. Behind me stood two police officers I had secretly contacted earlier.

“Caught you red-handed,” I said coldly, looking at the bloodless faces of the two who had just been trapped on the spot.

The clock struck midnight. Hidden behind the heavy velvet curtains in the dim hallway, I held my breath. Lien—the housemaid who usually dressed in drab, modest clothes—was now draped in a provocative, high-slit red silk dress. She moved like a shadow, carrying her high heels to avoid making a sound, before slipping out through the back door.

I followed her silently. As I reached the back garden under the faint glow of the streetlights, my heart skipped a beat and I turned pale. Waiting by the ancient oak tree was none other than my husband—the man who was supposedly exhausted and fast asleep after his business trip.

It turned out the anonymous letter I had received that morning was true. They were whispering about a “new will” and the safe in my private study.

Instead of rushing out in a blind rage, I took a deep breath and decided to play along with their scheme. I intentionally dropped my phone to create a slight noise.

“Who’s there?” my husband snapped, startled.

I didn’t show myself. Instead, I quickly sent him a text: “I know you’re out there. I left the key to the safe on the desk; take what you want and leave before I change my mind.”

The two traitors exchanged a smug, greedy look. They thought I had finally broken or was too tired to fight back. Lien and my husband hurried back into the house and headed straight for the study. The moment their hands touched the safe, I flipped the switch, flooding the room with light. Standing behind me were two police officers I had summoned in secret.

“Caught you red-handed,” I said coldly, watching the color drain from their faces as they were trapped on the spot.

My husband collapsed to his knees, stammering that he had been seduced, but the documents in Lien’s hand told the real story. It wasn’t just a forged will; it was a record of assets he had been secretly siphoning off for years.

“Don’t waste your breath on me,” I said, my voice terrifyingly calm. “Save it for the judge.”

Lien glared at me with pure venom, but as the handcuffs clicked shut, her confidence vanished into a pathetic tremble. I stood by the window, watching the sirens fade into the darkness. The villa was silent once more, but now, it belonged only to me. The betrayal was over; a new chapter had begun.