# Chapter 13: The Gardener's Silent Warning
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I'm going to walk with you through another gripping chapter of "The Housemaid" — a chapter filled with suspicion, secrets, and a gardener who knows more than he lets on.
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The vacuum cleaner hums its monotonous drone as I push it across the living room floor, my mind elsewhere, lost in the endless maze of questions that have been piling up since I arrived at the Winchester house. And that's when I see it — a shadow moving past the window, quick and purposeful.
I pause, my curiosity piqued.
Sure enough, there's Enzo, out in the backyard, hard at work. From what I've gathered, he rotates between houses throughout the week, handling gardening and landscaping duties for the wealthy families in this neighborhood. Today, he's focused on the flower beds in the front yard, his shovel cutting into the earth with practiced efficiency.
Something stirs inside me. An idea takes root — perhaps it's time for a little conversation.
I make my way to the kitchen, grab a clean glass, and fill it with cold, refreshing water. Then, with my heart beating just a little faster, I head outside.
What exactly do I hope to achieve? I'm not entirely sure myself. But ever since those two women at the coffee shop whispered those chilling words about Nina — "literally crazy" — I haven't been able to shake the thought from my mind. And then there was that bottle of antipsychotic medication I found tucked away in her medicine cabinet. Now, I'm not the kind of person to judge someone for struggling with mental health issues — I've met my fair share of women battling their own demons during my time in prison. But knowledge is power, and understanding Nina's condition could give me the tools I need to help her. Or perhaps, to protect myself.
I think back to my very first day at this house. Enzo had seemed ready to warn me about something, to tell me some important truth, but Nina had appeared at the door before he could utter a word. Now, with Nina out of the house, Andrew at work, and little Cecelia at school, the timing is perfect for a proper interrogation.
The only problem? Enzo barely speaks a word of English.
But hey, it can't hurt to try. And I'm sure a thirsty gardener won't turn down a cold glass of water.
I step outside into the warm afternoon air. The sun beats down mercilessly as Enzo continues his work, deeply absorbed in digging a hole in the ground. He's so focused that he doesn't even notice me — not even when I clear my throat loudly. Twice.
Determined, I wave my hand to get his attention. "¡Hola!" I call out.
Damn it. That was Spanish. Again.
Enzo finally looks up from his hole, and I catch an amused expression dancing across his lips. "Ciao," he says simply.
"Ciao," I repeat, mentally kicking myself and vowing to get it right next time.
My eyes wander, almost involuntarily, to the sweat-soaked pattern on his T-shirt. The fabric clings to his skin, emphasizing every single muscle hidden beneath. And these aren't vanity muscles — no, these are the firm, functional muscles of a man who earns his living through hard manual labor.
So I'm staring. Sue me.
I clear my throat again, forcing myself to focus. "I brought you... um, water. How do you say...?"
"Acqua," he supplies.
I nod vigorously. "Yes. That's it."
See? We're making progress. We're communicating. This is going great.
Enzo strides over to me with purpose, his dark eyes meeting mine as he takes the glass from my hand. He drains half of it in what looks like a single gulp, the water disappearing in seconds. He lets out a satisfied sigh, wiping his lips with the back of his hand. "Grazie."
"You're welcome." I smile up at him, trying to appear casual. "So, um, have you worked for the Winchesters a long time?"
He looks at me blankly, and I realize my mistake. "I mean, have you... do you work here... for many years?"
He takes another long swig from the glass, and I notice with growing alarm that he's nearly emptied it. When the water is gone, he'll go back to work, and my opportunity will slip away. I don't have much time left.
"Tre anni," he says finally, then pauses. He seems to search for the right words. "Three year."
"And, uh..." I squeeze my hands together nervously. "Nina Winchester... Do you..."
He frowns at me — but not with confusion. This isn't the blank stare of someone who doesn't understand. Instead, he looks like he's waiting, watching to see what I'll say next. Perhaps he understands English far better than he can speak it.
"Do you..." I start again, choosing my words carefully. "Do you think that Nina is... I mean, do you like her?"
Enzo narrows his eyes at me, his expression unreadable. Without answering, he takes one final, long drink from the water glass, emptying it completely. Then, with a purposeful motion, he shoves the empty glass back into my hand.
Without a single word, he turns and walks back to the hole he was digging. He picks up his shovel, drives it into the earth, and resumes his work as if I don't exist.
I open my mouth, ready to try again, but then I close it. The message is clear. This conversation is over.
When I first arrived at this house, Enzo was trying to warn me about something — I'm sure of it now. But Nina had interrupted before he could speak. And now, it seems, he's changed his mind. Whatever Enzo knows, whatever suspicions he carries, he isn't going to share them with me.
At least, not today.
But the silence speaks volumes. And as I walk back toward the house, clutching the empty glass, I can't shake the feeling that I've just received a warning far more powerful than any words could convey.
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## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
What a tense, atmospheric chapter! The way this story slowly unravels is absolutely masterful. I was on the edge of my seat watching Millie try to break through Enzo's language barrier, only to be met with that chilling, silent dismissal. The way he looked at her — like he was deciding whether to reveal something terrifying but chose to stay silent — sent shivers down my spine. Enzo is clearly more than just a gardener; he's a keeper of secrets. And Millie's desperation to understand Nina's true nature is becoming more gripping with each passing page. Every interaction feels layered with hidden meanings, and I love how the author builds tension through what's NOT said rather than what is. The way Millie remembers Enzo's attempted warning on her first day is such a satisfying callback that deepens the mystery.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
## Next Chapter Prediction
I predict that Millie will find another way to uncover the truth about Nina's condition. Maybe she'll search the house more thoroughly for answers, or perhaps she'll attempt to talk to Nina directly, testing the waters to see if those rumors of insanity are true. The medication bottle is an obvious clue she hasn't fully explored — maybe she'll research it, or search for more hidden evidence. But I suspect the most dangerous development will come when Millie gets too close to the truth, and the seemingly docile Nina shows a side of herself that's far more unstable — and far more terrifying — than anyone could have predicted.
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