Hope had been juggling work, parenting, and marriage, hoping for some calm in their new home, but tension lingered. The cracks in her relationship with Julian had widened. Their caretaker, Bethany, seemed like a blessing—until that night.

Arriving home early, Hope found the house unusually quiet. No kids, no Julian, just the faint sound of running water. She followed the noise to the bathroom, where she saw Bethany stepping out of the shower. Their eyes met in shock. “Oh, Mrs. McAllister—sorry. I didn’t know you’d be home early,” Bethany stammered. Hope’s heart pounded. “Why are you showering here? Where are the kids?” Bethany, clutching a towel, explained, “Tessa spilled milk on me. Julian said I could rinse off. The kids are napping.” Julian soon appeared, calm and unconcerned. “She was a sticky mess. No harm done.”

Hope couldn’t shake her unease. Julian was acting distant, and his casual attitude toward Bethany felt out of character. Days later, she returned home unexpectedly to find him playing joyfully with Bethany and the kids. “You’re home early again,” she noted, suspicion creeping in. “My boss gave me flexible hours,” Julian replied, avoiding her gaze.

Doubt gnawed at her. One night, she set up an old baby monitor in the living room, telling herself, “I just need peace of mind.” The next day, she left for work, heart pounding with guilt—but she had to know the truth.