The night after my mom’s birthday, I overheard a conversation that made my skin crawl.

The nanny was grumbling to my boyfriend, her voice laced with irritation, “Today is my birthday, but she only gave her mother a gift and not me. When you two get married, you can’t let her keep spending money on her family like this.”

The driver jumped in, just as annoyed. “Exactly! Why does an old lady need a sports car? She should’ve given it to me! Son, you’d better get her pregnant soon. That way, she won’t have time to waste on things like this.”

Son?

A cold chill ran down my spine. My boyfriend always told me he had no parents, that he saw my mom as his own. So why were they talking to him like that?

The next morning, I checked the security footage, still feeling uneasy. That was when I saw it; him swapping out my vitamins for folic acid.

——

My mom loves fast cars, so for her birthday, I got her a customized sports car. I knew she would be thrilled.

However, before I could even say anything, Alexis, our nanny, jumped in, shaking her head. “Stella, why would you buy this kind of car? It’s just flashy, not practical at all! You should return it before your mom even drives it, don’t waste your money like that.”

Just like that, the excitement in the room disappeared. The conversation died and everyone fell silent. But Alexis didn’t seem to notice.

She grabbed my phone off the table and shoved it into my hand. “Well? What are you waiting for? Call them! What if it’s too late and they refuse to take it back? You young people are so reckless with money, you have no idea how to be responsible.”

I frowned, my grip tightening around my phone. Who wouldn’t be annoyed if their nanny acted like this over a gift they’d carefully picked for their own mother?

But I didn’t want to ruin the moment for my mom. It was her birthday, after all. So instead of arguing, I just slid my phone into my bag and smiled. “Mom, here are the keys. Take it for a spin and see if you like it.”

She smiled, got into the car and ran her hands over the steering wheel, clearly pleased. Meanwhile, I turned back to find Alexis glaring at me like I had just committed some horrible crime.

I was about to put her in her place when Ulrich Zielinski, our driver, strolled over, his face flushed, reeking of alcohol.

My eyes flicked to the table. The expensive bottle of red wine I’d bought for the celebration, the one that cost me thousands, was open. More than half of it was gone.

Ulrich waved his hand dismissively, looking far too comfortable. “Stella, don’t take it to heart. Alexis only said that because she cares about you, like family.”

Then he chuckled, shaking his head. “But let’s be real, she’s got a point. Buying a car? That’s something a man should decide. Did you even talk to Spencer about it first?”

Spencer Sherman—my boyfriend. But the thing was… I bought that car. Just like I paid their salaries. And trust me, I didn’t spend my hard-earned money just to let people walk all over me.

"Enough!" I cut him off, my patience gone. I shot a sharp look at both of them. "I can spend my money however I want. Alexis, you’re the nanny, not my financial advisor, stay in your lane. And Ulrich, you’re the driver, should you really be drinking on the job?

“Oh, and that expensive wine? I bought it. What made you think you could just help yourself? Next time, you’re paying for it."

The room fell silent.

I let my gaze sweep over everyone before continuing, my voice calm but firm. "Today is my mom’s birthday. If anyone here has a problem with that or doesn’t know their place, feel free to leave right now."

I folded my arms. "I’ve always been generous. Your salaries? Your benefits? Top-tier. I’ve made sure you have the best of the best. But that doesn’t give you the right to walk all over me."

Most of the people around us nodded in agreement. Only Alexis and Ulrich stood there, their faces flushed, looking like they wanted to disappear.

I knew I had embarrassed them, but honestly, if I didn’t say something now, they would just keep pushing their luck.

Just then, my mom stepped out of the car, a huge smile on her face. She walked over, slipping her arm around my shoulders.

"Thank you, baby. I love it," she said, squeezing me affectionately. "Come on, let’s go eat. I’m starving."

She walked right past Alexis and Ulrich like they weren’t even there.

Of course, my mom had picked up on what happened. She always did. But she didn’t interfere, she respected my decisions, whether at home or at work.

At dinner, Alexis barely spoke. For once, she just focused on doing her job. No unnecessary opinions, no complaints, just silence. Exactly how it should’ve been from the start.

Of course, the expensive bottle of wine I had bought for the celebration had disappeared, swapped out for something from the house stock. I didn’t say anything, but I noticed.

Dinner was mostly quiet, aside from the occasional clink of silverware and my mother’s warm laughter. That was all that mattered, I just wanted her to enjoy her birthday.

Then Spencer finally arrived.

"Stella, Mom, sorry I’m late," he said, walking in with a neatly wrapped gift and a bouquet of flowers. He handed them to my mother with a smile before sliding into the seat beside me like he belonged there.

Spencer had no family, his parents had passed away when he was young, but he never let that define him. We had known each other since junior high and I used to invite him over all the time so he wouldn’t have to eat alone.

Back then, it was just me wanting to help him. Over time, that turned into something more and before we knew it, we were together.

"It’s not too late," Mom said warmly as she took the gift. "Sit down, have some soup. Work been keeping you busy?"

She had always treated Spencer like family. Long before we started dating, she had already accepted him as a son.

Spencer took the bowl of soup Alexis handed him, but the second he looked up at her, his brows knitted together. "Alexis, are you okay? You look upset. If something’s wrong, just say the word, I’ll help if I can."

That was just how Spencer was. Always kind, always thoughtful, always looking out for everyone.

Alexis shook her head, her eyes slightly red, like she was holding back tears. Then she glanced at my mother, then at me, like she was hoping someone would notice her suffering. "Thank you for asking, sir… I’m fine," she murmured, her voice small and pitiful.

I didn’t react, but in my head, I had already made my decision.

She had overstepped before, acting too familiar, treating herself like more than just an employee. But this was manipulative. I could ignore a few misplaced opinions, but I wouldn’t keep someone around who tried to stir up trouble in my home.

Her contract was up at the end of the month. She wouldn’t be staying.

Spencer took a few sips of soup, then seemed to remember something. He reached for the cake on the table, cutting a generous slice and placing it in front of Alexis.

"Oh, right," he said with an easy smile. "Today is your birthday, isn’t it? Happy birthday, Alexis."

That cake wasn’t just any cake, it was something I made especially for my mom, decorated with all her favorite fruits.

I didn’t mind sharing a slice, but before she even got the chance to blow out the candles or make a wish, a huge chunk had already been cut out. The once-perfect cake was now missing a big piece.

Alexis had been there the whole time. She knew exactly when the cake had been brought out. But instead of asking me or my mom, she just turned to Spencer with an over-the-top smile. "Oh my gosh, thank you! This is amazing! I’ve never had such a good cake before!" she gushed.

I clenched my jaw, trying to push down the growing frustration in my chest.

Mom must have noticed because she reached over and gave my hand a reassuring pat. "Let her take it," she said gently. "I’m trying to cut back on sweets anyway. You and I can make another one in a few days, it’ll be even better."

Alexis lit up like she had won the lottery. "Oh, that’s wonderful! Thank you, Madam. Thank you, Miss!"

I exhaled slowly, telling myself to let it go. This would all be over soon. Once her contract was up at the end of the month, I wouldn’t have to deal with her anymore.

Or so I thought.

That night, I woke up feeling thirsty and went downstairs to get some water. As I reached the staircase, I noticed the kitchen light was still on. Voices carried through the quiet house, clear as day.

I paused.

"Did you see that sports car?" Alexis scoffed. "How much do you think something like that costs? All this just for a birthday? Such a waste of money!"

I gritted my teeth. I had let the cake incident slide, but now she was running her mouth about my mom? I was about to step in when her voice turned even sharper, dripping with mockery.

"And what did I get? A piece of cake? Like I’m some beggar? Seriously, I don’t care! But listen, when you marry into that family, don’t let her throw money around like this!"

My stomach turned.

Then Ulrich chimed in, his tone just as bitter. "She’s just like her mother, burning money for no reason. What does an old woman need with a fancy sports car anyway? She might as well hand it over to me!"

And then, as if that wasn’t bad enough, he lowered his voice, like he was sharing some great advice. "Son, you’d be better off getting her pregnant as soon as possible."

My mind was spinning. We'd always had nannies coming and going, so Alexis still being here wasn’t surprising. But why was Ulrich here? He was a driver, so what was he doing in my house in the middle of the night?

And more importantly… who were they calling "son"? Pregnant? What the hell were they talking about?

A terrible feeling settled in my gut, a creeping unease that I tried to push away. Maybe I was overthinking things. Maybe this wasn’t what it sounded like. But then—I heard his voice.

That familiar, warm, easygoing voice that had been my comfort for years.

"I was already planning to propose," Spencer said, like it was no big deal. "It’s just a matter of time. No need to rush."

I went cold. Spencer’s last name was Sherman. That much I knew. And in all the years I had been with him, I had never once connected him to Alexis or Ulrich.

But now, suddenly, it all made sense. Had they given Spencer Alexis’s last name? Had they faked a name altogether? She never mentioned having a son, why?

Looking back, the signs had been there all along.

No wonder Alexis and Ulrich knew so much about my family's preferences from the moment they arrived. I had assumed they were just good at their jobs. Turns out, someone had been feeding them information.

No wonder Alexis always acted so pitiful in front of Spencer. She wasn’t trying to win his sympathy—she was trying to win over her own son.

I gripped the glass in my hand, my knuckles turning white. I had known Spencer was planning to propose. I had even played along, pretending not to notice so he could have his big romantic moment.

But now, it wasn’t a surprise. It was a setup, a scam.

"What if she doesn’t agree?" Ulrich’s voice cut through the air, sharp and smug. "Hmm, maybe we should start making other plan. If she gets pregnant, she won’t have a choice but to marry you."

A shiver ran down my spine. Then Spencer spoke again, his tone light, almost indifferent. "Yeah, I know."

The words knocked the breath out of me.

I had spent years with him, believing I knew him inside and out. But in this moment, everything, the laughter, the memories, the trust, felt like one big lie.

Spencer was never an orphan. That story was just another carefully crafted deception. And the worst part, he had let them into my home. Right under my nose.

If he claimed he had no ulterior motives, I wouldn’t believe him for a second.

Taking a deep breath, I quietly backed into my room, shutting the door as gently as possible. My heart was pounding, my hands were ice-cold, but I forced myself to stay calm.

I needed to see what Spencer would do.

Was he just humoring his parents, trying to keep them from meddling? Or was this something deeper, something calculated? If he came clean, if he told me everything himself, maybe I could give him a chance to explain.

But if he didn’t… if he actually went through with it, then I’d know the truth, he wasn’t the man I thought he was. He had approached me with an agenda, pretending to be someone he wasn’t and I would never forgive him for that.

The next morning, Alexis was practically glowing. Her face was flushed, her eyes bright, like she had spent the night celebrating instead of scheming.

"Stella, come eat!" she chirped as if nothing had happened. "Women shouldn’t be so obsessed with staying skinny, if you don’t eat properly, it’ll affect your future children!"

I pulled out a chair and sat down but didn’t touch my food. I always worked out on an empty stomach, but that wasn’t the real reason I wasn’t eating.

Alexis was acting like my mother-in-law already, convinced that Spencer and I were a done deal. That would never happen.

"Alexis," I said, my voice calm but firm, "this will be your last month here. I’ll make sure you receive your full salary and any contractual compensation."

The color drained from her face. "What?" Her voice went sharp, almost shrill. "Why?"

Then, as if realizing how desperate she sounded, she forced a laugh. "Is this because of last night? Stella, I swear, it was just a misunderstanding! It won’t happen again. Please, just give me another chance!"

I shook my head. Her smile faded, and in its place, something uglier flickered across her face, resentment, maybe even hatred.

"Employment is a two-way decision," I said evenly. "After spending time with you, I’ve decided you’re not the right fit for this household. I’ll be hiring a new nanny next month. This isn’t a discussion, it’s a notice."

With that, I stood up, pushing my chair back neatly and walked out of the dining room. I needed air.

After running for a while, I slowed down and pulled out my phone. The house had security cameras, something only my mother and I knew about.

We never had much reason to check them. The household had always been peaceful and nothing out of the ordinary ever happened.

Until now.

For the first time, I had a reason to go through the footage.

I tapped through the recordings, skipping ahead until I spotted movement. Alexis. She was heading upstairs, knocking on Spencer’s door.

Seconds later, he answered and they both stepped out onto the balcony.

I plugged in my headphones, pressed play and held my breath as their voices came through, loud and unmistakably clear.