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.