Victoria reacted instantly. “Grace was cleaning in there,” she whispered. “We should check her bag.”
Reluctantly, Nathan confronted Grace. In the living room, she emptied her purse—lip balm, a worn wallet, a photo of her mother. Tears streamed down her face.
“There’s nothing, sir. I would never—”
Victoria grabbed the bag and shook it. The watch fell onto the glass table.
“Thief!” Victoria cried.
The twins wrapped around Grace, sobbing. Blinded by what seemed like proof, Nathan asked Grace to leave that night. He didn’t involve the police for the children’s sake—but he sent her away in the rain.
The mansion returned to silence. A suffocating one.
Later, alone in his office with a drink in hand, Nathan noticed a security alert: Motion detected – Office – 5:42 p.m.
He opened the footage.
The glass slipped from his hand.
The video showed Victoria entering the office, taking the watch, and later placing it into Grace’s bag. His breath turned shallow. He searched more recordings.
He saw Victoria pinch Ethan’s arm for asking for juice. He heard her call the boys “annoying brats.” And he saw Grace—kneeling to tie shoes, comforting tears, praying softly with them before bed.
Nathan broke down.