Chapter 3

Austin was still droning on and on about the camera scandal.

I picked up a glass from the table and smashed it onto the floor.

"Enough! I can't live like this anymore! I’m going on a business trip! You deal with this yourself!"

Austin froze.

I stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door behind me.

I made sure to make as much noise as possible.

As I packed my suitcase, my hands were shaking—not from anger, but from the fear that my plan might fail.

I dragged my suitcase out and handed an envelope to Brenda.

"Brenda, I'll be gone for three days. Here is some extra cash for household expenses. Take good care of the baby."

Brenda's eyes lit up. She snatched the envelope and squeezed it, feeling its thickness.

"Oh, don't you worry, Chloe! I promise to keep little Leo happy and plump!"

Her smile practically stretched to her ears.

I didn't go to the airport. Instead, I drove straight to my best friend Sarah’s apartment.

I opened my laptop and connected to a pinhole camera I had hidden inside the living room chandelier weeks ago.

By the first afternoon, Brenda couldn't hold back anymore.

Three women around her age, her friends from her hometown, crowded into my apartment.

They spat sunflower seed shells directly onto the hardwood floor, set up a card table, and began playing poker, clinking beer bottles loudly.

Leo was woken up by the noise. He began crying hysterically.

Brenda cursed, walked over to the nursery, pulled a small bottle out of her bag, and forced a few drops of liquid down Leo’s throat.

"Shut up and go back to sleep!"

Within minutes, Leo went dead silent.

At the card table, one of her friends asked, "What did you just give that kid?"

Brenda replied proudly, "Heavy-duty cough syrup. It has a real kick! One sip and they’re out cold. Saves so much trouble! These rich city folks have more money than brains. If the kid won't sleep, just drug him!"

My entire body went cold. I recorded every second of it.

On the second day, it got even more ridiculous.

The friends complained that registering with the building's front desk every time was too annoying.

So, Brenda actually gave them my spare key fobs!

"Come and go as you please! Treat it like your own home!"

And they did. They shouted loudly in the courtyard, threw trash everywhere, and let their visiting kids kick soccer balls around, nearly hitting other residents.

Mrs. Higgins, who had previously defended Brenda, couldn't take it anymore and said something to them.

They immediately surrounded her and screamed, "Mind your own business, you old hag!"

Marcus, the building manager, called me, his voice trembling with panic.

"Chloe! You need to come back and handle this! Your nanny's friends are turning the entire complex upside down!"

I replied coldly, "I'm out of town. Didn't you tell me to trust her?"

By evening, Austin called me, absolutely furious.

"What is going on at our apartment? There are random strangers everywhere! Brenda! What the hell are you doing?!"

I pulled up the live feed.

Austin had gone home early to grab some files.

He walked right into a living room filled with smoke, cheap beer, and loud music.

Instead of backing down, Brenda put her hands on her hips and confronted him.

"Oh, Austin, you're back? Your wife isn't here, so I run this place now! If you're so tough, tell her to fire me!"

Austin's face turned white with rage. He pointed a finger at her, unable to utter a single word.

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