Chapter 3: The Folder
Claire’s office smelled like her perfume.
Lavender.
The same scent that used to make me smile when I came home.
Now it made me feel sick.
She walked behind the desk and placed the folder in front of me.
“Open it.””
I didn’t touch it.
“What is this?””
“You’ll see.””
I looked at her.
“You’ve had this prepared?””
Her expression hardened.
“I’ve been trying to protect our family.””
The sentence bothered me.
Because people who are protecting something usually don’t need to announce it.
I opened the folder.
The first page was a photograph.
Maya holding Lily.
Nothing unusual.
The second page.
Another photograph.
Maya walking through a park with the twins.
The third.
Maya standing outside our house.
I looked up.
“That’s it?””
Claire frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“These are pictures of our nanny doing her job.””
“No.””
Her voice became sharper.
“These are pictures of someone getting too attached.””
I stared at her.
“She takes care of them.””
“She’s obsessed.””
I closed the folder.
“Claire.””
“What?””
“You tied her up because she loved our daughters?””
Her face changed.
Only for a second.
But enough.
“I did not tie her up.””
“Maya says you did.””
“Maya is lying.””
“Then why are there ropes?””
Silence.
Claire looked away.
That was the first time she didn’t have an answer ready.
I returned to the nursery.
Maya was sitting in the rocking chair, holding the girls.
She looked exhausted.
But when she saw me, she stood.
“Sir—”
“Tell me everything.””
She looked at Claire behind me.
Then back at me.
“I don’t want to hurt your family.””
“Tell me.””
Maya took a breath.
“Three weeks ago, Mrs. Carter started changing.””
Claire laughed.
“Of course.””
Maya continued.
“She stopped letting me be alone with the girls.””
I looked at Claire.
“That’s not true.””
“She installed cameras.””
My eyes moved toward Claire.
“We have cameras?””
“In the nursery.””
I didn’t know that.
Claire saw my expression.
“I told you. For safety.””
“You never told me.””
She folded her arms.
“I forgot.””
Forgot.
The word felt strange.
Maya continued.
“She started accusing me of things.””
“Like what?””
“She said I was trying to replace her.””
Claire’s face turned cold.
“You were.””
Maya looked shocked.
“I loved those babies because they needed someone.””
The sentence hit me.
Because it was true.
During my business trip, Claire had sent me fewer pictures.
I had noticed.
But I thought she was tired.
New mothers were exhausted.
I never questioned it.
Maya looked at me.
“Sir, I need to show you something.””
She reached into her pocket.
A small object.
A USB drive.
“I copied the nursery camera footage.””
Claire moved instantly.
“No.””
Everyone froze.
Claire stared at the USB.
Then she whispered:
“Give me that.””
Maya stepped back.
“No.””
Claire’s face changed completely.
The calm disappeared.
“Daniel, don’t let her manipulate you.””
I looked at the USB.
“What’s on it?””
Maya answered quietly.
“Videos.””
“Of what?””
She looked at my wife.
“Of what happens when you’re not home.””
The room became silent.
Claire shook her head.
“She’s insane.””
But her voice wasn’t as confident anymore.
May you like
I took the USB.
And for the first time that night, my wife looked afraid.
