I didn’t <b>cry</b>, didn’t lose my shit.


    Just walked back to my golden prison.


    That night, Jake didn’te to bed.


    But I could hearughing from Sophia’s room.


    “Jake, try these cookies–Carson helped me make them just for you.”


    “Carson’s still upset from earlier. I should stay with him tonight.”


    “You don’t have to leave–Carson wants his daddy.”


    Our rooms were like at opposite ends of this massive house–I shouldn’t have heard jack shit.


    Sophia probably cracked her door wide open, making damn sure I caught every word.


    But I knew Jake wasn’t gonna spend the night. These rich assholes care way too much about what people think.


    Jake shacking up in the nanny’s room? Yeah right. That’d be a total scandal.


    They tested me for ten fucking years<b>–</b>you think they’d screw up their own image now?


    My being here? That was all part of their twisted little game.


    Iy there staring at nothing, couldn’t sleep worth a damn.


    Next day I found Margaret.


    “I want cameras in my room,” I said.


    Margaret looked surprised: “Mrs. Ashford, your room is perfectly secure.”


    “Not for security. For memories.” I met her eyes. “I wanna record time with Carson. Save videos for when he’s older, you know?”


    Reasonable request.


    Margaret agreed, had them install a basic camera.


    After the tech guy left, I swapped it for a tiny wide–angle one I’d ordered online, hid it behind some books.


    Perfect view of the little sitting area where Sophia brought Carson for their “visits.”


    Now, time to wait-


    Sophia was smarter than I thought.


    She knew something was up, acted perfect whenever she brought Carson over.


    Even encouraged him to hug me<b>, </b>making it look like we were bonding.


    <b>13:18 </b>


    Hell <b>Yeah, </b>Forget the Other Woman, My Smart House Was Cheating On Me!


    <b>10.1</b><b>% </b>


    Everything I recorded just her perfect little act–totally useless as evidence.


    I needed her to drop the act.


    That old shirt Margaret said she’d “taken care <b>of</b><b>“</b>? Yeah, I’d actually stuffed it in my backpack when no one was looking.


    When Sophia brought Carson in and saw <b>it</b><b>, </b><b>her </b>perfect mask slipped just a little.


    After she sent the servants away, her perfect smile finally cracked.


    “ra, why the hell are you keeping this piece of shit?” She stared at my old nnel. “Missing your trailer park days? Feeling all nostalgic about being poor as dirt?”


    I didn’t say anything, just kept wiping down this little ss jar–the only thing connecting me to my son from before.


    “You think keeping this crap around is gonna make Jake remember the ‘good times‘? Make him fall for you again?” Sophiaughed, but it was mean.


    “He wants someone who can handle his world, who can raise his kid right. Not some hillbilly who doesn’t know shit about anything.”


    Then she walked over to Carson, ran her fingers through his hair.


    “Carson, honey, tell thisdy who you love most.”


    Carson didn’t even look up from his toys: “I love you, Miss Sophia.”


    The look she gave me was pure victory.


    She crouched down next to Carson, talking quiet but just loud enough for my hidden camera to pick up.


    “Carson, baby, you gotta remember: Thatdy over there? She didn’t want you when you were little. She threw you away like garbage. Now she’s back ‘cause we got money, trying to steal you from me.”


    “Stay away from her<b>, </b>okay? She might try to hurt you or take you somewhere bad.”


    My hands clenched into fists.


    So that’s how she’d been poisoning my kid against me.


    I took a deep breath, stood up, walked right up to her.


    “Sophia, you can say whatever shit you want about me. But don’t lie to my son.”


    “Lie?” She stood up, got right in my <b>face</b>. “Did you or did you not disappear for ten years? Did you or did you not abandon him? I’m just telling him the truth.”


    “The truth is, I’m his mom,” I said, every word crystal clear.


    “Mom?” Sheughed like I’d told the world’s funniest joke. “A mom who dumped her kid for ten years and never gave a shit? ra, you’re fucking delusional.”


    I looked at her<b>, </b>then just smiled and walked out.


    Sophia looked confused–probably expected me to lose my shit.


    I didn’t take action right away.


    <b>13:18 </b>


    Hell Yeah, Forget the Other Woman, My Smart House Was Cheating On <b>Me</b><b>! </b>


    <b>10.3</b><b>% </b>


    That video might get rid of Sophia, but getting rid of her wasn’t my real goal.


    I put the recording away safe.


    I was waiting for the right moment.