Chapter 1

I didn't get off work until ten at night. By the time I dragged myself home, my whole body felt like it was made of lead.

The second I opened the door, a wave of stench hit me so hard that it made me flinch.

I instinctively looked around for the source and found a pile of trash bags right by the entrance. It was stuffed with used diapers, all of them smeared and reeking.

I hung up my coat and walked straight into the living room.

The lights were dim, the TV flickering nonstop.

Lillian lay half-reclined on the couch, propping her head up with one hand, completely absorbed in her show. The coffee table was covered in empty snack wrappers and peels from the expensive fruit I had just bought for my wife, Estelle Parks.

She saw me, smiled lazily, and didn't move an inch.

"Vincent, you're back. Just do a quick clean tonight. It's late, so wrap it up and get some rest."

Estelle had just given birth not long ago. To make things easier for her and the baby, I paid three times the usual rate to hire what was supposed to be the best nanny in the city.

Lillian Moore was said to be a great cook, hardworking, and knowledgeable about childcare. Everything sounded perfect on paper.

After bringing her home, I realized it was all just polished resume talk. She always had an excuse to avoid chores. She never cooked or cleaned.

Since Estelle was still recovering and needed rest, all of it naturally fell on me.

Every night after overtime, I came home to wash clothes, mop the floors, scrub bottles, and take out the trash. After all that, I still had to get breakfast ready the next morning.

Not for Estelle and our daughter, Belle Parks.

No, it was for Estelle and Lillian.

That's right. The nanny I was paying a few thousand dollars a month expected me to make her a nutritious breakfast.

Just thinking about it made my chest burn.

"Lillian, you handle it tonight. I'm exhausted."

Lillian's expression darkened for a second, but she didn't say anything. More importantly, she didn't move.

I ignored her and went straight into the bedroom.

Estelle had come in and was lying there, watching a show. I dropped onto the bed and slumped against her, letting out a long sigh.

"It's way too hard to find a decent nanny these days. The cleaner ones are too young, and the younger ones don't have enough experience with babies. I thought we hit the jackpot and even paid extra to bring Lillian from another family. I didn't think it'd turn out like this. It's driving me crazy."

Estelle set her tablet aside and gently ran her fingers through my hair.

"Honestly, Lillian isn't that bad. Sure, she's lacking in some areas, but she's amazing with the baby. Belle doesn't cry or fuss at all anymore. I feel so much more relaxed these days, like I've actually gotten my energy back. How about this? I'll talk to her tomorrow. We're together all day anyway, so it'll be easier to work things out."

She leaned in and kissed me softly. Just like that, most of my irritation faded.

A sharp cry suddenly rang out from the next room.

I was about to get up, but Estelle grabbed my arm. With a mysterious smile, she started counting down with her fingers.

Ten seconds later, the crying stopped.

"See? Told you. Lillian knows what she's doing. You can't buy that kind of experience."

I had to admit that ever since Lillian arrived, the baby slept better, ate more, and grew chubbier by the day, all soft and rosy like a baby in a diaper commercial.

Still, something about it didn't sit right with me.

"What if we lower her pay? A nanny who only watches the baby shouldn't cost this much."

Estelle didn't respond.

I lifted my head and realized she had already fallen asleep.

She never used to do that while we were talking. The birth had really taken a toll on her.

I gently brushed her cheek, then closed my eyes and drifted off beside her.