Chapter 1
I heard my eight-month-old son scream from the stairwell—and when I reached the landing, his stroller was already rolling down the steps while my husband’s wife stood at the top watching.
I dropped everything and ran.
“Eli!”
The stroller slammed sideways against the railing before stopping near the bottom.
My hands were shaking when I reached him.
He was crying so hard he could barely breathe.
I pulled him against my chest.
Behind me, heels clicked slowly down the stairs.
Vanessa.
My husband’s new wife.
She looked annoyed.
“He wouldn’t stop screaming.”
I stared at her.
“What did you do?”
She crossed her arms.
“It slipped.”
I looked back at the staircase.
The safety brake had been locked.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“You’re being dramatic.”
Eli buried his face against me.
Then our housekeeper, Rachel, appeared at the hallway entrance.
Her face was completely white.
“Mrs. Parker…”
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Go back to the kitchen.”
Rachel didn’t move.
“I saw her.”
Vanessa’s expression changed.
Rachel raised her phone.
“I was recording because she’d been threatening the baby all morning.”
Vanessa lunged toward her.
I stepped between them.
“Play it.”
The video started.
Vanessa was standing behind Eli’s stroller at the top of the stairs.
He was crying.
She leaned down and whispered, “Maybe this will finally shut you up.”
Then her hand pushed the stroller forward.
My stomach dropped.
Vanessa grabbed my arm.
“It was an accident!”
I shoved her away.
“You pushed my baby down the stairs.”
Then Rachel whispered, “There’s another video you need to see.”
Vanessa froze.
May you like
Rachel looked at me.
“It happened before.”
