I considered it a dream come true when I was hired as a nanny for an affluent family because I had always loved working with kids. Mary Jane, the five-year-old child, had the most stunning, expressive eyes and dark locks. At first, she was courteous, inquisitive, and a little bashful, but we soon became friends. David, her father, was a busy man who was kind but frequently abroad on business. Then there was the stepmother, Kira.

Everything appeared to be ideal at first.

Kira always made sure everything in the house went properly and was elegant, well-dressed, and kind. She made an effort to reassure me that she wanted the finest care for the girl, smiled at me during introductions, and spoke politely to Mary Jane in front of her husband.

But something didn’t feel right.

At start, I felt worried about a lot of little details rather than one particular problem. When Mary Jane went to embrace her father, Kira would tense up. Her eyes became icy as soon as David exited the room. How Kira’s arrival would silence Mary Jane’s laughter.

After that, the penalties began.