Then Elena arrived.

THE GIRL NO ONE NOTICED

Elena was twenty-four, a nursing student juggling three jobs. She spoke softly, blended into the background, and never asked for more money. She made only one request: permission to sleep in the nursery with the twins.

Beatrice despised her.

“She’s lazy,” Beatrice murmured one evening over dinner. “I saw her sitting in the dark for hours doing nothing. And who knows—maybe she’s stealing Seraphina’s jewelry while you’re gone. You should keep an eye on her.”

Fueled by grief and suspicion, I spent $100,000 installing top-of-the-line infrared surveillance cameras throughout the house. I didn’t tell Elena. I wanted proof.