more than anything else in the world, but I also did not want to give up my independence or the career I had built for myself.

I had always promised myself that Brady would have the best of everything—a safe home, a good education, and a happy childhood. That was why Sean and I started searching for a new nanny.

We interviewed so many women, I lost count. Some seemed too strict, others too careless.

None of them felt right. Sean rejected each one without hesitation, barely giving them a chance.

I was starting to feel hopeless, wondering if we would ever find someone we could trust, until Emily showed up at our door.

She was young, barely out of college, but there was something about her—a warmth, a natural ease with Brady.

He took to her right away, and honestly, so did I. Sean and I hired her that same day.

For a while, everything seemed perfect. Brady adored Emily, and I could see how gently she cared for him, like he was her own.

Sean and I finally had space to breathe, to focus on work again. It felt like life had returned to normal.

But then, little things started to bother me. Sean began working from home more often after Emily arrived, insisting that I go to the office to unwind.

I caught them exchanging looks, lingering just a little too long. Sean was always on his phone, smiling at texts he would never show me.

I could not make sense of it at first, but the puzzle pieces slowly began to fit.

Sean had found Emily for the nanny position and immediately wanted to hire her, even though he had rejected all the others.

Emily and Brady grew close, he became attached to her and cried every time she left. Had she decided to replace me and take my family?

One morning, as I was getting ready for work, Emily had already arrived and was playing with Brady.

Before leaving, I peeked into the nursery. Emily and Brady were sculpting with playdough.

“I want to make a yellow elephant,” Brady said.

Emily giggled. “Like the sun, right?” she asked, kneading the yellow playdough. Brady nodded, and Emily handed him the soft dough.

“Thanks, Mom,” he said, casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world. And he did not even try to correct himself.

My son called another woman mom. In that moment, I felt the ground disappear from under my feet, my body turned to jelly.

I forced a smile. “Emily, can I talk to you for a second?” I said, trying to stay calm.

“Yes, of course,” Emily replied and approached me.

“Why is Brady calling you mom?” I asked.

“Oh, kids do that sometimes. It was accidental,” Emily said.

“But you did not correct him,” I pointed out.

“I just did not pay attention,” Emily said.

I sighed. “Tell me the truth, is there something between you and Sean? Do you want to take my husband, my child, my family?” I asked, unable to hold back anymore.

“What? Regina, no. I would never even think of such a thing. Like I said, Brady just accidentally called me mom, but if it happens again, I will correct him,” Emily said.

“Alright,” I said and left for work.

Sean stayed home that day, and I felt like I was losing my mind, like I was missing something right under my nose. So I decided to play it smart and return home early without telling anyone.

When I came back, the house was quiet. Brady must have been napping. Then I heard noises from Sean’s office. I carefully climbed the stairs, trying to make as little noise as possible.

When I reached the office, I grabbed the door handle and swung it open. I froze at the scene in front of me. Sean and Emily. They were not doing anything, but they stood too close, far too close for a nanny and the child’s father.

“What is going on here?!” I shouted.

“Regina, honey, you are home early,” Sean said.

“Is that really what you want to say to me right now?” I asked.

“It is all Emily, she said she wants to be with me,” Sean blurted.

Emily remained silent, but I saw how nervous she was, how her eyebrows shot up when Sean said that.

“Emily, will you say something?” I asked. But she stayed silent, unable to even look me in the eye. “Do you think I do not see what is going on here? Your constant glances, you, Sean, working from home all the time, always texting someone,” I said.

“Regina, you misunderstood everything,” Sean said. “It is all Emily, I have nothing to do with it. I love only you,” he added.

“Give me your phone,” I told Sean.

“Regina…”

“Give me your phone!” I shouted.

With a trembling hand, Sean took his phone from his pocket and handed it to me.

“Password?” I demanded.

“Stop it, do not do this,” Sean said.

“Password!”

“4321,” Sean muttered, and I let out a dry chuckle.

I unlocked his phone, expecting to see chats with Emily, maybe even their photos.

But instead, I found dating apps and chats with countless women. I opened the conversation with Emily, and there were only messages from Sean—inviting her to dinner, or for drinks while I was not home.

Emily only replied to messages about Brady, ignoring everything else. I handed the phone back to Sean.

“Emily, huh?” I said.

“Regina, I can explain everything. I made a mistake,” Sean pleaded.

“Get out!” I shouted.

“Please,” Sean begged.

“Get out! Now!” I screamed.

Sean stared at me for a few seconds, then left. I heard the front door slam, and I collapsed into the chair in the office, finally exhaling. Emily just stood there, not moving. We spent a few minutes in silence.

“Is Brady asleep?” I finally asked.

“Yes,” Emily answered quietly. After another long pause, she spoke again. “Please, do not fire me. I really need this job.”

“Who said anything about firing you?” I asked.

Emily smiled faintly, but Brady’s whimper interrupted us and she went to him.

I sat and stared at the wall, knowing a hard divorce and a custody battle for Brady awaited me.

I filed for divorce that same day, and the process began. I had a good friend, a family law attorney.

I knew she would crush Sean without blinking, but that did not make it any easier.

That evening, I prepared for the first hearing, which was scheduled for the next day. Emily sat next to me, feeding Brady. Then I heard it again

“Mom, I want some water,” Brady said. I looked up, but he was looking at Emily. At first, Emily did nothing, but when she saw me watching, she quickly corrected herself.

“Brady, here is your mom,” she said, pointing at me. “And I am Emily,” she added.

“No, you are my mom too!” Brady shouted.

“What is going on?” I asked.

“I… I do not know,” Emily stammered.

“Emily said I was in her tummy!” Brady shouted.

“What?!” I gasped.

“Are you Brady’s biological mother?” I asked, but Emily was silent. “Emily!” I raised my voice.

“Y-yes,” she whispered. “I am sorry, I should have told you earlier, but I did not know how. Please, do not kick me out, I just wanted to spend some time with him.”

“You knew Brady was your son when you came to work for us?” I asked.

“Yes, that is why I applied,” Emily said.

“You gave him up, and now you came to take him?” I asked.

“No, I just wanted to be with him, see how he lived. I gave him up because I knew I could not give him a good life, and you did. Brady has everything a mother could dream of for her child. And I see how you love him. I just…” Emily paused.

“You had no right to do this,” I said.

“I know, I am so sorry,” Emily whispered.

“Leave, please,” I said.

Emily hesitated but then stood and headed for the door. “Please, let me see him,” she said before closing the door behind her.

I wanted to cry. Betrayals, divorce, now I also found out that my son’s biological mother had been with him all this time.

I took Brady from his high chair and hugged him tightly, rocking him. I did not know who needed it more—him or me.

That night, I took Brady to sleep with me, but I could not sleep. My head was spinning with thoughts that would not stop. I looked at Brady and felt all the love I had for him.

I was ready to lose everything in my life except him. And Emily had done that—she gave him up willingly to give him a better life. I could not stop thinking about it.

As a mother, I was angry at her, yet I understood her. So I took my phone and opened the chat with Emily.

I stared at the screen for a long time, unable to type a single letter. But finally, I wrote: You can see Brady whenever you want, but remember that I am his mom too.

Emily’s reply came immediately: I am incredibly grateful to you!

I turned off the phone and hugged Brady. He was my world, and I would do anything for him.