The silence in the massive foyer was broken only by the toddler’s sobs. Mrs. Vanderwalt was already on her phone, complaining to a friend about “incompetent help,” completely ignoring her distressed child on the floor. Maria, the nanny, wiped her tears, grabbed her small bag, and turned to leave for the last time. She had only tried to comfort the boy when his mother ignored him for hours to look at cocktail dresses.
“And don’t expect a reference!” Mrs. Vanderwalt sneered as Maria reached for the door handle.
Suddenly, Maria’s old, cracked smartphone buzzed in her pocket. It was Mr. Vanderwalt, video calling from Tokyo. Confused, she answered.
“Put her on speaker, Maria,” his voice boomed, icy cold.
Mrs. Vanderwalt froze, dropping her own phone. “Darling? You’re awake?”
“I’ve been awake for the last hour watching the new nursery cam stream,” he said. His face on the small screen was livid. “I watched Maria hold my son while you ignored him to take selfies. And I just watched you fire the only person in that house who actually loves our child.”
The color drained from Mrs. Vanderwalt’s face as she looked at the innocent teddy bear on the shelf, its red light blinking.
“Maria is not leaving,” Mr. Vanderwalt declared. “But you are, Victoria. Pack your bags. The prenup holds, and I’m filing for full custody. Security is on their way to escort you out.”
