One week later

One week later, the mother stood at the front door, smoothing out her dress as she waited for the doorbell to ring. She had spent the morning preparing the house, making sure everything was spotless and organized, just as she had been instructed by the woman from the nanny agency. She glanced at her watch for what felt like the hundredth time, her eyes flicking to the clock on the wall to confirm the time. 9:55. Five minutes until Ms. Thompson was due to arrive.

As she waited, she could hear the sound of her daughters laughing and chatting in the living room, completely oblivious to the fact that their lives were about to change dramatically.