Originally, this nanny's son couldn't afford to study overseas due to financial constraints. Influenced by a peer, he insisted on pursuing education abroad. The nanny had tried talking sense into him, telling him about their family's money troubles. But her son went to extremes, refused to eat, and hurt himself to protest. Feeling like she had no choice, the nanny agreed to work with Vicki.

Vicki promised to cover her son's educational and living expenses in exchange for the nanny's assistance in a darker scheme.

The nanny wouldn't dare target Jarrod's son, nor did she want to face Jarrod's potential wrath. After all, Jarrod was a respected figure, not easily crossed.

Yet, normally speaking, one wouldn't suspect a nanny, should anything go amiss. As long as one played it safe, nobody would find out a thing.

Over time without rousing anyone's suspicion, the nanny transitioned from anxiety to the lack of a guilty conscience. Threading carefully seemed like a minor sacrifice for her son's bright future.

On the other side. Nicole sent another message to the nanny she had arranged for Austin, inquiring about Austin's well-being. The response was reassuring with a photo.

The photo of Austin was taken recently, evident in Austin's season-appropriate attire, looking healthy and well-cared for.

Nicole stared at Austin's photo, a mix of yearning and turmoil in her eyes. There had been a time when her own pain was too great, making it unbearable for her to see Austin's face. Austin's presence was a painful reminder of Jarrod. She loved Austin deeply, yet despised Jarrod with every fiber of her being. These conflicting feelings rendered her unable to be the emotionally stable mother she wanted to be.

Her psychiatrist had recommended a temporary separation from Austin to help her stabilize emotionally.

Reluctantly, Nicole followed this advice, and during their time apart, she found solace in his photos. She studied each new photo intently, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.

Her fingers traced his photo tenderly, a loving expression on her face. Sometimes, she felt it might be a good idea to let Jarrod take care of Austin if he could provide a stable home. Maybe then, she could watch Austin grow up from afar and be there if he ever needed her.

Recently, Austin seemed to be adjusting well and hadn't mentioned her.

A pang of self-pity struck Nicole. Perhaps Austin preferred his new family... Maybe he found her too emotionally unstable. She shied away from even watching Austin from a distance, terrified of not being accepted by him.

If Austin detested her, she resolved to let him go. She didn't see Austin just as her child, but as an independent individual whose thoughts she deeply respected.

As Nicole looked at the photo again, her finger gently caressed his cheek, but suddenly, her finger slipped, and the page rolled down to the bottom of the photo.

Something at the bottom of the picture caught her eye. Squinting, she enlarged the photo, a sense of dread washing over her as she spotted something amiss.

Without hesitation, she reached for the phone to call the nanny.

Nicole tried relentlessly as she attempted to reach the nanny, but instead of a response, she received a text that made her heart sink.

“Miss Lawrence, I had told you there are people at Mr. Schultz's house. He won't allow me to make calls to you. It would cause trouble if we were caught."

Nicole read the message over and over, feeling a cold unease. The nanny's tone was off. It wasn't like her at all. The nanny was a kind soul who treated Nicole and Austin like her own family, never using a tone that hinted at blame.