In a rush to salvage the situation, Vicki attempted to dismiss his claims. "Austin, you're just scared and imagining things. Come over here to me.”

Vicki glared at Austin, silently urging him to fall in line.

Normally, Austin would heed Vicki, but not this time. Instead, he burst into tears and yelled, "Vicki, please stop glaring at me... I'm really scared..."

His crying caught everyone off guard.

Austin had been here for a long time and had never shed tears. He was usually reserved and seldom cried or laughed. His crying now tugged unexpectedly at Jarrod's heart, even though he generally disapproved of boys showing such emotion.

However, Austin was still a child. He was fragile and undeniably charming. His tearful eyes were bound to stir sympathy.

Nicole wrapped her arms around Austin and soothed his sobs with gentle pats on his back. “Austin, it's okay. Don't be scared. Mommy's here now. I won't leave you again."

Caught off guard, with an uncomfortable edge to her voice, she tried to deflect. “Austin... What do you mean? I wasn't glaring at you. Maybe you saw it wrong?"

Vicki tried to persuade him, “Austin, you remember our deal, don't you? You need to behave yourself and keep from lying."

Actually, Vicki was just reinforcing their earlier agreement. If Austin didn't heed her, he would be kept from seeing Nicole.

Vicki felt kids were simple creatures. A small treat would usually keep them in line.

Vicki warned, “Lying children will grow long noses. Come on, Austin. Be a good boy and come here."

But Austin didn't just ignore Vicki. He burst into even more tears.

Terror was etched on his face.

"You glared at me again..." Austin recoiled into Nicole's arms. He said with trembling lips to Nicole, "Mommy, she did more than just glare at me. She pinched me. She also threatened that if I didn't obey her, I would never see you again..."

Turning to Jarrod with eyes wide with fear, Austin said, “Daddy, is it true what Vicki said? I was so scared of never seeing my mommy again that I did everything she told me. I'm really scared... That bad nanny told me that the doctored soy milk was Vicki's idea. She wants to kill me... I didn't dare to disobey her."

As Austin spoke these words, the air around them grew heavy and cold.

Vicki felt like she was suddenly under a guillotine. Austin had been playing her all along. He had set a deep trap just waiting for her to tumble right into it. She was stunned that such a small child could be so deviously cunning. It was downright terrifying.

Jarrod's expression grew stormy as he approached Austin. He crouched and held Austin's shoulders. "No, you can always see your mommy. No one's going to harm her. Daddy will make sure no one ever hurts you!"

Tears filled Austin's eyes, and he looked up at Vicki as he asked Jarrod, “Daddy, can you protect me and my mommy from her?"