The hot-ass babysitter was flirting with my husband, and even my own son treated her like she was made of gold.
I knew something was off and told Derek she needed to go. He said I was jealous. Petty. Controlling.
Then my son cried his eyes out, called me evil, and swore he only wanted Lila.
The day I had an asthma attack, they stood there and watched me suffocate to death.
But I came back.
This time, I moved every damn cent out of their reach. Let’s see how well the cheating bastard and that backstabbing brat survive without me.
“Mom, it’s my birthday and we’re eating this crap?” Liam looked at his plate like I just served him prison food.
I gave him a sweet smile. “Of course not, honey. There’s a whipped cream cake waiting after dinner.”
He lit up like a Christmas tree.
Derek’s family had a history of diabetes, and as a licensed nutritionist, I was always strict about their diet. Sure, they listened—but resented the hell out of me for it.
Then the doorbell rang.
She walked in like a damn Disney princess—eighteen, skin glowing, eyes big and wet like a sad puppy.
But I knew better. I remembered those eyes—poison behind the innocence. Lila Greene had destroyed my marriage and turned my son against me in another life. She planned my death like it was a playdate.
Now she was back.
“Hi, Marissa! Hi Derek!” she chirped, all sugar. “I’m Lila. Aunt Faye told me so much about little Liam—he’s even cuter than she said! Must’ve gotten those gorgeous genes from both of you.”
I watched Derek and Liam light up like someone handed them gold stars. What a smooth little manipulator.
My mother-in-law Patricia had arranged all this. She thought women should stay home, bake cookies, and shut up. Hated that I had a career. When she couldn’t convince Derek to leave me, she sent in this Trojan horse disguised as a babysitter.
And like the fool I was, I fell for it last time.
Later that night, I left for work. When I checked Liam’s social feed during a break, I saw the three of them sitting around a table—laughing, cake crumbs everywhere. Pizza boxes, fried chicken, milk tea.
Caption: “Best birthday ever ”
Apparently, all my past birthday efforts meant jack.
Last time, I confronted Lila for feeding them that garbage. Derek and Liam both jumped to her defense, called me a buzzkill.
This time?
They could all eat actual shit for all I care.
I came home late, exhausted. Derek was passed out, snoring like a lawnmower, muttering in his sleep, “So good… haha…”
Still dreaming about that damn cake, huh?
I went to my closet, opened my jewelry case—and just like I thought, one of my necklaces was gone. Five figures, limited edition, from a boutique in L.A. I’d barely worn it twice.
I’d seen that same piece dangling around Lila’s neck in another lifetime.
When I asked for it back, Derek called me stingy. “It was a welcome gift,” he said.
Liam piped in, “You’ve got so much stuff anyway, Mom. Lila doesn’t have anything nice. It was her first real gift! How could you take it back and make her cry?”
Unbelievable. Using my money to play the hero.
This time, I smiled. Let them think they’d won. I had receipts for every damn item. Let the police do the talking when the time comes.
The next morning, the breakfast table looked like a fast-food ad from hell—cinnamon buns, buttered toast, sausage biscuits, and watermelon. So much grease, sugar, and carbs it should’ve come with a warning label.
Lila gave me that sunshine smile. “I just whipped something up. Hope it’s okay.”
Derek and Liam watched my face like I was a ticking bomb.
“She’s new, Marissa. Don’t be mad at her,” Derek rushed.
“Yeah, Mom, it’s just one time! Don’t yell at Lila,” Liam added.
I hadn’t even opened my mouth yet.
Lila gave me the Bambi eyes. “Did I mess up? I’m so sorry. I’ll do better next time.”
I gave her a warm smile. “You’re doing amazing. If Derek’s mom sent you here to keep them happy, then that’s what matters.”
Let them get sick. Not my body. Not my problem.
Liam practically bounced. “You’re being so nice today, Mom! I love this version of you.”
Derek grinned. “You’re finally chill. That deserves a kiss—”
I turned away before he could get close. Went to fix myself a protein shake.
By the time I came back, the three of them were sharing a single strip of bacon like it was a scene from a Hallmark movie.
Gross.
I cleared my throat. “Lila, you’ll be discussing your salary with Derek from now on. He’ll be paying you.”
Derek’s face froze mid-bite. “Why me?”
I smirked. “His mom hired you. His problem.”
He made a steady five grand a month and spent none of it on the household. I covered everything—bills, groceries, the mortgage. If he wanted to flirt with the help, he could damn well foot the bill.
He opened his mouth to argue, and I walked away without a word.
With the house full of freeloaders, I decided to treat myself—mani, pedi, new hair, and a full-ass shopping spree.
Last time around, I saved every dime for Liam’s future. Not this time.
I earned this.
When I got home, they were piled up on the couch, watching TV like one big happy family. Lila in the middle. Liam on her shoulder. Derek practically glued to her hip.
On a damn 9-foot couch and they still had to snuggle? Please.
I dumped my bags on the sofa. “Lila, go get me a glass of water.”
She scampered off. Derek and Liam swarmed the shopping bags, eyes wide with expectation.
When she handed me the water, she gasped at my nails. “Oh my God, Marissa! So shiny! Must be hard to do anything with them that long.”
“And those outfits! They look crazy expensive.”
Their smiles dropped when they realized everything I bought was for myself.
Liam pouted. “Why didn’t you get us anything? That’s a lot of money for just you!”
“You’re too old for those nails, Mom. You’re not a teenager anymore. Kinda embarrassing.”
The smile vanished from my face. I grabbed an apple off the table and shoved it right into his mouth.
“Say something stupid again and I’ll duct tape your lips shut.”
He froze. I’d never laid a hand on him before—but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t start.
Lila rushed in. “Marissa, please don’t. Liam’s just a kid.”
Liam blinked, then started crying like I murdered his puppy.
Derek stood up, furious. “What the hell, Marissa?! You’re insane! He’s right—everything you bought was four figures or more! Are you trying to bankrupt us?”
“And you didn’t get us anything. Selfish doesn’t even cover it.”
Liam sobbed, “I hate you! You’re a terrible mom!”
And just like that, I was back in that memory—choking on air while they stood by and watched.
The whole damn house reeked of pollen. My lungs locked up, tight and burning. I stumbled toward the cabinet, desperate for my inhaler.
Empty.
I dropped to the floor, clawing at the air, gasping like a fish out of water. My voice was too weak to scream, too broken to beg.
Derek and Lila just stood there. Watching.
Then Liam appeared. My boy. My last shot.
I lifted a trembling finger, tried to speak. “Uh… uh…”
He looked me dead in the eye.
“Is she gonna die?” he asked flatly. “Are we really not gonna help her?”
Lila’s voice was calm, soft. “Liam, if you want to help her, I won’t stop you. But if you do… I can’t be with you and your dad anymore.”
Derek jumped in. “Don’t you get it? If she survives, she’ll ruin everything. Remember how she made you study all the time? Took away your video games? No candy, no soda, no fun? Think about that.”
Liam’s eyes changed. Cold. Mean. He muttered, “She’s always been a control freak. Letting her die might actually be better.”
I thought I’d given everything to that boy—my body, my money, my damn life. But in the end, all I got was a death sentence.
Even then, I didn’t understand what I’d done wrong.
Later, I came to—alive, unfortunately. They were standing over me, like I was a roach they failed to crush.
Derek said, “All this crap you bought? Take it back tomorrow.”
“Excuse me?” I coughed.
“You spent family money. It’s our money. I didn’t agree to this.”
Funny, coming from a man who hadn’t contributed a single dollar to this household since we said “I do.” I bought his underwear. His damn toothbrush. But now he wanted to talk about marital assets?
Lila gave me this fake-ass peacekeeper smile. “Marissa, don’t be mad. Women love shopping—it’s normal. Some clothes cost hundreds, some cost twenty bucks. What I’m wearing? Cheap and comfy! Derek works so hard, you should cut him some slack.”
Derek nodded like she was his damn life coach. “Exactly. A woman should know how to manage the house. Learn from Lila.”
I laughed. Hard. “You think she wears cheap stuff because she wants to? No, honey. That’s just her broke-ass reality. Don’t dress up poverty as virtue.”
Then I turned to Derek. “Since we’re talking about shared finances—let’s split everything down the middle. Rent, groceries, kid expenses. And Liam’s non-essentials? Two hundred dollar cap. We’re being frugal now, right? Penny. Pinching.”
They had no idea who they were messing with.
I kicked Derek out of our bedroom and made him bunk with Liam. Let those two have their boys-only slumber parties.
That night, I stepped out on the balcony for some air and overheard Lila whispering into her phone.
“Aunt Faye, you were right. Derek and Liam are both suffering so much. I have to save them.”
“I’ll get them out of this house, I promise. And don’t worry, I’ll bring you to the city soon. You’ll love it here.”
I bit back a laugh. So this little snake didn’t slither in by accident—she was planted. An inside job.
And here’s the thing: Derek was never some rags-to-riches fairy tale. He wasn’t even a “phoenix man.” More like a polished turd I mistook for marble.
I married him for balance—his softness to match my sharp. We barely saw his mother Patricia back then. That changed when I gave birth.
We were supposed to hire a postpartum nurse. Derek convinced me to let his mom help instead, “to save money.”
Biggest mistake of my life.
I told her I didn’t eat pork for religious reasons. She nodded sweetly. The day I got home from the hospital, she made dumplings.
“Lamb,” she said.
I believed her. Ate them.
And then she smirked. “See? Didn’t die. It was pork. Pork’s good for you. Good for your milk supply, too. You city girls are too sensitive.”
“You’re a mom now. Stop being picky.”
I threw up until I saw stars. Then, in pain from the stitches and betrayal, I flipped the table.
Told her to get the hell out.
She screamed about me being an ungrateful bitch of a daughter-in-law. Derek, as usual, defended her. Said she was old, didn’t understand religion.
I gave them two choices: either she left, or they both did.
She left. But my appetite was shot for weeks. I couldn’t even look at meat without gagging. And don’t get me started on the emotional trauma.
Looking back, maybe the grudge she held was even deeper than mine.
After our last screaming match, things were quiet.
Too quiet.
I came home from work one evening and found Liam on the couch, greasy fingers buried in a bucket of fried chicken, Coke can in hand.
When he saw me, he leaned back dramatically and said, “Lila, your fried chicken is insane. You’re so pretty, so sweet, and you can cook? I wish you were my mom.”
He threw me a smug little smirk.
Trying to piss me off?
Cute.
Not today, kid. I just smiled and walked past him. Let him get cozy with her. I was building my case.
At dinner, Derek and Liam were chatting Lila up like they were auditioning for sitcom roles. Derek spooned food into her plate. Lila laughed so hard she nearly choked.
I sat in silence. Not interested in this circus.
Then she had the audacity to place a piece of beef in my bowl.
“Marissa, you should eat more,” she said sweetly.
Excuse me?
This is my house. My table. And the hired help was telling me to eat?
I stared at the meat like it was a roach.
“Ever heard of H. pylori? You don’t put food on someone’s plate without clean utensils. Didn’t they teach you that in Babysitting 101?”
Her face turned red. She looked down, mumbling, “I’m sorry, Marissa.”
Derek lost it. “Jesus, Marissa! She was being nice. You didn’t have to humiliate her. You’re such a goddamn bitch sometimes.”
Liam jumped in. “Yeah! Don’t be mean to Lila. She’s better than you.”
I snorted. “Is she the nanny or the fucking queen of the house?”
Derek opened his mouth again, but Lila cut him off, looking all saintly.
“Derek, please don’t fight. It’s my fault. I’m just so clumsy. Marissa, I promise I’ll be more careful.”
She turned to Liam, touched his hair like she was his stepmom already. “Sweetheart, moms make mistakes. You should forgive her.”
Liam crossed his arms. “Not unless she apologizes. And she stops controlling what I eat. Oh, and I want the new Transformers set.”
I tilted my head, eyes locked on Derek. “And you? Got a wish list too?”
He sat up straighter. “You spend way too much money. From now on, I handle the finances. You’ll get a $300 monthly allowance.”
I laughed so hard my ribs hurt.
They really thought they were staging a fucking coup.
I leaned back. “Wow. Neither of you has the slightest clue what’s coming. You can keep your stupid toys and your stupid budget. I’m done playing mom-of-the-year.”
You wanna play emotional warfare with me?
Buckle the fuck up.
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