At first, Martha thought her mother-in-law Cheryl’s offer to watch her daughter Beverly every Wednesday was a generous gesture. Saving on daycare while Bev bonded with family seemed ideal. But when Bev began speaking about “Grandma’s friend” and distancing herself from her mother, unease grew.
One night, while tucking her in, Bev whispered, “Mommy, why don’t you like our friend? She’s part of the family—you just don’t see it yet.” Alarm bells rang.
Following her instincts, Martha hid a camera. What she saw shattered her world. Cheryl greeted “the friend” at the door—Jason’s ex-wife, Alexa. Bev rushed into her arms as if she belonged. Cheryl instructed Bev not to tell her mother, insisting Alexa was Beverly’s “real family.”
Furious, Martha confronted them, only to hear Cheryl claim Martha was never meant for Jason—that Alexa was. Heartbroken but resolute, Martha vowed Cheryl would never see Beverly again.
When she showed Jason the footage, his face turned pale. He agreed: Beverly’s safety came first. Cheryl’s number was blocked, Alexa cut out.
Family, Martha realized, isn’t blood or marriage. It’s loyalty—and some ties must be broken forever
