The Housemaid Is Watching
by Freida McFadden
Contents
Chapter 23
Overview
Enzo becomes intensely protective of Ada and Nico after the night’s scare, then turns his attention back to Millie’s health and the hidden room under the stairs. Millie rejects Enzo’s plan to convert the space, citing trauma-driven claustrophobia, and the debate sparks a larger argument about Enzo’s connection to their neighbor Suzette. Although Enzo backs down for the moment, the room and Suzette remain unresolved points of tension.
Summary
After the evening’s scare, Enzo refuses to leave Ada and Nico alone. He spends hours playing baseball with Nico in the backyard and even coaxes Ada into joining as the catcher until both kids are exhausted at bedtime.
In bed, Enzo resumes worrying over Millie’s blood pressure and asks if she has checked it and tried meditation. Millie lies that she checked it and snaps at his constant focus on relaxation techniques; Enzo suggests they meditate together, then pivots to offering a massage, but Millie is too tired to engage.
The conversation shifts to the newly discovered hidden room under the stairs. Enzo casually floats the idea of fixing it up and converting it into usable space, while Millie calls it a dangerous hazard and insists she never wants to go inside again because of her claustrophobia and past trauma of being trapped.
When Enzo cites Suzette’s advice as a real estate agent, Millie’s frustration spills over. Millie accuses Enzo of spending too much time in Suzette’s yard and confronts him about seeing him on Suzette’s lawn at ten at night; Enzo claims he does not remember and suggests Suzette wanted help with a rosebush.
Enzo insists the conversion idea is his, not Suzette’s, and admits their home feels smaller than Suzette and Jonathan’s. Millie refuses outright and demands Enzo seal the room up so she never has to see it; Enzo relents for now, saying they will discuss it later.
Who Appears
- MillieNarrator; resents Enzo’s worry, refuses to revisit the hidden room, confronts him about Suzette.
- EnzoMillie’s husband; closely supervises the kids, pushes to convert the hidden room, deflects Suzette questions.
- NicoMillie and Enzo’s son; plays baseball with Enzo after the earlier scare.
- AdaMillie and Enzo’s daughter; briefly joins the baseball game as catcher.
- SuzetteNeighbor real estate agent; her advice and Enzo’s late-night visit become a source of conflict.