Cover of The Housemaid Is Watching

The Housemaid Is Watching

by Freida McFadden


Genre
Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
Year
2024
Contents

Chapter 12

Overview

Millie confronts Enzo about being at Suzette’s house, and their conversation exposes both the family’s financial strain and Millie’s growing unease about Suzette’s influence. Enzo frames his unpaid help as strategic networking for future work and apologizes for not telling Millie where he went. They reconcile, but Millie’s lingering distrust shifts from Enzo to Suzette.

Summary

Millie asks Enzo, as casually as possible while he brushes his teeth, whether he was at Suzette’s house that day. Enzo admits he was, saying he helped in Suzette’s yard by giving gardening tips, as he had previously mentioned.

Millie presses him on why he did not tell her he was going over there, framing weekends as family time. Enzo grows defensive and argues it is work connected to their urgent need for money, but Millie realizes Suzette did not pay him and challenges how that counts as a job.

Enzo explains that Suzette has already gotten him two new jobs and that cultivating her goodwill is important for word-of-mouth and paying for the house. He adds that Millie was busy with Nico’s playdate and Ada prefers reading, so he believed no one needed him at home.

Millie acknowledges Enzo’s logic and remembers how involved he has always been with the family, which softens her anger. She apologizes for giving him a hard time, and Enzo teases that her jealousy is “cute,” then asks for forgiveness; Millie relents, and they kiss.

The moment is interrupted when Nico yells that “Little Kiwi” the praying mantis is molting and demands they come see. Enzo accepts that romance is over, checks that Millie is truly okay, and promises he will tell her from now on whenever he goes to Suzette’s—though Millie clarifies she trusts Enzo and ends by admitting she does not trust Suzette.

Who Appears

  • Millie Accardi
    Questions Enzo about Suzette; reconciles but admits she distrusts Suzette.
  • Enzo
    Admits visiting Suzette to network for jobs; apologizes and promises transparency.
  • Suzette
    Neighbor whose attention and connections fuel Millie’s suspicion and Enzo’s networking.
  • Nico
    Interrupts parents, excitedly announcing Little Kiwi the praying mantis is molting.
  • Ada
    Mentioned as quietly reading while Enzo is away.
  • Little Kiwi
    Nico’s praying mantis; molting becomes a comedic interruption.
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