The Housemaid Is Watching
by Freida McFadden
Contents
Chapter 29
Overview
Millie returns home for her forgotten phone and catches Martha stealing a sentimental necklace from Millie’s dresser. Although Millie forces Martha to return it, Martha counters by blackmailing Millie with knowledge of Millie’s ex-con past. Millie reluctantly agrees to stay quiet, tightening the sense that the neighbors’ household has leverage and is watching her.
Summary
Millie realizes she forgot her phone and, anxious about being unreachable while Nico is back at school, turns around and drives home to retrieve it before work.
Entering through the garage, Millie smells Martha’s citrus cleaning products and notes how efficient Martha has been lately. Unable to find her phone downstairs, Millie remembers leaving it charging on the nightstand and goes upstairs to the master bedroom.
In the hallway, Millie hears a drawer open just after the vacuum stops. She quietly approaches and catches Martha with a dresser drawer open, lifting Millie’s jewelry box and slipping a necklace into her pocket.
Millie confronts Martha and demands she empty her pockets. Martha denies it and threatens to resign, but Millie blocks the exit and makes it clear she will not let Martha leave without returning the necklace. Martha gives it back and claims she was “borrowing” it.
When Millie considers telling Suzette, Martha warns that if Millie exposes Martha, Martha will reveal Millie’s past as an ex-con to Suzette. Fearing gossip and the impact on her family, Millie agrees not to tell Suzette, and Martha leaves, visibly shaken as she locks the door behind her.
Who Appears
- MillieReturns home for her phone; catches Martha stealing and is forced into silence by blackmail.
- MarthaHouse cleaner caught stealing Millie’s necklace; returns it and threatens to expose Millie’s past.
- SuzetteNeighbor; not present, but Martha uses her as leverage by threatening to tell her Millie’s secret.
- EnzoMillie’s husband; off-page reference as the necklace’s giver and Martha’s supporter as housekeeper.
- NicoMillie’s son; referenced as back at school, driving Millie’s anxiety about being reachable.