Chapter 1

Our nanny, Grace Ward, had been working for us for three years.

She was great at cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the kid.

But she never took off her mask.

I asked her about it once, and she said she had rhinitis and was sensitive to cooking fumes.

My husband, David Lane, said to me, "Don't overthink it. As long as Grace gets the job done, that's all we need."

But then, one day, I changed my flight at the last minute and came home early.

As soon as I put the key in the lock, I heard some rustling sounds coming from the kitchen.

I tiptoed over to the kitchen door and peeked through the gap. Then I saw Grace take off her mask.

At that moment, my blood ran cold.

*****

Grace had been working for us for three years.

She was the best nanny I'd ever had.

With her around, our place was always spotless, and the floors were so shiny that I could see my reflection in them.

My daughter's toys were all sorted and neatly arranged.

Every meal was different, and the meals were so nutritious and delicious that it felt like dining at a five-star hotel.

My daughter, Anna, liked Grace even more than she liked me.

Grace would read her stories, play games with her, and even knit little bunny toys for her out of yarn.

Anna's laughter was the most beautiful background music in our home.

David was always singing Grace's praises.

He said hiring Grace was the best thing that ever happened to our family.

I felt the same way.

But there was one thing that always bothered me: the mask.

It was a plain white, disposable medical mask.

For three years, over a thousand days and nights, I had never once seen Grace take it off.

Whether she was sweating over the stove in the kitchen or gently rocking Anna to sleep in the living room, that mask was always there.

It was like that mask was a part of her face—sealed tight, never letting anything through.

The first time I asked Grace about it was about a month after she started working for us.

I brought it up casually. "Grace, don't you ever feel stuffy wearing that mask all the time?"

She was wiping the table, and her hand paused for a second. But she quickly went back to cleaning.

She replied, her voice muffled by the mask, "Mrs. Lane, I have rhinitis. It's an old problem. Whenever I smell cooking fumes, it flares up.

"Wearing the mask helps me feel better."

It sounded reasonable enough to me.

I smiled and said, "Oh, that makes sense. Make sure to take care of yourself."

David tried to reassure me, too. "It's normal for someone to have a few minor health issues. As long as she's diligent and treats Anna well, that's all we need.

"Don't stress about it."

Maybe I was overthinking it.

After all, it was hard for anyone to change their habits.

Life went on, day after day.

Grace was perfect, no flaws at all.

My doubts gradually faded amid the trivialities of daily life.

Everything was fine until Anna's third birthday.

We had a bunch of friends over, and the living room was buzzing with laughter and chatter.

Grace was busy in the kitchen, bringing out plate after plate of gourmet dishes.

Everyone said I was so lucky to have such a skilled nanny.

One of my friend's kids, being a little rascal, darted over to Grace.

He reached up and tugged at her mask. "Hey, I want to see what you look like."

Kids really had no filter.

All eyes were suddenly on them.

My heart skipped a beat.

Grace's reaction was startlingly fast.

She suddenly stepped back, like she was avoiding something scary.

Her knuckles went white from gripping the tray so hard.

She instantly covered her mask with her other hand, her movement dramatic and almost frantic.

Her eyes showed a panic I'd never seen before, and there was even a hint of fear.

"Don't touch it!" Grace's voice was so shrill.

The laughter in the living room stopped cold.

The kid started bawling his eyes out, totally freaked.

For a moment, the whole room was awkward as hell.

I rushed over to smooth things out. "Grace's rhinitis is pretty serious. She's really sensitive to the air outside. Come on, don't make her uncomfortable."

I picked up the kid and whispered soothing words to calm him down.

David chimed in, "Kids are all naughty, Grace. Don't let it get to you."

Grace lowered her head, her voice softening back to its usual gentle tone. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Lane. I lost my composure. Sorry for scaring the child."

She turned to the kid's mom and apologized.

The rest of the birthday party was tinged with an awkwardness that no one could quite put into words.

After everyone left, David saw I was looking down and tried to comfort me. "Come on, you're overthinking things again.

"Grace was just worried about her rhinitis acting up, so she got a little worked up.

"It's really not a big deal."

I sat on the couch, watching Grace's silhouette as she quietly washed the dishes in the kitchen.

It was still that same diligent, silent figure I'd grown used to.

But those nagging doubts I'd tried to bury started bubbling up again in my mind.

Would anyone really keep a mask on, even when they were sleeping, just because of rhinitis?

I'd spotted her several times when she was off work.

Late at night, when I got up for a drink, I'd pass by her room. Peeking through the crack, I'd spot her lying in bed.

Her face was still hidden behind that same white mask.

I lay in bed, listening to David's steady breathing beside me. Anna was sleeping soundly in her crib.

This was a flawless home.

But somehow, Grace's masked face kept flashing before my eyes.

Her eyes were always so calm that it was like looking into a deep well with no end in sight.

What could be hiding at the bottom of that well?

I had no clue. But deep down, I knew that this secret wasn't as simple as it looked.