Amelia sighed , then her voice grew serious . " Listen , Kristin . The rumor was always that Seraphina left because she couldn't handle having an autistic child . Elias is going to call you again . But don't be a pushover . You get involved with crazy like that , you'll never get out . " Sure enough , half an hour later , my phone rang again . It was Elias . His voice was frayed with exhaustion . " Kristin , I'll double your salary . Please , come back now . Pearl won't stop crying . I don't know what to do . " Ten thousand a month , doubled to twenty . I gritted my teeth , threw on a coat , and rushed out the door . When I arrived at the Hayes mansion , however , I didn't hear any crying . Instead , I heard Seraphina's sugary voice . " See , darling ? I told you . I'm her mother . Of course she needs me most ... " Then she saw me standing in the doorway . Her voice sharpened . " What are you doing here again ? " " I knew it ! You haven't given up ! You're still after my husband ! But I'm telling you , the original is back , and there's no room for a che- ap copy in this house ! " It was three in the morning , and the house was lit up like it was daytime . The entire household staff was lined up in the foyer , blea- ry - eyed and resentful . After Seraphina's latest outburst , their expressions of weary contempt were impossible to hide . She saw it. She pointed a trembling finger at the butler . " You ! You think she's going to replace me , don't you ? That's why you're sucking up to her ! " " You probably told her she was the first woman Elias ever brought home , didn't you ? Playing matchmaker for them ! " The butler looked mortified . Everyone knew Elias had a wife and an autistic daughter . Countless female therapists and specialists had been in and out of this house . " First woman " ? It was absurd . Seraphina , getting no reaction , turned her wrath on the head housekeeper . " And you ! I bet you told them how you've never seen Mr. Hayes smile so much , didn't you ? " The housekeeper looked equally baffled . The Hayes Corporation was doing well, and Pearl's condition had been improving . Of course Elias was smiling more often . The staff were trapped , but I wasn't . " Mr. Hayes , " I said , my voice cold . " If you called me here in the middle of the night to watch this circus , then I'm afraid I'm leaving . " Elias rubbed his temples , looking utterly drained . " When I called you , Pearl was having a terrible meltdown . But ... Seraphina mana- ged to calm her down . She's asleep now . "