Meanwhile, Liz sat in the corner, shaking her head. “Oh, honey, it must be so hard doing this all on your own,” she said, her voice filled with pity that only deepened Sophie’s frustration.

Sophie felt trapped, their words swirling in her mind like an endless storm.

One evening, desperate for a moment of peace, she began tidying the living room.

Her eyes landed on the Elf on the Shelf sitting innocently on the mantel. Something about its eyes caught her attention.

They looked unusual, almost unnatural. She picked it up, turning it over in her hands. Her stomach twisted as she spotted a small slit on its back.

With trembling fingers, Sophie opened it and pulled out a flash drive. Heart pounding, she rushed to her room, locked the door, and plugged it into her computer.

The screen filled with clips—her crying, her messy home, her moments with Matthew. Even Rachel and Liz were captured on the footage.

A wave of fear and anger washed over her. There was only one person who wanted evidence to prove she wasn’t a good mother.

Sophie burst into Rachel’s room, gripping the flash drive tightly in her hand, and her face red with anger. “What is this?” she demanded, holding up the drive.

Rachel looked up from where she sat on the bed, her expression blank. “I don’t know. What are you talking about?”

Sophie stepped closer, her voice rising. “I found a hidden camera inside the elf. Don’t act like you don’t know anything about it.”

Rachel’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “A hidden camera? That’s horrible. We should call the police.”

Rachel stood, her own voice growing louder. “That’s not true! I haven’t done anything like that. Yes, I’ve thought about Matthew living with me. But I decided against it because I knew it would hurt him. He belongs here with you.”

“Don’t act innocent. I don’t believe you,” Sophie snapped. “I want you out of my house. Now.”

Rachel crossed her arms. “I’m not going anywhere. I came here to see my grandson. If you want me gone, go ahead and call the police.”

Sophie spun around, slamming the door as she left. Her chest heaved with frustration. Rachel was still trying to control her life, even after everything Sophie had already lost.

She sat on the edge of her bed, her face buried in her hands as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Liz asked, her voice soft.

Sophie looked up, her face streaked with tears. “It’s Rachel,” she said through a shaky breath. “She’s trying to set me up.”

Liz frowned and sat down beside her. “I knew that witch couldn’t be trusted. But tell me what happened.”

“I found a…,” Sophie began. She paused, glancing at Liz’s bag lying on the bed. A piece of paper had slipped out, catching her eye.

She leaned over and picked it up. Her stomach dropped as she read the receipt. It was for a surveillance camera.

Her hands shook as she held it up. “What is this?!” she yelled.

Liz reached for the receipt, her face pale. “Sweetheart, let me explain.”

Sophie jerked it away. “So it was you? You put a camera in the elf? Why would you do that?!”