Can you believe it’s already been four years? I asked, adjusting my necklace and glancing over at David, my husband.
He chuckled, looking up from his phone with a grin. “Four years, and you’re still putting up with me. I should be taking notes.”
David and I had met at one of those corporate mixers our mutual friend insisted we attend. “Networking,” they’d called it. David still jokes it was the most boring night of his life until I showed up. But we hit it off, and here we were, four years later.
Work kept me busy. I’d been in corporate marketing for years, and even though it could be stressful, I loved what I did. But, of course, Janet didn’t always see it that way. “Your job’s too demanding,” she’d say, or “It’s just not right for family life.” David always stood by me, though, and that was what mattered.
Tonight, we’d been invited over for one of Janet’s “family nights.” The problem is, it’s one of those evenings where I never really felt like part of the family, no matter how often I went. Janet had a habit of asking me the most prying questions, making me feel like I was watched.
Janet answered the door with her usual over-the-top cheer.
“Oh, you made it!” she exclaimed, pulling David into a hug. She shot me a polite smile. “Sarah, good to see you, dear.”
“Thanks for inviting us,” I said, trying to match her energy. She led us into the living room, where she’d set up a big spread, the smell of freshly baked bread filling the air. Dinner at Janet’s always had that homey feel, but tonight I couldn’t shake this feeling of unease.
About halfway through dinner, I reached for my phone to check a message, only to realize I’d picked up Janet’s by mistake. I didn’t notice until I saw the screen, and I meant to hand it right back. But then, something strange popped up.
It looked like a live video feed. And what I saw made my stomach flip.
I could see my bedroom. The bedspread, the nightstand, even the small stack of books I’d left by the lamp.
“What…?” I whispered, frozen. My pulse hammered in my ears as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. I tried so hard to set boundaries with Janet, and now… No one else at the table noticed as I just stared, horrified.
“Everything all right?” Janet’s voice broke through my shock, her eyes sharp and curious.
I forced a smile and quickly set the phone down. “Oh, uh, just grabbed the wrong phone,” I said, sliding it across the table. I could feel my face heating up as I picked up my own phone, trying to calm my racing heart.
David was laughing at something Janet had said, completely oblivious to my state. The rest of the night, I barely touched my food, my mind whirling. Every few minutes, I could feel Janet’s gaze flick toward me, but I didn’t dare look up.
As soon as we got home, I hurried to the bedroom and went straight for the photo frame Janet had given me on my last birthday.
She’d insisted I put it on my nightstand, saying, “So I can always feel close to you,” with that sly little smile of hers. It had seemed like such an oddly bulky frame at the time, but I hadn’t thought much of it.
I picked it up now, turning it over in my hands, my fingers tracing the edges. And that’s when I saw it—a tiny, almost invisible lens embedded in the corner.
I couldn’t let this go. Janet had crossed a line I didn’t even know existed. She’d invaded my privacy in the one place I should feel safe. And if she wanted to watch me, then fine. I’d give her a show.
At work later that day, I stopped by Mark’s office. Mark had been a good friend for years, one of the few people I trusted. Tall, easygoing, and ridiculously charming, he was the last person Janet would ever approve of, and I knew he’d understand why I was so upset.
“Hey, Mark,” I said, leaning against his office door. “I need a favor. It’s… kind of weird, though.”
Mark leaned back, eyebrows raised with a smirk. “Weird? You know that’s my specialty. What’s up?”
I took a breath. “I think my mother-in-law is spying on me,” I said, feeling absurd just saying it out loud. “And I need your help to prove it. Let’s make her believe I’m cheating on David.”
Mark thought about it for a moment, then gave a half-smile. “Well, you’re right about one thing. She won’t see it coming. And if anyone can pull this off, it’s you.” He paused, looking at me. “You’re sure about this?”
I hesitated, a mix of anxiety and excitement bubbling up inside me. “Yeah, I think so. I mean… yes, absolutely. It’s risky, but she has to understand how violating this is.”
The following afternoon, my stomach was in knots as I left work early to meet Mark at my house. I led him up the stairs, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and guilt. When we reached the bedroom, I went over the plan one last time.
“Okay, here’s what we’ll do,” I said, trying to sound calm. “I’ll take off my jacket and toss it over the photo frame—just in case she can see anything. I want her to only hear what’s going on.”
Mark nodded, grinning. “Got it. Make her think we’re getting cozy?”
“Exactly. I’ll start with some light conversation, maybe a little laughter. You just… go with it.”
He let out a quiet laugh, adjusting his collar. “All right, lead the way, madam director.”
I took a deep breath, threw my jacket over the frame, and turned to Mark. “Here we go.”
We started talking in low voices, laughing and making enough noise to imply we weren’t alone. I kept glancing at the covered frame, my pulse racing as we filled the room with subtle whispers and sighs, like two people sharing a private moment.
About twenty minutes passed, and just as I started wondering if she’d take the bait, I heard the front door slam open downstairs, followed by hurried footsteps. My heart jumped into my throat.
“Showtime,” I whispered to Mark, who gave a small nod, a mix of curiosity and excitement in his eyes.
The bedroom door flew open, and there stood Janet and David, looking like they’d just run a marathon. David’s face was red with shock, his jaw tight. Janet looked utterly furious, her gaze darting between me and Mark as if she’d caught us red-handed.
“What on earth is going on in here?” Janet demanded, her voice sharp. “Sarah, what is this supposed to be?”
I crossed my arms, holding her gaze, feeling my own anger simmer. “You tell me, Janet. Maybe you can explain why you’ve been spying on us in our own home?”
Her face blanched, but she quickly recovered, putting on an indignant look. “Spying? Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play innocent with me, Janet,” I said, pointing toward the photo frame on the nightstand. “I know there’s a camera hidden in that frame. And I know you’ve been watching me.”
She scoffed, crossing her arms as if I’d offended her deeply. “That’s absurd, Sarah. Why would I do something like that? I’d never invade your privacy like that. You’re making baseless accusations.”
“Really?” I replied, my voice steady, though my heart was racing. “If that’s true, then you won’t mind showing me your phone. Just open the app you used last night.”
“Sarah! What is this? Are you trying to frame my mother for something? You’re the one in here with a man!” David pointed at Mark.
However, Janet’s composure faltered, and her eyes darted toward her bag. She tightened her arms around herself, refusing to meet my gaze. “I… I don’t need to show you anything. This is just some misunderstanding. I don’t appreciate being accused of something so vile.”
I took a step closer, lifting the frame off the nightstand and holding it up for everyone to see. “Then you won’t mind explaining why there’s a tiny camera lens embedded right here. You know, the one that connects to the live feed I saw on your phone?”
David turned toward her, his face a mixture of confusion and growing anger. “Mom, is this true? You put a camera in here? Why would you do that?”
Janet stammered, her face reddening. “I… I only wanted to keep an eye on things! For your sake, David! I needed to make sure she wasn’t—” Her voice trailed off as she realized what she was admitting.
David nodded, his voice firm as he looked at his mother. “Mom, I think it’s time you go. I’ll call you when I’m ready to talk.”
Janet looked defeated but finally gave a stiff nod, heading for the door without another word.
I squeezed David’s hands, feeling both relieved and deeply exhausted. “We’ll get through it, David. But we need to set boundaries… real ones, this time.”
He nodded, pulling me close. “I promise. No more letting her intrude on our life. This is our home, and she has no place interfering anymore.”
In the days that followed, life slowly settled back to normal. David and I grew closer, more united. Together we agreed on firm boundaries with Janet. For the first time, I felt safe in my own home, knowing we’d drawn a line that wouldn’t be crossed again.
