A Woman Let Her 11-Year-Old Son Walk Home from School Alone for the First Time – Twenty Minutes Later, Her Neighbor Called Her Crying, ‘Come Outside. You Need to See What Your Son Did’

I’d borrowed money from her.

I’d told her about my struggles.

And all along, she had been passing information to Nathan.

“What exactly was she reporting?” I asked.

Vanessa sighed.

“Whether Joel was happy. What school he attended. What activities he liked. Whether you were seeing anyone. Whether you were having financial problems.”

I remembered Ivy’s endless questions.

Swimming lessons.

Money.

Dating.

School.

Everything suddenly made sense.

“Did Nathan pay her?”

“He helped cover her rent.”

I stared at Vanessa.

My ex-husband had claimed he couldn’t afford to support his own son.

But apparently, he’d found enough money to help finance someone who monitored our lives.

“Why would he do that?” I whispered.

Vanessa looked miserable.

“He told my mother you wouldn’t let him see Joel.”

I nearly dropped my coffee.

“What?”

“He claimed you were keeping his son away from him.”

I shook my head.