Jane’s employers plan a luxurious holiday away, tagging her along to look after their children. While they promised that they would take care of all the expenses, it is only when they return home that they demand that Jane play her part and pay for her plane tickets. But Jane won’t give up that easily.“Jane, can you come into the living room?” Mrs. Smith called out, her teaspoon clinking as she stirred sugar into the cup of tea Melanie, the helper, had just given her. I was tidying up the playroom. “Now, please,” she added. Her tone was sweet, but something felt off. I walked into the living room, trying to keep my nerves at bay. “Sure, Mrs. Smith. What’s up?” I replied, wiping the disinfectant onto my jeans. She was sitting on the couch, perfectly poised as always. Not even a strand of hair out of place. Mr. Smith was seated beside her, his phone in his hand. He gave me a tight smile.“
Jane, we need to talk about the vacation.” I nodded, curious. We had been home for two days now. Back from our trip to the seaside, staying in a luxurious resort. It was almost the break I needed, minus the fact that I had the Smiths’ three children, and their friends, the Johnsons’ two sons to care for as well. I was just doing my job in a fancier location. “Of course,” I said. “It was a lovely trip. Thank you again for inviting me.” “Yes, well,” Mrs. Smith started. “We need to discuss the plane tickets. When will you be able to return the $1000?”I blinked. I was sure that I had misheard her. “Sorry, $1000? For the tickets? What?” “Yes, for the tickets, Jane,” she spoke slowly as if I was stupid. “We spent a lot on them, and we thought you’d be grateful enough to pay us back.” My heart raced. I didn’t have that kind of money to spare. I was their full-time nanny, with a mother to care for at home. “ But you told me that everything was sorted. You said, ‘Don’t worry about it, Jane. We’ve got it all covered.’” Mrs. Smith’s expression hardened. Mr. Smith gazed at me.“That was before the Johnsons refused to sign a business deal with Craig. That was the entire purpose of the holiday. Mr. Smith and I needed to woo them. So, there’s no need to seem generous now, Jane. You have exactly one week to return the money, or it will be taken from your pay.” I was stunned. The room felt like it was spinning. “But… I can’t afford that, Mrs. Smith,” I admitted. “Most of my salary goes to the rent at home and my mother’s medication. I can’t take that away from her. And you didn’t mention anything about paying you back!” “That’s not our problem, Jane. One week,” Mr. Smith reiterated, reaching for a croissant from the tea tray left for Mrs. Smith. With a wave of his hand, he signaled the end of the discussion. That night, I sat in my tiny room a few feet away from the Smiths’ house. I was seething. How could they do this? I needed a plan, and I needed it fast.Then it hit me: the Smiths cared deeply about their social standing and their reputation. “Of course, that’s all they care about,” I muttered to myself as I brushed my teeth before bed. “But I can use that to my advantage.” The next day, after I dropped the kids off at school, I created a fake email account. I drafted a polite but detailed message about my experience, making sure to be clear without naming any names. But there were enough telltale signs pointing to the Smiths, from their cars to the kids, to the gold facial appointments that Mrs. Smith bragged about. Thereafter, I sent it to the key people in their social circle, including the other influential families that the Smiths wanted to be in league with.“I just don’t understand what they want from us,” I overheard Mrs. Smith say into the phone later that day. “Eva asked me if everything is true, but I don’t know what she’s talking about.” A few days later, the gossip started spreading. The Smiths’ dirty little secret on how they treated “their staff” was out, and naturally, their reputation took a hit. Mrs. Smith called in a masseuse to soothe her muscles. “Just let them into the spa when they arrive, Jane,” she said. “I need all the help I can get.” Later that day, when I went to pick the kids up from school, the other nannies were hanging about, waiting for the bell to ring.“Did you read the email about the Smiths?” one of the nannies said. “Jane, are they really like that?” I nodded. “They’re good parents, but they’re horrible people,” I admitted, not wanting to give away that I was the person who sent out the email. “How long will you work for them?” another asked me. “I couldn’t live or work under those circumstances. Rich people need to learn that respect for them is earned, too.” I smiled. The nannies went back and forth as we waited. And through their chatter, I discovered something interesting about Mrs. Smith.Turns out that my employer had a habit of “borrowing” items from her friends and never returning them. “An entire Gucci handbag, Jane,” Mina said. “Mrs. Smith asked my ma’am if she could borrow it for a fundraising gala two months ago.” “That’s ridiculous!” I said, shocked. “I didn’t know that she was capable of that sort of thing. But she doesn’t like me getting too close to her things anyway.” A few days later, Mrs. Smith held one of her ladies’ luncheons. It was a monthly event that she loved hosting, but this time it was only two weeks into the month. “I need this to go well, Jane,” she said as I cut fruit up for the kids. “So, you need to attend it. The kids will be at school. Everything will be catered for. Just walk around and talk to the women. Make us seem human.”I knew that she was puzzling. She must have heard more than enough through the grapevine. During the event, I walked around as requested of me. But I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip. And I had nothing to lose. The Smiths were probably going to fire me at the end of the week when I couldn’t make the $1000. “We’ll deal with it, darling,” my mother coughed into the phone when I told her the truth of the matter. At the luncheon, I walked around, casually mentioning to the ladies how much I admired Mrs. Smith’s collection, making sure that I spoke to Eva, Mina’s employer. “Mrs. Smith has a stunning handbag similar to yours,” I said. “Gucci. Did she lend you this one? She’s always telling me that she lends her things out because she has so much.”Eva looked at me over the top of her champagne glass. “Is that so, Jane?” she asked, her eyes narrowing. Whispers started circulating. By the end of the luncheon, Mrs. Smith’s reputation for borrowing without returning was the hot topic. The next morning, her friends began asking for their things back. Mrs. Smith was mortified. During dinner the next night, Mr. Smith called me to the table, asking me to join them. “Thank you, but I usually wait for Ivy and Melanie to eat,” I said politely, mentioning the chef and her helper. “No, sit with us,” he insisted. I obliged. Despite his tone, I hoped that maybe he was going to tell me that the money could be forgotten. And that everything would return as normal. “It has come to my attention that an anonymous email has gone out,” he said, cutting into his steak. “A disgusting email,” Mrs. Smith added, taking a long sip of her wine. “Did you have anything to do with it?” he asked me, his eyes trying to coax a confession out of me. I shook my head, looking down at my plate. “Then that settles it,” he said, knowingly. “You’re dismissed. You can pack up and get out tomorrow.” I did exactly as I was told and moved back home. A week later, Mrs. Johnson called me. “Jane, can you come over for tea?” she asked warmly. “Of course, Mrs. Johnson,” I replied, curious about the nature of the invitation. As we sat in her luxurious living room, she looked at me with genuine concern. “I heard about what the Smiths did to you. It’s disgraceful.” I nodded, trying to keep my composure. “Well,” she continued. “We’ve decided to cut ties with the Smiths entirely. And we’d like to offer you a job. Better pay, better working conditions. We could use someone like you for our kids.” I was stunned. “Of course!” I exclaimed. I needed the job desperately. “You’ve earned it,” she smiled. “The boys loved having you watch them during the holiday. And somehow, you got Jonathan to eat his peas!” I don’t know how the Smiths reacted to me working for the Johnsons, but I hoped that they felt betrayed. What would you have done?
YOU WON’T BELIEVE HOW STUNNING SHANIA TWAIN LOOKS TODAY!
Shania Twain, the best-selling female artist in country music history, and one of the top-selling music artists of all time, will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Known as the “Queen of Country Pop,” Shania became a global superstar in the 1990s. But not many people know about the struggles she faced along the way. Before her big break, Shania grew up in poverty, often going hungry. Then, at just 22, a heartbreaking tragedy changed her life and gave her new responsibilities.
Shania was born as Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, on August 28, 1965. Later, she changed her last name to Twain when her mother, Sharon, married a man named Jerry Twain.
Shania Twain’s biological father wasn’t around when she was growing up, so she never publicly called him her dad. Instead, her stepfather, Jerry, stepped in and took care of Shania and her two sisters, even legally adopting them.
Shania once said, “My father (Jerry) went out of his way to raise three daughters that weren’t even his. For me to acknowledge another man as my father, a man who was never there for me as a father, who wasn’t the one who struggled every day to put food on our table, would have hurt him terribly.”
Shania’s childhood wasn’t easy. She grew up in poverty in the rural town of Timmins, Canada. Her stepfather Jerry, who was a full-blooded Ojibway, worked hard but didn’t earn much money, making it difficult to provide for the family.
Shania Twain and her sisters often didn’t have enough to eat growing up. Sometimes, the only food they had was a dish called “goulash,” which was just dry bread with boiled milk and brown sugar. During the cold Canadian winters, Shania had to wear bread bags on her feet because her family couldn’t afford proper boots.
Even though things were tough, Shania never told anyone about their situation. She was afraid that if people knew how bad things were, the authorities might separate her family.
Her home life was also unstable. The marriage between her mother, Sharon, and her stepfather, Jerry, had its problems. At one point, Shania convinced her mom to leave Jerry, and they all went to a homeless shelter in Toronto. But when Shania was 16, her mother decided to go back to Jerry and try to make things work again.
Because of her difficult childhood, Shania said she lived in “survivor mode” even as an adult. She felt she couldn’t rely on her parents to protect her or be steady caregivers.
When Shania was eight years old, she started singing in bars to help pay the bills. Even though it was a risky thing for such a young girl, she could make up to $20 a night, which was a big help for her struggling family. Even though she didn’t like doing it, the money was essential for them to get by.
Shania Twain’s love for music helped her get through tough times. She said in *Shania Twain: The Biography*, “My deepest passion was music, and it helped. There were moments when I thought, ‘I hate this.’ I hated going into bars and being around drunks. But I loved the music, and so I survived.”
Performing in rural bars and retirement homes in Canada helped Shania improve her stage presence and explore her musical talent. It wasn’t long before she was ready for bigger opportunities.
At 13, Shania got her big break by performing on *The Tommy Hunter Show*, a famous country music variety show on CBC Television. Hosted by Tommy Hunter, known as “Canada’s Country Gentleman,” the show gave Shania a great chance to show off her skills as a country singer.
In the mid-1980s, Shania was still a struggling singer-songwriter trying to make it in the music world. She had joined her first band, Longshot, when she was 16, but eventually moved to Toronto at 21 to further pursue her dreams in music.
As Shania Twain continued performing, more people began to notice her incredible talent and beauty. One of those people was famous country singer Mary Bailey. When she saw Shania perform in Sudbury, Ontario, she was amazed.
“I saw this little girl up on stage with a guitar, and it absolutely blew me away,” Bailey said. Shania performed Willie Nelson’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Bailey thought Shania’s voice was powerful and full of emotion, reminding her of singer Tanya Tucker. She knew right away that Shania had the potential to be a star.
Bailey, who later became Shania’s manager, recalled, “She sang a few songs that she had written, and I thought to myself, this kid is like nineteen years old—where does she get this? This is from a person who’s lived sixty years.”
In 1987, Shania Twain was on the verge of breaking through as a country artist. She had the talent and the opportunities, and Nashville was ready for her. But then, a tragedy changed everything.
On the afternoon of November 1, 1987, Shania’s parents, Jerry and Sharon, were driving on a remote logging road to a work site. Sadly, their car collided with a truck carrying timber. Both Jerry and Sharon died in the crash, leaving behind their two sons and three daughters.
Shania was devastated when she heard the news. She described the feeling as being like a tree with strong roots for 30 years, only to have someone try to cut her down.
Instead of focusing on her music career, Shania decided to return to her hometown of Timmins. She took on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings, who were 13, 14, and 18 at the time
Shania Twain said that the time after her parents’ deaths was very hard, but it also helped her grow up and become more mature. She took on the responsibility of raising her younger siblings by herself, making sure they had the support they needed.
Later, Shania and her siblings moved to Huntsville, Ontario. There, she found a job as a singer and dancer at the Deerhurst Resort. At that time, Shania thought about giving up on music because she needed to focus on taking care of her family. She said in 1995, “I thought, my family comes first. I have to take care of them. I didn’t even think of my future…. I’m lucky I got the job at Deerhurst, because it was music. I didn’t know where I was going to go from there.”
While working at Deerhurst, Shania continued to develop her skills as an entertainer. She made a demo tape of her songs, which caught the attention of a Mercury Nashville Records executive. This led to Shania being invited to Nashville, where she released her first album, *Shania Twain*, in 1993. Although the album didn’t become a big hit, it received positive reviews from critics.
One person who really liked Shania Twain’s music was South African record producer Mutt Lange. He was so impressed that he contacted Shania to see if he could help produce and write songs with her.
After meeting at Nashville’s Fan Fair in June 1993, they started working together closely and quickly became very close. Just six months later, they got married. Even though Shania was more than ten years younger than Mutt, they had a special connection. Together, they wrote many hit songs that helped make Shania a superstar, including the albums *The Woman in Me* (1995) and *Come On Over* (1997).
By 2007, The Woman in Me had sold more than 12 million copies in the United States. At the time of its release it was a huge success, turning Shania Twain into a star overnight.
Shania Twain said in 1997, “We just took a chance and followed our instincts, and it worked out. I think there was something on that album for everybody.”
Usually, Shania wrote the lyrics for their songs, and Mutt Lange created the music. While working on the album *Come On Over*, Mutt added some rock-n-roll elements, inspired by his past work with bands like AC/DC and Def Leppard.
The result of combining country and rock music was a huge success, with the album selling 40 million copies worldwide. The 1997 album included some of Shania’s biggest hits, like “You’re Still The One” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.”
Shania Twain said, “In my mind, I was just being myself, and that was the great thing — to just be myself and let my personality come through in the music.”
In the late 1990s, “Shaniamania” took America by storm. Today, *Come On Over* is the ninth best-selling album of any kind in the US and the top-selling country album ever.
On August 12, 2001, Shania and Mutt Lange welcomed a son. They named him Eja (pronounced “Asia”) and, according to the media, Shania delivered her son at a hospital in Switzerland, without any “media fanfare”.
Shania Twain’s down-to-earth charm was evident when she kept her pregnancy private. She didn’t share any details about her baby, Eja, when he was born.
However, a few years later, Shania went through a very public divorce, and some unflattering details about her marriage were revealed in the media.
Before the divorce, there had been many rumors about problems in Shania’s marriage. In 1997, she addressed these rumors and denied that they were getting divorced.
She said, “Mutt and I are an unlikely pair. There’s been talk in the tabloids that we’re divorcing, but we are very happy. We love each other in every way. We have a great creative relationship and a great personal relationship. We feel as strong as ever—and ‘Still the One’ is sort of my own personal song about marriage.”
In 2008, though, Shania and her husband separated. The reason? Lange had engaged in an affair with Shania’s best friend, Marie-Anne Thiébaud.
Shania was, of course, completely heartbroken. She said she cried constantly and took five baths a day. According to the country star, she was ”ready to die”.
“I’ll be honest: when your husband leaves you, and falls into the arms of your close friend, your self-esteem can really suffer,” she said.
Shania and Marie-Anne were really good friends who had first met when the latter was hired as an assistant and interpreter for Mutt Lange. After finding out about the affair, Shania confronted her so-called friend.
”I just told her that she was a bad person – that’s all I could get out!’
‘When I left her, I thought, “You’re such a wimp, you coward!”‘
Things took an unexpected turn for Shania Twain when she found love again.
In 2011, Shania married businessman Frédéric Thiébaud, who was once married to her former friend Marie-Anne. They connected through their shared heartbreak and got married in Puerto Rico, with a small ceremony attended by about 40 close friends and family.
Shania told the Daily Mail, “I don’t take any day for granted anymore. Fred has given me a new lease on love.”
Shania Twain has said that she found “a true friend and a dear gentleman” in her husband, Frédéric Thiébaud. She describes their 10+ years together as a true gift. When they started dating, Fred surprised her with romantic trips, like flying her to a Swiss glacier and renting out a whole movie theater just for her.
Shania said, “It’s twisted. So beautifully twisted.” Fred added, “To express my love, words are not enough. I’m more in love with her every day.”
Shania lives in Corseaux, Switzerland, with her husband. She is known for being very private and rarely gives interviews.
In recent years, Shania has released several albums with mixed success. Right now, she is performing in Las Vegas, where she showcases her award-winning career with highlights from her iconic videos and global tours.
She has also tried her luck in the film industry, appearing in several movies over the years. In 2019, she starred alongside John Travolta in Trading Paint, and in 2020 portrayed the mother of singer Jeremy Camp in the autobiographical movie I Still Believe.
Though Shania does not appear as often on the top lists today, she has left a massive mark in popular culture. Once the reigning queen of country music, she helped influence artists such as Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood.
Carrie Underwood said in 2016, “I think we were all definitely influenced by Shania, even if we don’t realize it. Her music was so different and revolutionary at the time. She definitely paved the way for a lot of us.”
Shania was also known for her stylish outfits and supermodel looks. In 2009, readers of Hello! magazine voted her the No. 1 Most Beautiful Canadian. Shania has shared some of her secrets for staying youthful, including being a vegetarian, eating lots of raw food, and meditating daily.
She said, “A happy heart comes first, then the happy face.”
Shania Twain, now 59, talked about how she’s handling aging. She admitted to being a bit insecure about her changing body. She said, “I’m letting ‘the girls’ hang loose under my sweat clothes around the house. When someone comes to the door, I cross my arms under them for support.”
In a 2020 interview on the LadyGang podcast, she mentioned, “Aging is a battle you can’t win. I just started accepting it and stepping away from fights I can’t win.”
Shania added that focusing on aging was taking up too much of her energy and space in her life. “I’ve got songs to write. I’m not gonna sit around,” she said.
Are you also a fan of Shania Twain? I think she’s still gorgeous and more important – a really great woman. Shania is an example for us all. Love and just admire her!
If you are inspired by this amazing woman, forward this story to everyone you know on Facebook!
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