On a bright Tuesday morning, Marcus left early for an important board meeting.
Victoria wore an expensive golden satin dress for an afternoon lunch with her wealthy friends.
She was in a terrible mood because her personal accounts were undergoing a routine audit.
When Lily began crying in the hallway, Victoria lost her temper completely.
Instead of comforting the child, Victoria dragged the screaming infant by her harness across the slippery marble floor.
The sound of the crying echoed off the tall walls of the entrance hall.
Elena heard the loud cries from the kitchen and ran toward the foyer instantly.
Her heart sank when she saw the horrifying scene before her eyes.
Elena rushed forward without thinking twice about her job safety.
She scooped little Lily up into her arms to protect her from any further harm.
The small baby was trembling, her small face red from crying.
Elena noticed red marks on the toddler's delicate arms and legs.
Elena stood back against the wall, holding the baby tightly near the giant American flag display.
Tears streamed down Elena's face as she tried to calm the sobbing child.
Elena: Please stop! Don't hurt the baby!
Victoria: Put her down right now, you simple maid!
Elena: Look at what you are doing, she is just a baby!
Victoria: I don't care! She needs to learn how to behave in this house!
Victoria stepped forward with her hand raised in pure anger.
Elena turned her body to shield the infant completely from Victoria's reach.
During the struggle, Victoria's own long nail caught on her cheek, leaving a thin red scratch.
Victoria shrieked in anger as she looked at her face in the gold mirror nearby.
Victoria: You clawed me! I will destroy your life for this!
Elena: I only protected the baby from your cruel hands!
deep inside, Elena was terrified of what Victoria might do next.
She held the crying infant even closer, praying for help to arrive.
At that exact moment, tires screeched on the driveway outside the front entrance.
Marcus had forgotten important custody and legal documents on his office desk.
He had returned home early to retrieve them before his afternoon flight.
He had no idea about the nightmare taking place inside his own hallway.