The grand white mansion sat quietly at the end of the long gated drive.
Inside the vast golden foyer, soft daylight filtered through the tall stained glass windows.
Young Leo stood near the central sweeping staircase holding a small velvet photo album.
That album contained the only remaining photos of his late biological mother, Sarah.
Sarah had passed away four years ago when Leo was just three years old.
Since that painful loss, the massive home had felt quiet and empty for him.
His father, Richard Vance, was a powerful billionaire who managed a global shipping empire.
Richard loved his young son more than anything else in the whole world.
However, Richard was often forced to travel far away for important international business meetings.
To help manage the home, Richard had married Clarissa six months ago.
Clarissa presented herself to the public as a kind and caring stepmother.
She wore high elegant silk gowns and always smiled warmly whenever Richard was nearby.
Yet the moment Richard left for his trips, Clarissa transformed into a completely different person.
She treated the household staff with harsh disdain and ignored young Leo entirely.
Clarissa secretly despised the memory of Leo's late mother inside the grand estate.
She wanted every reminder of Sarah wiped clean from the entire mansion forever.
Leo spent most of his quiet afternoons hiding inside his bedroom upstairs.
His only true friend inside the huge mansion was a loyal housemaid named Elena.
Elena had worked for the Vance family for nearly ten long, dedicated years.
She had promised Sarah before she died that she would always watch over Leo.
On this clear morning, Richard was scheduled to return home from an overseas trip.
Clarissa paced back and forth across the shiny marble floor in her maroon dress.
She noticed Leo sitting quietly on the top step with his mother's photo album.
Her eyes narrowed with intense anger as she looked up at the young boy.
She stomped up the marble steps until she stood directly over the frightened child.
Clarissa: What did I tell you about keeping those ugly photos out here?
Leo: This is my mom, and my dad said I could keep it.
Clarissa: I do not care what your father told you, you ungrateful child.
Leo: Please do not take it away from me, Clarissa!
Clarissa: Give that album to me right now before I throw it out!
Clarissa reached down aggressively and snatched the velvet album from Leo's small hands.
Leo pulled back in fear and lost his balance on the slick marble landing.
He stumbled backward against the top step and let out a terrified shout.
The photo album slipped from Clarissa's hands and tumbled down the high staircase.