The loud echo of the falling album rang out through the grand marble foyer.
Leo sat trapped against the banister as Clarissa leaned over him with pure malice.
Clarissa: Get out of my life and stop making so much noise!
Leo began to cry as he looked down at the scattered photos below.
Down on the main floor, Elena heard the sharp commotion from the kitchen area.
She dropped her cleaning towel immediately and sprinted out into the great hall.
Elena saw Clarissa standing aggressively over the frightened, weeping little boy.
She gasped in shock and hurried toward the foot of the grand staircase.
Elena: Get your hands away from him right now!
Clarissa: Keep your mouth shut and return to your work immediately!
Elena: I will never let you torment this poor child another second!
Elena marched directly up the first few marble steps to reach young Leo.
She safely reached out and pulled the trembling boy gently into her arms.
Leo wrapped his small arms tightly around Elena's neck and sobbed uncontrollably.
Clarissa pointed a long, manicured finger downward toward the loyal maid.
Clarissa: You are just a servant, and you will be fired today!
Elena: You can fire me, but Mr. Vance will hear everything you did!
Clarissa laughed coldly as she smoothed out her heavy silk maroon dress.
Clarissa: Richard trusts me completely, and he will never believe a servant.
Elena: We will see about that when he walks through those front doors.
Leo hid his face in Elena's shoulder as his entire body shook from fear.
Clarissa moved forward as if to grab the maid's shoulder in anger.
At that exact moment, the heavy double front doors clicked open with force.
A bright wave of natural morning sunlight flooded into the high marble foyer.
The heavy footsteps of several grown men echoed sharply across the polished stone.
Richard Vance walked into the house, flanked by two uniformed police officers.
He had invited the local chief to discuss security for his charity estate.
Instead, he walked directly into a scene of absolute chaos and heartbreak.