Elena finished sweeping the cold basement steps in record time.
A strange bad feeling kept pushing her to run upstairs.
She put down her broom and walked quickly up the staircase.
When she reached the nursery, the crib was completely empty.
The soft pink blanket was missing from the wooden frame.
Elena felt her breath catch in her tight throat.
She checked the private bathroom, but no one was there.
She ran down the hallway toward the sunlit balcony doors.
Through the thick glass, she saw Victoria standing near the pool rail.
Victoria was holding the baby carrier dangerously close to the edge.
She was holding legal papers and talking angrily into her phone.
Elena opened the glass door and stepped out onto the balcony.
She kept her footfalls quiet as she crept closer behind Victoria.
She heard Victoria telling a stranger to wait at the back gate.
Victoria wanted to hand the baby over to an illegal agency.
She wanted to ensure the child was taken out of the country.
Elena felt a wave of anger and fear rush through her blood.
She called out loud before Victoria could take another step forward.
Victoria spun around in surprise and almost dropped her phone.
Her face turned bright red with pure anger and irritation.
She demanded to know why Elena was not down in the basement.
Elena stepped firmly between Victoria and the balcony exit.
She demanded that Victoria return the little baby girl right now.
Victoria laughed in a cruel and cold tone of voice.
She told Elena that an adopted orphan had no place here.
She claimed the Vance fortune belonged only to real family heirs.
Victoria pushed past Elena, trying to carry the baby away fast.
Elena grabbed the soft baby blanket and held on tightly.
She refused to let the cruel stepmother leave the mansion grounds.
The two women stood near the edge of the poolside patio area.
Baby Lily began to cry loudly in absolute terror and confusion.
The sound of the child's cries echoed off the marble walls.
Victoria yelled at Elena to let go of the baby basket.
She threatened to fire Elena and call the police on her.
Elena did not care about losing her job at all.
Her only goal was to keep the innocent child completely safe.
She pulled the basket gently back toward her own arms.
Victoria lost her grip and stumbled backward against the lounge chair.
The heavy papers in her hand scattered across the floor tiles.
Elena held the baby close and checked her delicate face.
The little child was safe and unhurt in Elena's warm embrace.
Elena backed away toward the main house entry doors quickly.
Victoria jumped up from the ground with a furious shout.
She raised her hand to strike Elena across her face.