The giant front door of the grand estate creaked open on a cold afternoon.
Victoria stood in the bright hallway and adjusted her costly golden watch.
She looked down at seven-year-old Leo, who was kneeling on the cold tiles.
The small boy held a wet rag with his shaking hands.
Victoria: Clean it up right now!
Leo: I am trying my best, ma'am.
Victoria: Your best is not good enough for this house.
Leo wiped a smudge of dirt near the heavy wooden baseboards.
His torn shirt looked completely out of place in the grand hallway.
Victoria crossed her arms and glared at the helpless child.
Victoria: You will not eat until this entire floor shines.
Leo: My stomach hurts because I am so hungry.
Victoria: Then you should work much faster.
The front door opened wider as a tall businessman stepped inside the foyer.
Mr. Harrison stared at the scene with deep shock in his eyes.
He carried a dark leather briefcase and dropped it onto a chair.
Businessman: Step away from that boy immediately.
Victoria: Do you know who you are talking to?
Businessman: I know exactly who you are, but you clearly have no idea what you just did.
Victoria took a step back and straightened her velvet jacket.
She pointed a long red fingernail at the crying child on the floor.
Victoria: This brat was sneaking around the kitchen asking for bread.
Businessman: That does not give you the right to treat him this way.
Leo: She said I had to scrub the entire floor before I could get any food.
Victoria: Don't listen to him, he is just a filthy street kid lying for attention.
Mr. Harrison walked past Victoria without giving her another glance.
He knelt down beside the young boy on the wet floor tiles.
Businessman: A street kid? Is that what you think he is?
Victoria: Look at his clothes! He belongs out on the street.
Businessman: You should have asked his name before treating him like garbage.
Leo looked up at the tall man with wide, frightened eyes.
He wiped a tear from his pale cheek with his wet sleeve.
Leo: Mister, am I in trouble?
Businessman: No, son. You are never going to suffer in this house again.
Victoria: What are you talking about? Why are you protecting him?
Businessman: His name is Leo.
Woman: So what?
Businessman: So he is the sole heir to this entire estate!
Victoria froze in place as if she had been hit by lightning.
Her jaw dropped open and her face turned completely pale.
She looked back at the small boy sitting on the floor.
Leo did not understand the big words the adult was using.
He only knew that someone was finally taking his side today.
Mr. Harrison gently helped the boy stand up from the floor.
He placed a warm hand on the boy's tiny, shivering shoulder.
Businessman: Come with me, Leo. Let us get you something good to eat.
Victoria: Wait! This must be some kind of terrible mistake!
Businessman: There are no mistakes here today, Victoria.
Victoria watched in total disbelief as Mr. Harrison led the boy away.
She knew her life in this mansion was about to fall apart.