Clara stood in the grand marble hallway of the Vance estate.
The bright morning sun poured through the high arch windows.
She adjusted her light blue uniform apron with shaking hands.
For months, she had worked quietly as a house maid for the wealthy family.
She loved the quiet mornings before anyone else woke up in the mansion.
However, today was completely different from any other normal morning.
She held her breath as heavy footsteps echoed down the grand staircase.
Julian Vance walked into the high-key white hallway looking cold and serious.
He was wearing a dark, tailored suit that matched his stern mood.
Tattoos peeked out from beneath his crisp white shirt cuffs.
In his right hand, he held a small black and white printout.
It was an ultrasound photo that Clara had hidden in her staff room drawer.
Her heart sank directly into her stomach the moment she saw it.
Julian stopped just a few feet away from her in the hallway.
He raised the ultrasound image directly between their faces.
A large American flag hung quietly on the wall right behind him.
Julian: Whose baby is this?
Clara squeezed her hands together against her light blue uniform dress.
She felt a sudden wave of fear rush through her entire body.
Clara: Please...
Julian: How long?
Clara looked down at the polished light marble floor beneath her shoes.
Clara: Five months...
Julian took one step closer, his sharp eyes fixed on her face.
Julian: And you were going to hide this from me?
Clara: I was afraid you would take my baby away...
Julian stared at her while the quiet house seemed completely frozen in time.
Julian: Is this child mine?
Clara felt tears overflowing and running down her warm cheeks.
She could not find the right words to answer his heavy question.
Julian lowered the photo slightly and let out a long breath.
He turned his gaze toward the large windows at the end of the hall.
Clara knew that her quiet life in this mansion was changed forever.