Evelyn walked over to the closet near the foyer with a look of extreme frustration.
She pulled out a commercial safety harness strap designed for pet walking or training.
Elena watched in utter disbelief as Evelyn attached the harness strap around tiny Leo.
The child was just learning to walk and struggled to balance on slick marble.
Instead of helping him up, Evelyn pulled the strap forward like a dog leash.
Little Leo slipped on the polished marble floor, landing on his stomach and sobbing.
Evelyn dragged the strap casually across the foyer floor while looking at her nails.
The sound of the crying baby echoed wildly off the tall ceiling walls around.
Elena felt her stomach drop with intense shock and pure protective rage inside her.
She pulled her smartphone out of her apron pocket with shaking cold fingers rapidly.
She tapped the screen to open the video camera app and pressed start recording.
Elena: Oh my god, I need to film this right now!
She held the camera steady, capturing every horrifying detail of the scene on tape.
The video clearly showed Evelyn pulling the child across the floor without a care.
Elena recorded ten seconds of indisputable evidence before stepping out into plain view boldly.
She tucked the phone into her apron, rushing forward to save the crying baby.
Elena dropped to her knees on the cold marble, scooping Leo into her arms.
The baby held onto Elena's uniform tightly, gasping for breath while crying on her shoulder.
Evelyn turned around abruptly, her eyes flashing with pure rage at being interrupted suddenly.
Evelyn: Keep your hands off me, you insolent servant!
Elena: How could you treat a harmless child with such unbelievable cruelty?
Evelyn: Know your place in this house before I have you fired immediately!
Evelyn reached out, trying to grab the strap back out of Elena's protective grip.
Elena stood her ground firmly, holding the toddler close against her own chest bravely.
Just at that exact moment, the heavy wooden front double doors swung wide open.