The morning sun filtered through the grand floor-to-ceiling windows of the Sterling mansion.
Clara stood in the quiet nursery, gently folding a tiny cotton blanket.
She was twenty-four years old and had served as the nanny for six months.
Her main duty was caring for baby Leo, the infant son of Arthur Sterling.
Arthur was the wealthy owner of a nationwide real estate empire.
His first wife had passed away shortly after little Leo was born.
Six months later, Arthur married a high-society woman named Victoria.
Victoria was young, elegant, and deeply obsessed with status and money.
She never liked baby Leo because he was the sole heir to Arthur's fortune.
If Arthur ever revised his will, Leo would receive the entire family trust fund.
Victoria wanted that massive inheritance all for herself.
She frequently complained about the baby crying in the spacious mansion.
Clara always kept Leo close to protect him from Victoria's cold glare.
On this warm Tuesday morning, Arthur was away at his downtown executive office.
Clara strapped four-month-old Leo securely into his sturdy infant car seat.
She placed the carrier near the edge of the second-floor balcony railing.
The balcony overlooked the grand foyer with its polished hardwood oak floors.
Clara stepped into the adjacent laundry room to grab a clean baby bottle.
Suddenly, she heard heavy heels clicking sharply against the polished floorboards.
She turned around quickly and saw Victoria standing right beside the car seat.
Victoria wore a emerald green silk dress and expensive pearl earrings.
Her face was twisted with cold hatred as she looked down at the infant.
Clara froze in her tracks, feeling a sudden surge of deep terror.
Victoria lifted the heavy car seat right up over the high balcony railing.
The white crown molding of the ceiling framed her dark, reckless silhouette.
Clara let out a loud gasp and rushed toward the doorway immediately.
She knew that a fall from that height onto hardwood would be fatal.
Victoria stared at Clara with a cruel, cold expression in her eyes.
She did not care about the consequences of her horrifying action.
She only cared about getting rid of the baby forever.
Clara screamed as Victoria pushed the carrier over the wooden edge.