Sarah adjusted her plain grey uniform apron as she stepped off the morning bus.
The massive wrought-iron gates of the Vance estate opened slowly for the domestic staff.
Every morning, Sarah reported to work with a quiet dedication that earned the trust of everyone around her.
She was a hard-working woman who took pride in keeping the grand house running smoothly.
The estate belonged to Arthur Vance, a well-known businessman who managed a global shipping firm.
Arthur was often away on business trips, leaving his young son Julian under the care of household staff.
Recently, Arthur had invited a distant relative named Victoria to stay at the mansion for the summer.
Victoria wore expensive ruby dresses and always looked down at the servants with cold disdain.
Sarah noticed that Victoria never smiled when little Julian was brought into the dining room.
Whenever the baby babbled happily, Victoria would scoff and turn her face away in annoyance.
Sarah kept her thoughts to herself and focused on her daily tasks around the large property.
She carried a silver tray with fresh tea toward the east wing of the upper floor.
The sun shone bright through the tall glass windows, illuminating the framed flag in the central hall.
Everything seemed calm and orderly on the surface of the quiet luxury estate.
Yet a strange tension hung in the air whenever Victoria walked into the nursery area.
Sarah walked carefully past the polished wooden doors lining the long quiet corridor.
She heard the faint sound of baby Julian playing with his wooden toys inside the room.
The quiet atmosphere was broken by heavy footfalls coming up the central staircase.
Victoria had just returned from an early trip to the city shopping center.
Her heels clicked loudly against the white marble tiles as she moved past Sarah without a word.
Sarah stepped aside politely to let the harsh guest pass by without causing any fuss.
She noticed the sharp scowl on Victoria's face as the woman headed toward the nursery.
Sarah felt an unexpected shiver run down her spine as the nursery door clicked shut behind Victoria.
She paused in the hall, feeling that something was wrong inside the sunlit room.
Her instinct told her to stay nearby instead of returning straight to the downstairs kitchen.
She set her serving tray down quietly on a carved wooden table against the hallway wall.
Inside the room, a sudden cold voice spoke with intense hostility toward the innocent infant.