The next morning, the sun rose brightly over the grand estate, flooding the living room with daylight.
Arthur Vance had returned late at night and left early again for an emergency board meeting.
Elena was downstairs in the laundry area, carefully folding baby blankets and washing tiny socks.
Victoria walked into the sunlit living room wearing her sharp green dress, looking utterly exhausted and bitter.
She stared at baby Leo, who was lying quietly on the plush sofa wrapped in a blanket.
The baby began to squall loudly, his high-pitched cries echoing off the high marble walls.
Victoria covered her ears with her hands, her face twisting into a mask of pure irritation.
Victoria: Shut up! Why can't you just stay quiet for one single hour?!
She picked up a heavy steam iron from the laundry board nearby, plugging it in to press her dress.
The steam hissed loudly as the red heat indicator light clicked on near the handle.
Victoria glared at the crying baby, her patience completely snapping under the strain of her dark greed.
She stepped closer to the sofa, holding the hot steam iron near the helpless infant.
The baby cried louder, sensing the sudden heat and the dangerous energy in the room.
Elena walked down the hallway carrying a stack of fresh clothes toward the living area.
She heard the sharp steam hiss and the strange tone of Victoria's harsh voice.
Rounding the corner, Elena's eyes went wide as she saw what was happening across the room.
Her heart stopped in her chest, and absolute terror took over her entire body.
Elena: NO! GET AWAY FROM HIM!
Elena dropped the laundry basket and sprinted across the slippery marble floor as fast as she could.
She screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice ringing out through the vast mansion.
Victoria startled violently at the sound of Elena's panicked scream echoing behind her.
Her hand jerked sideways, and the heavy hot iron slipped completely from her grasp.
The iron fell through the air and hit the hard marble floor with a loud metallic crash.
Sparkling steam hissed onto the cold floor as the iron slid across the room and stopped.
Elena threw herself over the baby, grabbing Leo into her arms and holding him tight.
She dropped to her knees on the rug, wrapping her arms around the whimpering boy.
Victoria: How dare you run into my living room shouting like a lunatic!
Elena: You were going to hurt him! You are absolute monster!
Victoria's face turned pale with rage, but she stepped forward with her arms crossed tightly.
Victoria: You are fired! Get your things and get out of my house right now!