Clara did not hesitate for even a single fraction of a second when she saw Leo fall.
She sprinted across the polished floor toward the bottom of the grand curved marble staircase.
Her shoes skidded across the smooth stone as she threw her body forward with desperate speed.
Leo screamed in panic as his small body tumbled down the upper steps.
Victoria stood at the top of the stairs with a cold sneer on her face.
"Accidents happen so easily in big houses!" Victoria called out with fake concern.
Clara dove onto the lower marble landing right beneath the hanging American flag.
She reached out her arms and caught the trembling boy tightly into her protective embrace.
The impact knocked the breath from Clara's chest as they slid against the hard floor.
She wrapped her arms around Leo's head to shield him from the stone edge.
Leo wept loudly, burring his tear-streaked face deep into Clara's grey uniform apron.
Clara held him close, checking his arms and legs quickly for any serious injuries.
"I've got you, sweetheart, you're safe now," Clara whispered softly to the crying boy.
She stood up slowly, keeping one strong arm wrapped tightly around Leo's trembling shoulders.
Her heart pounded against her ribs with hot, fierce maternal anger.
She looked up the staircase to see Victoria stepping down slowly with complete unconcern.
Victoria smoothed her royal-sapphire blue gown as if nothing important had just happened.
"You clumsy little fool," Victoria scoffed, looking down her nose at the child.
Clara felt a wave of righteous anger surge straight through her entire body.
She stepped directly into Victoria's path at the base of the grand staircase.
"Don't you ever dare to touch him again!" Clara shouted, her voice shaking with rage.
Victoria stopped in her tracks, her dark eyes flashing with sudden shock and indignation.
"How dare a filthy waitress speak to me in that tone!" Victoria yelled back angrily.
Victoria raised her hand to push Clara out of her way on the stairs.
Clara moved faster than the spoiled woman could even react to the moment.
She delivered two sharp, ringing slaps straight across Victoria's face to stop her cold.
The loud crack echoed through the high-ceilinged grand foyer like a lightning strike.
Victoria stumbled back against the carved railing, clutching her red, burning cheek in utter disbelief.
The surrounding party guests gasped loudly, frozen in absolute shock at the sudden violence.