Elena smoothed down her clean navy blue maid uniform while adjusting her crisp white apron.
She walked quietly through the vast hallways of the grand suburban estate late Tuesday morning.
The sun streamed brightly through the high arched windows, casting geometric shadows across the polished floor.
Yet despite all the sunshine, the huge residence always felt strangely cold and unwelcoming to her.
Elena had only worked for the wealthy Montgomery family as a live-in housemaid for three months.
She loved caring for little baby Leo, who was barely eleven months old and very sweet.
However, dealing with Arthur Montgomery's new wife, Victoria, was a constant emotional struggle every single day.
Elena: Good morning, Mrs. Montgomery. I brought the warm formula for baby Leo's morning feed.
Victoria did not even bother turning around from her large golden makeup mirror near the window.
Victoria: Just leave the bottle on the side table and go fold my silk dresses.
Elena: Yes, ma'am. Should I put Leo in his crib for his usual morning nap first?
Victoria: I told you to go do the laundry immediately, so stop asking me stupid questions!
Elena closed her eyes for a brief second to keep her voice perfectly calm and professional.
She placed the warm glass bottle gently onto the marble table next to the nursery door.
As she walked away down the quiet corridor, she heard Victoria sighing with heavy annoying frustration.
The young stepmother had married Arthur only six short months ago after a brief whirlwind romance.
Arthur was a hardworking software billionaire who spent long hours managing his global company in town.
He believed Victoria was a loving woman who cared deeply for his infant son Leo.
Leo's biological mother had tragically passed away during childbirth nearly one full year ago.
Arthur had been completely heartbroken, feeling lost and overwhelmed by his sudden heavy single fatherhood.
When Victoria entered his life with sweet words, he thought his son finally found a mother.
But behind closed doors, Victoria treated the helpless infant like an annoying physical burden in her way.
She resented the attention Arthur gave the child instead of spending all his vast wealth on her.
Elena had noticed small troubling details over the past few weeks while sweeping the rooms daily.
Victoria often left the tiny baby crying inside his dark bedroom for long hours without comfort.
She would lock the nursery door so she would not have to hear his soft sad whimpers.
Whenever Elena attempted to step in, Victoria would raise her harsh voice with fierce anger.
Victoria: You are just a hired servant here, so do not tell me how to handle my stepson!
Elena: I only want to make sure the baby is safe and properly fed, ma'am.
Victoria: If you say another word about my parenting, I will fire you without any reference letter!
Elena knew she desperately needed this housekeeping job to pay her sick mother's heavy hospital bills.
If she lost her monthly salary, her family would face immediate financial ruin and total eviction.
Yet watching a helpless baby suffer in silence broke her heart every single hour of the day.
She decided to start keeping a very close eye on Victoria whenever Arthur left for work.
She kept her personal smartphone hidden safely inside her deep apron pocket, fully charged and ready.
Elena swore to herself that she would find undeniable proof of Victoria's cruel deceitful behavior soon.