The following afternoon was quiet as Arthur left early for an important high-level executive board meeting.
Victoria wore an expensive royal blue designer dress that trailed along the bright white marble floor.
She checked her gold watch repeatedly while pacing back and forth across the grand foyer entrance.
Little Leo was crawling slowly along the polished floor, clutching his favorite soft yellow baby blanket.
He reached out his tiny hands toward his stepmother, looking for simple warmth and gentle human affection.
Instead of picking the infant up, Victoria stepped back with a look of extreme disgust and annoyance.
Victoria: Get away from my shoes, you useless brat! You are ruining my expensive satin outfit!
The poor baby let out a small, heartbreaking whimper as he sat up on the floor.
Victoria grabbed his tiny play harness roughly, scolding the weeping child without a shred of pity.
Elena was standing right around the corner near the dining room doorway, holding a soft feather duster.
Her heart beat wildly against her ribs as she witnessed the cold heartless scene unfolding nearby.
Quickly slipping her hands into her apron pocket, she brought out her sleek black smartphone camera.
She started recording a clear video through the narrow crack between the double wooden doors.
Victoria: Stop your pathetic crying right now! Your father is not here to save you today!
The baby cried louder, feeling the sudden harshness in his stepmother's loud, threatening tone of voice.
Victoria grabbed the baby's harness leash firmly and dragged the toddler roughly toward the side door.
Elena knew she could no longer stand by silently in the shadows just to protect her paycheck.
She shoved her phone back into her pocket and rushed out into the sunlit marble foyer.
Elena: Stop it right now! What kind of monster treats a helpless child like an animal?!
Elena dropped her duster and scooped the crying baby safely into her strong, protective arms.
Victoria spun around instantly, her sharp eyes flashing with immense fury and extreme bitter hatred.
Victoria: How dare a filthy maid lay hands on me or tell me what to do!
Elena: I will not let you scare this innocent baby for another single second in this house!
Victoria stepped forward rapidly and slapped Elena hard across the face with her right hand.
The sharp sound echoed loudly across the tall, empty ceiling of the grand sunlit estate entrance.
Elena stumbled backward slightly from the strong impact, her cheek turning bright red and burning hot.
However, she tightened her arms firmly around baby Leo, keeping the infant completely safe from harm.
Victoria: Hand that brat back to me this instant, or I will destroy your entire miserable life!
Elena: Touch him again and see what happens, Mrs. Montgomery! I am not afraid of you anymore!
Victoria raised her hand high in the air once again, her face twisted in pure rage.
At that exact dramatic moment, the heavy black-framed entrance doors swung wide open from outside.
Bright natural daylight flooded into the spacious room as Arthur stepped across the marble threshold.