The morning sun cut through the tall windows of the grand foyer.
Sarah adjusted her clean blue uniform as she polished the dark wooden banister.
She had worked for the rich Sterling family for only three short weeks.
Yet she already knew that the huge mansion held deep emotional pain.
Little Liam was eight years old and had lost his loving biological mother.
His father Richard was a famous CEO who ran a huge business empire.
Richard was away on a long business trip across the busy country.
That left young Liam completely alone with his cold stepmother named Victoria.
Victoria walked down the central hallway wearing a glamorous green diamond dress.
She snapped her fingers loudly at Sarah to get her immediate attention.
Victoria: Clean those floors faster because we have important guests coming!
Sarah: Yes ma'am, I am working as fast as I can.
Victoria: Do not answer back to me with that disrespectful attitude!
Sarah kept her mouth shut tight and lowered her tired eyes quickly.
She knew that losing this job meant she could not pay rent.
Her sick little sister back home needed expensive medical treatments every month.
Suddenly young Liam ran into the wide foyer holding a small notebook.
Liam: Sarah look at the drawing I made for my dad!
Sarah: That is a beautiful drawing of your house, sweet sweet boy.
Victoria marched over with sharp heels clicking against the smooth marble floor.
She snatched the bright paper right out of the little boy's hands.
Victoria: Stop making mess with trash paper inside this formal hallway!
Liam: Give it back to me please, it is for my dad!
Victoria tore the paper into small pieces without even looking at him.
Liam burst into heavy tears as the white scraps hit the floor.
Sarah took a deep breath to hide her rising internal anger quickly.
She wrapped a soft arm around the crying boy's trembling small shoulders.
Victoria glared down at them with pure contempt in her narrow eyes.
Victoria: Take him upstairs right now so I do not see him!
Sarah nodded slowly and guided the young heir up the stairs.
She knew that dark trouble was brewing inside this wealthy household.