Two days passed with increasing strain inside the silent rooms of the mansion.
Victoria spent hours shouting on the phone about her endless legal and money disputes.
She cared little about the nursery routine or the crying baby upstairs.
Elena worked tirelesly to keep the household running smoothly and keep Leo happy.
She scrubbed the floors, washed the laundry, and cooked fresh meals daily.
Yet, no matter how hard she worked, Victoria found reason to complain loudly.
On Thursday afternoon, a sharp argument broke out near the grand marble staircase.
Victoria wore a bright green silk designer gown for an upcoming afternoon party.
She was furious because an important legal paper had not arrived on time.
When little Leo began to cry from hunger, Victoria lost her temper completely.
Elena ran quickly from the kitchen when she heard the harsh shouting echo.
She stepped into the high hallway and froze in absolute horror at once.
Victoria was pulling the terrified crying child roughly across the shiny hallway floor.
Elena: Please stop, you are hurting him!
Victoria: Shut up and do not tell me what to do!
Elena rushed forward to put her own body between the child and danger.
She lifted the crying boy gently into her safe, trembling protective arms.
Victoria turned on the maid with intense anger flashing in her cold eyes.
She raised her hand and struck Elena sharply across her left cheekbone.
The hard blow forced Elena back against the cold white marble wall.
A dark bruise immediately began to form on the maid's pale skin.
Tears filled Elena's eyes, but she refused to let go of baby Leo.
Victoria: You are just a hired maid in my house!
Elena: I will not let you harm this innocent little child!
Victoria: I will fire you today without paying you a single cent!
Elena held the baby tighter as he sobbed against her shoulder continuously.
She knew that stepping forward meant putting her entire job at risk.
She had a mortgage to pay and a family to support back home.
Yet, she could not remain silent while an innocent life suffered harm.
Suddenly, the heavy double wooden front doors swung wide open with force.
Footsteps echoed loudly across the wide, pristine floor of the grand entrance.