The cold morning light poured across the grand foyer of the Sterling estate, casting long shadows across the polished white marble floor. Clara clutched her bruised cheek as she watched Victoria pace back and forth in a sweeping royal blue gown. Near the marble baseboard, four-month-old Toby lay on his stomach in a plain white onesie, his tiny arms thrashing as he sobbed against the stone.
Victoria: Let him cry. He needs to learn that nobody runs to his rescue in this house.
Clara: Please stop, leave the baby alone!
Victoria: Watch your mouth, servant. You do not tell me what to do with my future stepson.
Clara: He is freezing! He has been on that bare floor for twenty minutes!
Victoria: He is making too much noise, and his crying gives me a migraine.
Clara: Then let me take him up to the nursery. I will feed him and put him to sleep.
Victoria: Did I give you permission to touch him? Step away from that child right now.
Clara: I cannot watch you neglect an innocent infant!
Victoria stopped pacing, her silk fabric rustling sharply as she turned with a cold, haughty glare.
Victoria: You forget who signs your paycheck, Clara.
Clara: Mr. Sterling signs my paycheck. Not you.
Victoria’s hand whipped forward, striking Clara hard across the face with a loud crack that sent the young maid tumbling to the floor. Clara gasped, her shoulder slamming into the marble as tears sprang to her eyes. Victoria sneered down at her, stepping right over the weeping baby as if he were nothing more than a piece of trash. But before Victoria could speak another cruel word, the heavy mahogany double doors at the end of the grand hallway swung open with a booming crash that shook the entire estate.