Mark sat inside his spacious office near the center of downtown Chicago.
He adjusted his silk tie while reading through another long corporate contract.
His family business had grown rapidly over the last five years.
He owned several successful shipping companies across the United States.
Yet his mind was always fixed on his young son Leo back home.
Leo was only eighteen months old and meant everything to him.
Mark had lost his beloved wife during childbirth two years ago.
Since that painful day, Mark promised to protect Leo with his entire life.
He hired Victoria to manage the estate and care for the household.
Victoria came from a wealthy family and wore expensive pink satin dresses.
She always spoke politely whenever Mark was present inside the mansion.
Mark believed that Leo was receiving the absolute best care possible.
He also employed a quiet housemaid named Elena to clean the large rooms.
Elena was a hard worker who saved every penny for her own family.
She had worked for the estate for nearly three whole years.
Elena noticed subtle changes in Victoria's behavior whenever Mark left for work.
The sweet smile on Victoria's face disappeared the second Mark drove away.
Victoria hated the mess that a growing toddler naturally made in the halls.
She often locked Leo inside his nursery room for long hours alone.
She refused to comfort the weeping child when he cried for his father.
Elena tried to comfort little Leo whenever she swept the hallway floors.
Victoria caught Elena holding the baby and warned her strictly about interfering.
Victoria threatened to fire Elena and accuse her of theft if she spoke.
Elena feared losing her livelihood because her sick mother needed medicine back home.
She kept her head down while carrying a heavy heart every single morning.
The large checkered marble corridor always echoed with cold empty sounds.
Mark remained completely unaware of the harsh environment developing inside his home.
He trusted Victoria completely with the keys to the large estate.
He thought his wealth was providing Leo with absolute comfort and happiness.
However, dark secrets were slowly growing behind those thick wooden doors.