The morning light streamed through the tall white windows of the living room.
Marcus walked down the stairs while holding his morning cup of coffee.
He expected to find a quiet house and his baby girl smiling on the soft play mat.
Instead, he heard terrible screaming echoing off the marble floor.
He rushed around the corner and stopped in his tracks.
His ten-month-old daughter Lily was crying intensely on the rug.
Marcus: What the hell happened in here?!
His voice cut through the air like a sharp whip.
The older nanny Mary was on her knees next to the crying baby.
Mary was wearing her usual grey scrubs and her hands were trembling heavily.
Standing right beside her was Evelyn, Marcus's second wife.
Evelyn wore an elegant beige shirt and looked down with cold anger.
Evelyn: She dropped her! I saw it with my own eyes!
Mary: No! That is not true at all, sir!
Tears were streaming down Mary's weathered face as she rocked the baby softly.
She lifted little Lily in her arms and pulled her close to comfort her.
Mary: I would never let any harm come to this precious child.
Evelyn: Fire her now, you sick nanny! She is a danger to our baby!
Marcus felt a surge of deep panic and hot rage in his chest.
He stepped closer to the nanny and glared down at her.
Marcus: How could you touch my daughter like that?!
Mary: I didn't! It's trembling tears from my eyes because I was framed!
Evelyn: She is lying to save her job, Marcus! Get her out of our home!
Marcus looked at his crying daughter and then looked back at Mary.
Mary had worked for his family for nearly three full years without any issues.
She had taken care of Lily since his late wife passed away in hospital.
Yet Evelyn sounded so completely sure of what she had seen.
The tension in the bright room felt heavier than lead.
Marcus: Mary, if you hurt my daughter, you will go to jail.
Mary: Sir, please look at me and hear my words.
Mary: I loved your late wife like my own daughter.
Mary: I promised her I would protect this little girl with my life.
Evelyn: Stop pulling at his heartstrings with dead memories!
Evelyn raised her voice higher and pointed a long finger at the door.
Evelyn: Pack your bags and leave this mansion this very minute!
Mary did not stand up or back away from the furious stepmother.
Instead, she slowly lifted her right hand and pointed toward the top corner shelf.
Mary: You don't have to take my word for anything.
Mary: Check the white desktop security camera on the cabinet behind the flag.