The upper balcony overlooked the entire double-height entrance hall of the white mansion.
A polished brass railing separated the high walkway from the hard floor below.
Lily sat down near a potted palm tree to play quietly with her bear.
Clara began dusting the glass tables along the long second-story corridor.
Evelyn leaned against the polished railing while holding a fine porcelain teacup.
She glanced down toward the front entrance doors, checking her gold wrist watch.
Evelyn knew that Arthur usually returned early whenever a morning meeting ended quickly.
She deliberately kicked Lily's small toy car across the slippery marble floor.
The tiny toy rolled right toward the edge of the dangerous open balcony railing.
Evelyn: Oh dear, go grab your toy, little girl.
Lily stood up innocently and reached out toward the rolling toy car.
Her slippery leather shoes lost traction on the freshly waxed marble surface.
Lily stumbled dangerously close to the smooth brass railing edge.
Lily: Help me, Clara!
Clara turned her head instantly and saw the dangerous scene unfolding before her.
Her heart pounded wildly inside her chest as fear gripped her mind.
Evelyn stood motionless with a dark, cruel smirk playing on her red lips.
She did not reach out her hand to help the slipping child at all.
Clara dropped her cleaning feather duster onto the shiny floor without hesitation.
She sprinted forward across the slick marble floor with incredible speed.
Her rubber shoes slid across the smooth tiles as she launched herself forward.
Clara slid across her knees, stretching her arms out as far as possible.
She grabbed Lily tightly around her waist just before the girl lost balance.
Both of them tumbled backward onto the safe, carpeted hallway floor.
Clara pulled the crying young girl tightly against her warm chest.
Clara: Shh, it is okay, I have got you safely!
Lily: I was so scared, Clara!
Evelyn suddenly smashed her porcelain teacup onto the hard marble floor.
The white ceramic pieces shattered everywhere with a sharp, echoing crash.
She began screaming hysterically at the top of her lungs.
Evelyn: Help! Someone help us up here!
Downstairs, the heavy grand entrance doors swung open with a loud thud.
Arthur walked into the foyer, returning early from his canceled business meeting.