Elena wiped the polished wooden railing of the grand staircase inside the vast mansion.
She had worked as a maid for the wealthy Montgomery family for over two years.
The morning light streamed through the towering glass windows of the central foyer.
Everything in the home looked pristine, costly, and completely perfect on the outside.
Yet Elena knew the tension behind the closed doors was growing thicker each week.
Victoria, the young stepmother, walked slowly onto the second-floor indoor balcony area.
She wore a rich emerald dress that rustled against the marble railing with every step.
In her arms, she held baby Lucas, wrapped tightly in a soft white blanket.
Elena stopped wiping the stairs and looked up to offer a polite morning greeting.
Something about Victoria's stiff posture made Elena freeze in her tracks immediately.
Victoria's hands were trembling visible as she looked down at the hard floor below.
She did not look like a proud mother holding a precious newborn child today.
Her face was pale, devoid of all natural color, and full of intense dread.
Elena stepped closer to the edge of the lower marble hallway floor softly.
"Mrs. Victoria?" Elena called out softly, keeping her voice calm and gentle.
Victoria did not answer, nor did she look down at the young maid below.
Instead, her grip on the small bundle slipped dangerously close over the high rail.
Elena gasped loud, her heart dropping into her stomach in absolute terror.
The swaddled blanket tipped over the smooth gilded banister before anyone could speak.
Elena sprinted forward across the slick white marble floor without a single second thought.
She slid onto her knees right underneath the falling shadow above her head.
Her arms extended outward with every ounce of strength and focus she possessed.
She caught the soft bundle against her chest just inches above the hard stone.
Elena pulled the baby close, weeping softly as the child began to cry out.
Up on the balcony, Victoria stood frozen, staring down with wide, terrified eyes.
The front double doors opened with a sudden bang, cutting through the heavy silence.