The balcony landing overlooked the entire open white marble foyer downstairs.
Lily pointed toward her favorite wooden rocking horse inside the bright playroom.
Lily: Look Sarah, horsey wants to play with us today!
Sarah: Let us go grab your stuffed teddy bear first, sweetheart.
Elena stepped up right behind the little girl with a cold, distant expression.
Sarah turned around to set a heavy stack of folded towels on a nearby table.
For just a single split second, Sarah took her eyes off the child.
Elena stepped closer to the top step where Lily stood near the railing.
With a quick move, Elena deliberately nudged the little girl's shoulder forward.
Lily stumbled past the wooden railing edge and gasped in pure terror.
Lily: Help me Sarah, I am falling down!
Sarah turned instantly and saw the terrible danger unfolding before her eyes.
Her heart stopped beating for a second as she dropped the towels completely.
Without thinking twice, Sarah dove across the slick marble floor like lightning.
Her knees hit the hard stone ground with a sharp, heavy impact sound.
She stretched her arms out as far as she could possibly reach forward.
She caught Lily firmly around her waist just an inch off the top step.
Sarah slid across the floor, holding the crying child tightly in her chest.
Sarah: I have you baby girl, you are safe in my arms!
Lily buried her face into Sarah's grey uniform jacket, sobbing heavily.
Lily: She pushed me Sarah, step-mommy pushed my back!
Sarah looked up from the floor with burning tears of anger in her eyes.
Elena stood above them, leaning slightly over the white painted wooden rail.
Her face looked completely calm, almost disappointed that Sarah had caught the child.
Elena: Oops, bye-bye little one, what a terrible little slip that was.
Sarah: How could you ever do something so cruel to an innocent baby?
Elena: You are just a servant here, nobody will ever believe your word.
Sarah held Lily closer, feeling the toddler trembling violently against her chest.
She realized that Elena was far more dangerous than anyone had ever imagined.