Hannah dropped heavily to her knees on the hard floor, ignoring the sharp pain in her joints. She quickly wrapped her arms around Lily's small shoulders and pulled the shaking child tightly against her chest. Lily buried her face into Hannah's blue uniform jacket, sobbing hysterically. Hannah could feel the child's fast heart beating against her own ribs. She buried her face into Lily's soft hair, whispering gentle words of comfort while trying to calm her own panicked breathing.
Hannah: No, please! Stop right now!
Vanessa stopped in her tracks, her dark eyes flashing with pure fury. She had never expected a servant to stand up to her or block her way. Her face turned red with anger as she glared down at the two figures on the floor. The luxury room was quiet except for the sound of Lily's heavy sniffling and the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.
Vanessa: How dare you touch me or talk back to me like that! You are just a maid!
Hannah: She is just a little girl! She did not do anything wrong to you!
Vanessa: I do not care! I run this house when Mark is gone! Get out of my way before I make sure you never work in this town again!
Hannah held her ground, tightening her grip around the little girl. She looked up into Vanessa's angry face without flinching, even though her knees were shaking inside her uniform. For weeks, Hannah had noticed small bruises on Lily's arms and saw how the child flinched whenever Vanessa walked into the room. She had tried to document these moments, but she knew that Mark was completely blind to his new wife's dark nature. Vanessa always acted like a perfect stepmother when Mark was home, buying expensive clothes and taking photos for social media.
Vanessa: Move aside right now, Hannah! I am giving you one last warning!
Hannah: You will have to go through me first. I will not let you hurt her.
Vanessa let out a harsh laugh and took a step closer, raising her hand to shove Hannah out of the way. She grabbed Hannah's shoulder, trying to force the maid away from the child. But Hannah stayed firm, using her own body as a total shield to protect Lily from any blow. Lily cried louder, her small hands clutching Hannah's suit jacket tightly. The emotional strain in the room reached an unbearable peak as the conflict reached a boiling point.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy dress shoes echoed loudly down the main hallway. The firm footsteps moved with extreme speed, vibrating off the polished walls. Both women froze as the heavy double doors were pushed open with tremendous force. Mark Miller stepped into the grand room earlier than expected. His board meeting had finished early, and he had returned home to grab forgotten paperwork for his afternoon court hearing regarding a company settlement. He froze in the doorway, taking in the scene before his eyes.