Before Sarah could take a single step into the room, Victoria did something that made Sarah's blood run cold. Instead of putting the child down, Victoria grabbed Leo by both of his small wrists. The toddler was crying loudly now, tears streaming down his cheeks as he tried to pull away. Victoria laughed a cruel, wicked laugh that echoed off the white walls of the bright foyer. She began to spin the helpless toddler in fast circles across the slippery marble floor. The boy's shoes skidded wildly across the polished stone as he screamed in absolute terror.
Victoria: Cry all you want! Nobody can hear you in this huge house!
Leo: Sarah! Help me! Sarah!
Victoria: Shut up! You are going to fall and break your little head, and then your daddy will see how clumsy you are!
Sarah did not hesitate for another second. The sight of the innocent toddler being tormented by the heartless stepmother pushed away all of her fear about losing her job or getting arrested. She dashed out from behind the archway and rushed across the wide expanse of the grand hall. Her shoes clicked loudly against the white marble surface as she moved as fast as her legs could carry her toward the woman in red.
Sarah: Stop it right now! Let go of him!
Victoria turned her head in surprise, but she did not stop spinning the child. In fact, she swung the crying toddler even faster, almost losing her grip on his thin arms. Little Leo's head whipped around in distress, his small face pale with panic. Sarah reached them in three long strides, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest.
Sarah: I said let him go, you monster!
With a fast, powerful movement, Sarah thrust her arms between Victoria and the baby. She snatched little Leo out of the stepmother's grip, pulling the weeping child tightly against her own brown coat. Victoria stumbled backward from the sudden movement, her heavy red gown swishing loudly around her ankles. Her eyes widened with shock and anger as she realized a common maid had dared to put her hands on her.
Victoria: How dare you lay your filthy hands on me! You are a low-class maid! I will have you thrown in prison for this!
Sarah: I don't care who you are or how much money you have! You will never hurt this child while I am breathing!
Victoria raised her hand to strike Sarah across the face, her nails long and sharp like claws. But Sarah didn't flinch or back away. Years of hard labor had made Sarah strong, while Victoria had spent her life in luxury and ease. As Victoria's hand came swinging forward, Sarah shifted the baby safely into her left arm and swung her right hand with absolute fury. *SLAP!* The sound crackled through the grand hall like a gunshot. Victoria gasped in shock as her head snapped to the side.
Before Victoria could recover from the surprise strike, Sarah stepped in again and delivered a second heavy slap across the woman's opposite cheek. *SLAP!* Red marks flared up immediately on Victoria's expensive makeup. Victoria shrieked in pain and rage, trying to claw at Sarah's eyes, but Sarah was completely unstoppable now. With a quick third swing, Sarah slapped the woman hard across the mouth. *SLAP!* Then, putting all her strength into her right hand, Sarah shoved Victoria square in the center of her chest. Victoria lost her balance completely, her high heels sliding out from under her on the smooth marble, and she crashed heavily onto her back on the floor beneath the American flag.