Victoria glared down at Elena with pure disgust and hatred.
She despised how close the maid was to the young boy.
Victoria believed that staff should never speak unless spoken to first.
She smoothed down the front of her expensive sparkling green dress.
Victoria: Go inspect the kitchen pantry and leave us alone right now.
Elena: Mr. Whitman asked me to look after Leo until he returns.
Victoria: I am the mistress of this house now, not my husband!
Elena did not want to cause a direct scene right here.
She gave Leo a warm, reassuring nod before turning toward the hallway.
She walked slowly into the adjacent dining room, keeping her ears open.
She refused to leave the child completely alone with that dangerous woman.
Victoria walked down two more steps until she stood directly above Leo.
The little boy pressed his back against the wooden banister in fear.
He could feel the cold anger radiating off his stepmother.
Victoria: Look at you, sitting there like you own this entire mansion.
Leo: My dad said this will always be my home, too.
Victoria: Your father is foolish, and he gives you far too much.
Victoria reached out and grabbed the toy car straight from his hands.
Leo gasped and tried to reach up to grab it back.
Leo: Give that back to me! It was a gift from my mom!
Victoria: You don't deserve special gifts or special attention anymore.
She held the plastic car high out of the child's reach.
A cruel smile spread slowly across her sharp, heavily painted lips.
She had been waiting for a moment like this all morning long.
Arthur was currently away on his business trip across the city.
She wanted to make Leo feel completely helpless inside his own home.
If she could make life miserable for him, he would want boarding school.
Then the entire Whitman fortune would be hers to control without question.
Leo: Please, Victoria, just give me my toy back right now!
Victoria: You want it? Then come and get it from me, little boy.
She backed up a few steps, luring the boy toward the edge.
Leo stood up on the slippery step, reaching out his small arms.
Victoria suddenly reached out and grabbed his upper arm with strong force.
She pulled him toward the dark storage closet beneath the grand staircase.
Victoria: You are going to stay locked in here until your father returns!
Leo: No! Let go of me! Help me, Elena! Help!
The boy’s terrified scream echoed loudly through the high-ceilinged mansion foyer.
Victoria squeezed his arm tightly and shoved him toward the open door.
Victoria: Accidents happen so easily in big houses, you little nuisance!
Leo: Help me, please! Somebody help me right now!