Elena wiped the polished mahogany table with a clean white cloth.
She had worked as a housemaid for the Sterling family for three years.
The mansion was massive, bright, and silent most of the morning.
Arthur Sterling was a famous billionaire who built a massive real estate business.
He was a busy man who spent long hours working in his downtown office.
His young son, Leo, was only seven years old and very quiet.
Leo had lost his biological mother two years ago to a sudden illness.
Since that sad day, the bright little boy had grown very distant.
Elena always made sure to cook Leo his favorite breakfast pancakes every morning.
She cared deeply for the young boy and treated him like her own nephew.
Everything in the grand mansion changed six months ago when Victoria arrived.
Victoria was a former model who married Arthur after a brief romance.
She wore expensive light-blue gowns and spent money on shiny diamonds every week.
To the outside world, Victoria pretended to be a loving new stepmother.
She smiled for the cameras whenever reporters visited the large estate.
But behind closed doors, Victoria treated the house staff and young Leo with deep coldness.
Elena noticed how Leo flinched whenever Victoria walked into the grand dining room.
The young boy stopped playing with his toy trains whenever his stepmother was near.
Elena kept a close eye on the boy whenever Arthur left for work trips.
On a bright Tuesday afternoon, Arthur was away attending an important charity gala.
Victoria walked down the wide marble hallway, her high heels clicking loudly against the floor.
She was holding a thick folder filled with legal documents concerning the family inheritance.
Leo was sitting peacefully on the polished floor playing with a small wooden car.
Victoria kicked the toy car away, sending it spinning across the cold floor.
Victoria: Get out of my way, you annoying little brat.
Leo: I was just playing quietly, Victoria.
Victoria: Do not use that tone with me in this home!
Leo picked up his toy car and backed away toward the grand staircase.
Victoria grabbed his tiny wrist with a tight and cruel grip.
Leo started to cry softly as the harsh woman dragged him toward the back storage room.
Elena heard the loud cries echoing from the laundry room down the long hall.
She dropped her cleaning supplies instantly and ran down the shiny corridor.
Her heart pounded fast as she saw the cruel woman pulling the terrified child.
Elena did not care about losing her job at that intense moment.
She knew she had to save the innocent child from the dangerous woman's hands.