Elena stood up slowly while cradling little Maya tightly in her arms.
The toddler kept her face buried deep in Elena's neck, still shaking softly.
Victoria hurried down the grand marble staircase, her peach dress rustling loudly.
Her mind was racing as she tried to craft a quick cover story.
"It was an accident, she slipped from my hands!" Victoria yelled out hastily.
Elena stepped back toward the main hallway, keeping her body between Victoria and Maya.
"You pushed her away when she reached for you," Elena said firmly.
Victoria's eyes narrowed with dangerous rage as she closed the distance between them.
"How dare an insolent servant speak to me like that in my own house!"
She stomped down the remaining steps, pointing a sharp manicured finger at Elena.
"Don't touch her!" Victoria shouted loudly, her voice echoing off the high ceilings.
"Give that child to me right now before I have you fired and arrested!"
Elena stood her ground firmly, refusing to let the cruel stepmother touch Maya.
"I will not let you hurt this innocent child again," Elena stated clearly.
Victoria raised her hand aggressively, preparing to snatch the child away by force.
Suddenly, the heavy front double doors of the mansion pushed open with a thud.
Richard Vance stepped inside the bright foyer, holding his leather briefcase in hand.
He stopped dead in his tracks as the chaotic scene hit his eyes.
He saw the shattered glass vase scattered across the polished marble floor.
He saw his crying daughter held by the maid, and Victoria shouting aggressively.
Richard dropped his heavy leather briefcase onto the floor with a loud slap.
"Maya!" Richard shouted out in total panic and confusion at the scene.
He rushed forward across the foyer, his polished dress shoes clicking heavily.
Victoria turned around quickly, her face immediately transforming into a desperate mask.
She squeezed out fake tears and threw her hands up in dramatic fashion.
"Richard, thank goodness you are home right now!" Victoria cried out loudly.
"This crazy maid pushed me and tried to steal Maya's valuable golden heirloom!"
Elena shook her head in disbelief at the outright lie spoken so easily.
"That is completely untrue, Mr. Vance!" Elena said with a strong voice.
"She let Maya slip from the balcony stair and did nothing to help her!"
Richard looked from Elena to Victoria, his face growing darker by the second.
He saw the sheer terror in his little daughter's wide teary eyes.
Maya reached out her small hands toward her father, whimpering softly for help.
Richard stepped between Victoria and the maid, creating a firm human shield.
"You will never touch her again!" Richard barked directly into Victoria's face.
Victoria stumbled backward onto the polished marble floor in complete shock.
She held her face in her hands and began to plead frantically.
"Richard, please listen to me, she is lying to frame me!" Victoria sobbed.
Richard towered over his wife in absolute fury, his chest heaving with anger.
"Get out of my house right now!" he roared with terrifying power.