The grand ballroom of the Sterling estate sparkled under heavy crystal chandeliers.
Elena adjusted her clean white apron while holding a silver tray tightly against her chest.
She had worked as a maid for the wealthy Sterling family for three whole years.
Every single morning began before dawn with endless floors to polish and silver to shine.
Yet Elena never complained because she truly needed the steady monthly paycheck.
Her younger brother needed medicine, and this job paid for every single doctor visit.
She kept her head down and always avoided unnecessary drama with the wealthy house guests.
Elena: I just need to finish setting these tables before the party begins.
Sarah: Just make sure you stay away from Mrs. Victoria today.
Elena: Is she in a bad mood again?
Sarah: She has been screaming at the kitchen staff all morning long.
Elena nodded slowly and returned to wiping down the long polished oak dining table.
Victoria was the second wife of Arthur Sterling, the famous billionaire real estate developer.
They had been married for less than two years, but everyone knew the marriage was strained.
Arthur had an infant son named Leo from his previous late wife, Clara.
Little Leo was only eight months old and needed gentle care every single day.
Victoria never showed any warmth or love toward the tiny sweet infant.
She treated the baby like an annoying obstacle to her newly acquired family fortune.
Elena often noticed how Victoria glared at the nursery whenever Arthur was away on business.
Elena: Poor little baby deserves so much better than cold looks.
Sarah: Keep your thoughts to yourself if you want to keep working here.
Elena: I know, but my heart aches every time I hear him cry alone.
Sarah: Wealthy people live by different rules, Elena.
Elena carried her heavy tray back toward the primary kitchen area with quiet steps.
The air inside the giant mansion was thick with unspoken tension and bitter resentment.
Arthur was scheduled to return from his overseas business trip later that very afternoon.
Victoria was pacing back and forth in the high hallway wearing a bright silk dress.
Her red gown rustled loudly against the gleaming white marble floor with every fast step.
Elena paused near the hallway archway to let the wealthy lady pass without interference.
Victoria did not even glance at the young maid standing politely against the wallpaper.
Victoria: Where is that incompetent nanny hiding with the child right now?
Elena: She is preparing his afternoon formula in the small side kitchen, ma'am.
Victoria: Tell her to leave the baby in the high nursery immediately.
Elena: Yes, Mrs. Sterling, I will pass along your exact message right now.
Elena hurried down the corridor toward the warm kitchen where the nanny worked.
She felt a strange cold feeling deep inside her stomach that she could not explain.
Something about the sharp tone in Victoria's loud voice made Elena deeply uncomfortable.
She entered the kitchen and saw the young nanny holding a glass baby bottle.
Elena: Mrs. Victoria wants you to put little Leo in his room right now.
Nanny: She told me earlier that she wanted him down here for photos.
Elena: She seems very upset today, so please be careful around her.
Nanny: I will take him upstairs to his crib before she gets angry.
The nanny gathered the soft baby blanket and walked quickly toward the grand staircase.
Elena stayed near the lower hallway to finish her regular cleaning duties for the day.
She wiped the tall gold picture frames hanging along the long white plaster wall.
Every framed photograph showed Arthur smiling happily alongside his late original wife.
Victoria had tried repeatedly to remove those older photos from the primary walls.
Arthur had firmly forbidden anyone from touching his late wife's preserved memory.
This ongoing argument was a constant source of fighting between the wealthy couple.
Elena could hear distant loud voices coming from the upper floor landing above.
She put down her soft polishing cloth and listened carefully to the rising argument.