The sounds from the second floor balcony grew louder and much more intense.
Elena stepped quietly closer to the bottom of the grand central marble staircase.
She saw Victoria standing right over the nanny near the top wooden railing.
Victoria's face was flushed red with intense anger as she pointed her long finger.
Victoria: Hand that screaming child over to me right now!
Nanny: Ma'am, he is sleeping and needs his rest in his peaceful crib!
Victoria: I am the mistress of this house, so obey my order!
Nanny: Please, you are scaring the baby with your loud shouting!
The infant began to cry loudly from deep inside his soft wrapped wool blanket.
Victoria snatched the crying baby roughly away from the frightened nanny's open arms.
The nanny backed away in complete shock as Victoria gripped the small infant tightly.
Elena felt her heart pound wildly against her ribs as she watched from below.
Victoria marched toward the high balcony edge that overlooked the hard ballroom floor.
The drop from the second floor balcony to the marble below was extremely dangerous.
Elena started running up the wide marble stairs as fast as her feet could move.
Elena: Mrs. Sterling, please step away from that high open railing!
Victoria: Stay back, you foolish maid, or I will fire you instantly!
Elena: I do not care about my job right now, just please be careful!
Victoria: This brat is ruining my life and my entire inheritance plan!
Victoria held the crying baby dangerously close over the thick wooden balcony rail.
The infant writhed nervously in the harsh grip of the angry red-gowned woman.
Elena reached the top step just as Victoria lost her firm temper completely.
Victoria lifted the tiny child up as if she intended to force a terrible accident.
She leaned far over the smooth railing while shouting harsh words at the child.
Victoria: Cry all you want, you miserable little mistake!
Elena: NO! DO NOT DO THAT!
Elena threw herself forward across the slippery slick floor without a second thought.
Victoria tripped slightly on her long ruby gown as she pulled the crib blanket.
The small infant slipped from her careless hands right near the open edge.
Elena slid hard on her knees across the polished marble with her arms outstretched.
She caught the falling baby securely against her padded chest just inches above impact.
The heavy slide hurt Elena's knees badly, but she held the child extremely close.
Little Leo wept breathlessly against Elena's shoulder as she cradled his tiny head.
Elena: I have you, sweet baby, you are completely safe now.
Victoria: You stupid girl, you ruined everything with your interference!
Elena: What is wrong with you?! You could have killed him!
Victoria: Keep your dirty hands off that child this instant!
Elena remained on the cold floor, shielding the weeping baby with her entire body.
Tears of relief and intense fury streamed down Elena's pale, dust-covered cheeks.
Victoria stood over her with a sharp, wicked glare in her dark eyes.
The nanny ran down the corridor shouting for the estate security guards to come.
Victoria raised her hand threateningly toward Elena to grab the child back again.
Elena stood up quickly and backed away toward the wall to protect little Leo.
Elena: Do not come near this child ever again, ma'am!
Victoria: You are a servant here, and you will give him to me!
Elena: I will defend this baby until Mr. Sterling returns home!
Victoria: He will never believe a lying maid over his own wife!
The echo of heavy front doors opening boomed loudly through the entire house.
Firm, rapid footsteps resounded across the lower white marble foyer below them.
Arthur Sterling had finally arrived home ahead of his original scheduled arrival time.