Elena the young house maid was holding a tray of clean white towels near the patio back door.
She dropped her wooden tray the exact moment she saw the small girl splash into the cold water.
Without hesitating for even one second, Elena sprinted across the slippery concrete patio at full speed.
She dove horizontally straight into the deep end of the pool with a heavy splash sound.
The cold water stung her wide open eyes as she kicked hard down toward the bottom tiles.
She wrapped her strong arms around Lily's waist and pulled the frightened girl up toward the sunlit surface.
Elena broke through the water line and hoisted the coughing child up onto the dry edge safely.
She grabbed a dry white towel from the floor and wrapped it securely around Lily's shaking shoulders.
Elena: Take deep breaths, Lily, you are completely safe now.
Lily: I was so scared under the water, Elena!
The frightened young girl coughed up pool water while clinging tightly to the maid's wet apron.
Elena kept one protective arm wrapped around the child while glaring directly at the calm stepmother above.
Just then, the owner of the house rushed out from the open glass patio doors in great panic.
Richard was a wealthy businessman who loved his young daughter more than his own life itself.
He ran across the bright green patio lawn toward the pool with his expensive dress shoes sliding slightly.
Richard: What happened here right now?
His voice thundered across the peaceful backyard and made every single guest freeze in their tracks completely.
Victoria immediately turned toward her wealthy husband with tears streaming down her carefully painted cheeks.
She pointed an accusatory finger directly at Elena, who was still dripping wet on the stone floor.
Victoria: She cut her hair and threw your daughter into the pool!
Victoria: I tried to stop her, but this crazy maid attacked your poor daughter without warning!
Richard turned his face toward Elena, his eyes filling with total shock and rising explosive rage.