Sarah adjusted her plain blue apron as she walked through the huge front doors of the mansion.
She had worked as a housekeeper for the wealthy Vance family for almost three years now.
The house was always quiet, but today the air felt unusually heavy and cold.
Sarah carried a basket of freshly folded baby clothes up the grand spiral staircase.
Little Leo was only six months old, and he was the light of the entire household.
His father, David Vance, was a hard-working businessman who adored his new baby boy.
However, David was away at his corporate office for most of the long afternoon.
That left his young wife, Victoria, alone in the massive home with the staff.
Victoria was not Leo's biological mother, but she had married David earlier that year.
She always seemed cold and distant whenever the baby was near her.
Sarah noticed how Victoria glared at the child when David was not looking.
It made Sarah's stomach turn with deep worry every single day.
She pushed open the nursery door and set the warm laundry basket on the table.
The baby was resting peacefully in his wooden crib, softly cooing to himself.
Sarah smiled gently and smoothed down his soft white cotton blanket.
Suddenly, the nursery door swung open with a sharp, loud bang.
Victoria walked inside, wearing an expensive gold dress and high heels.
Her face was pale, and her eyes looked wild and full of sudden anger.
"Why are you in here again, Sarah?" Victoria asked with a cold voice.
"I was just putting away his clean clothes, ma'am," Sarah replied quietly.
"You spend too much time with this child," Victoria sneered loudly.
She stepped closer to the crib and looked down at the tiny baby.
Leo began to whimper, feeling the tense energy in the bright room.
"Leave us alone right now," Victoria ordered, waving her hand dismissively.
Sarah hesitated for a second, feeling a sudden chill run down her spine.
She did not want to leave the sweet infant alone with Victoria.
"Did you hear me?" Victoria snapped, her voice rising in anger.
"Yes, ma'am," Sarah whispered, stepping slowly toward the open doorway.
She decided to wait right outside in the hallway just in case.