The grand sunlit mansion stood on top of the green hills of Los Angeles.
Inside the white marble foyer, light poured through the giant crystal windows every morning.
Elena adjusted her grey vest and smoothed down her clean apron.
She had worked for the Sterling family as a housekeeper for over three years.
It was a quiet job that paid for her mother's ongoing medical bills.
Mr. Richard Sterling was a billionaire investment mogul who owned several major banks.
He was a strict man, but he always treated his household staff with total respect.
Six months ago, Richard lost his beloved first wife to a sudden illness.
The loss broke his heart into pieces, leaving him alone with his baby son.
Little Leo was only seven months old, with bright blue eyes and tiny soft hands.
Elena cared for little Leo like he was her own child every single day.
She prepared his milk bottles on time.
She washed his soft cotton blankets carefully.
She rocked him to sleep whenever he cried during the long dark nights.
Everything changed in the big mansion three months ago when Victoria arrived.
Victoria was a sharp young model who met Richard at a charity auction downtown.
Within weeks, Richard married her in a quiet ceremony at city hall.
He wanted a mother figure in the house for little Leo.
However, Victoria did not care about the innocent motherless baby at all.
She only cared about Richard's massive wealth, his luxury cars, and his family estate.
Whenever Richard left for long business trips, Victoria changed her sweet act completely.
She screamed at the kitchen staff over tiny mistakes.
She demanded expensive designer bags every week.
Most of all, she looked at baby Leo with pure cold hatred in her eyes.
Elena noticed how Victoria pulled away whenever the baby reached out his hands.
Victoria knew that Richard's entire trust fund was legally locked for young Leo.
If anything ever happened to the child, the fortune would pass to the new wife.
Elena kept a watchful eye on Victoria whenever she walked near the nursery.
She promised herself that she would keep the innocent child safe from any danger.
The sun reached the middle of the sky as Tuesday afternoon arrived.
Richard was at the airport, landing from a quick business conference in Chicago.
Victoria walked past the grand staircase wearing a brilliant teal silk dress.
Her diamond heels clicked loudly against the polished white marble floor.
She walked toward the upper balcony where Leo's baby car seat was placed near the railing.
Elena was dusting the potted fern down on the ground level below.
She looked up and saw Victoria standing right next to the car seat handle.
Victoria looked around the upper floor to check if anyone was watching her steps.
She did not notice Elena standing quietly near the tall green leaves below.
Victoria raised her gloved hand toward the black car seat frame.
She slowly pushed the carrier toward the edge of the low balcony rail.
Elena felt her heart freeze inside her chest as she realized the terrible truth.