The morning sun cut through the heavy silk drapes of the sprawling Dallas estate.
Elena adjusted her plain white apron as she walked quietly down the polished hallway.
She had worked for the wealthy Miller family for nearly three long years now.
Her daily duties were simple enough, but the tension in the house was growing heavy.
Adrian Miller was a successful real estate investor who recently lost his beloved wife.
His infant son, Leo, was the only light remaining in his quiet world.
However, six months ago, a glamorous socialite named Victoria stepped into his life.
Victoria wore expensive designer clothes and always smiled whenever Adrian was nearby.
But Elena saw a very different side of Victoria when Adrian left for work.
Victoria treated the staff with harsh words and viewed little Leo as an obstacle.
She wanted Adrian’s massive fortune and his grand estate entirely for herself.
Elena kept her head down and focused on protecting the helpless baby boy.
She swept the pristine marble floors while keeping a close eye on the hallway.
The nursery sat at the far end of the grand second-floor corridor.
Elena noticed Victoria lingering near the nursery door with a cold look.
Something about the woman's tense posture made Elena feel instantly uneasy today.
She set her cleaning supplies down quietly beside the white carved pillars.
The mansion was usually silent during the early hours before the businessmen arrived.
Elena took a slow step forward, carefully keeping her rubber soles quiet.
She heard low muffled voices drifting out from the nursery room doorway.
Victoria was speaking in a sharp whisper that lacked any real warmth.
Elena crept closer, her heart beating fast against her ribs in total fear.
She peered through the narrow crack of the half-open mahogany door frame.
Victoria stood near the wooden crib, holding an iron used for pressing clothes.
The appliance was plugged into the wall outlet near the heavy changing table.
Elena felt her stomach drop as she realized what Victoria was planning to do.
The woman held the hot surface dangerously close to the crying child's blanket.
Little Leo wiggled in his white outfit, completely unaware of the looming danger.
Elena knew she could not stand by and let a nightmare happen today.
She took a deep breath and prepared herself to break every house rule.