Victoria marched toward the nursery doors with deliberate, angry steps that echoed through the quiet hall.
Elena quickly stepped into the hallway to block the doorway with a quiet sense of duty.
Elena: Ma'am, the baby is sound asleep right now after a very long morning.
Victoria: Get out of my way, you pathetic girl, I do not answer to you.
Victoria shoved past the young maid and walked straight into the bright, silent nursery room.
She snatched the sleeping baby out of his soft crib without any warmth or gentle care.
Little Leo woke up instantly and began to cry loudly out of sudden fear and confusion.
Elena hurried into the room right behind her, her heart pounding heavily against her ribs.
Elena: Please, Victoria, you are scaring the baby, put him back down in his crib!
Victoria: I am sick and tired of this child standing between me and my fortune!
Victoria turned around abruptly and carried the crying child out toward the open upper balcony landing.
She leaned over the high golden railing, holding the infant carelessly near the edge of the drop.
Elena felt her stomach drop into a dark abyss of utter horror and overwhelming panic.
The drop from the second-floor balcony to the hard marble foyer below was very high.
Victoria: Take this child right now, or I will sign him over to an agency!
Elena: Please step back from the edge right now, I am begging you to stop!
Victoria carelessly jerked her hands forward, attempting to force the baby into Elena's arms roughly.
The sudden move slipped the baby's balance over the high edge near the vast polished landing.
Elena did not hesitate for a single microsecond as she saw the terrible danger unfolding.
She dove forward across the slick white marble floor with every ounce of strength in her body.
Her knees slammed against the hard surface, but she ignored the sharp sting of pain instantly.
She reached out her arms at the absolute last possible second before the child could fall.
Elena pulled little Leo tightly against her chest, wrapping her body safely around his small frame.
She slid across the smooth floor, sliding to a stop near the base of the staircase landing.
The baby gasped loudly, clinging tightly to Elena's burgundy maid uniform as he cried out.
Elena held the child close, her whole body shaking violently from the immense surge of adrenaline.
Elena: You are safe now, my sweet boy, I have got you right here with me.
Victoria stared down at the maid with absolute fury burning in her cold eyes.
She gathered her heavy emerald gown and rushed down the sweeping marble staircase barefoot and angry.
Victoria: Give me that kid right now, you insolent servant girl, how dare you disobey me!
She reached the main floor and grabbed Elena aggressively by her collar, trying to pull her up.
Elena refused to let go of the baby, clutching the child tightly in her protective embrace.
Elena: You will have to go through me before you touch this child ever again!
Victoria: You are fired, do you hear me, get out of my house this instant!
Suddenly, the massive double oak doors at the front entrance swung wide open with force.