Elena smoothed down her clean apron as she stepped into the grand marble foyer of the Vance estate.
The towering white walls and polished floors always made her feel small, but she took pride in her work.
She had taken this job as a housekeeper to support her family and care for little Lily.
Lily was only two years old and had lost her mother shortly after she was born.
Her father, Arthur Vance, was a busy CEO who loved his daughter more than life itself.
However, Arthur was frequently away on business trips to manage his massive corporate holdings across the country.
That left the grand mansion under the control of his new wife, Victoria.
Victoria was a sharp woman who married Arthur only for his vast wealth and estate.
From her very first day, Victoria treated the house staff with icy cold contempt.
She especially disliked little Lily, seeing the toddler as a threat to her financial control.
If Arthur ever left his fortune to Lily, Victoria would lose her complete grip on the estate.
Elena noticed how Victoria ignored the sweet little girl whenever Arthur was not watching.
Whenever Arthur returned home, Victoria pretended to be a loving and gentle stepmother.
She would hold Lily and smile for the family photos framed along the hallway walls.
But as soon as the heavy front doors closed behind him, her smile instantly disappeared.
Elena stayed quiet and focused on her daily tasks to avoid any unnecessary conflict.
She wiped down the marble banisters and made sure the nursery was always clean and safe.
Little Lily grew fond of Elena and would often toddle over to hold her hand.
Elena always kept a watchful eye on the child whenever Victoria was in the room.
She sensed that Victoria was growing more impatient with each passing week.
Victoria wanted full control over the family trust fund and the mansion deeds.
She began dropping subtle hints that Lily was too much work for the household.
Arthur always shut those comments down immediately because he adored his young daughter.
That only made Victoria more bitter and determined to cause a serious rift.
Elena prayed that Arthur would see through his wife's fake affection before it was too late.
She wiped down the lower marble steps and kept her head low as Victoria walked past.
Victoria glided down the staircase wearing an expensive dress and a cold sneer.
Victoria: Make sure the balcony doors are locked, maid.
Elena: I already locked them twice this morning, ma'am.
Victoria: Do not backtalk me if you want to keep your job here.
Elena swallowed her pride and simply nodded her head in silent respect.
She knew that provoking Victoria would only put her own job in serious danger.
She returned to her duties while keeping her ears open for little Lily's soft footsteps.