The polished marble floor of the Sterling estate glistened under the heavy crystal chandeliers.
High above the grand staircase, Victoria stood near the mahogany balcony railing, her dark brown silk gown rustling softly against the cold iron balustrade.
In her arms, little four-year-old Lily whimpered, her tiny hands clutching the green cotton of her summer dress.
Victoria: Be quiet, Lily. Stop squirming right now.
Lily: Mommy, please! I want to go down! I want daddy!
Victoria: Your daddy isn't here to protect you today, little girl.
Victoria shifted her weight forward, lifting the child directly over the perilous edge of the high railing.
Down in the foyer, Clara paused her sweeping, her heart freezing in her chest as she looked up at the balcony.
Clara: Mrs. Sterling! What are you doing?! Please, step back from the edge!
Victoria: Mind your place, maid. She's not my child, and she never will be.
Clara: No! Don't let go!
Victoria opened her fingers, letting the little girl fall directly toward the hard marble floor below.
Clara dropped her broom, her feet moving instantly across the slick floor as a shrill scream echoed through the mansion.
Clara: I've got you! Lily!
With a desperate slide, Clara threw her body forward onto her knees, extending her arms right as the child came crashing down.
The heavy thud of the impact knocked the wind out of Clara, sending a sharp, blinding pain through her arm and cheek as she skidded against the marble.
Lily: Mommy! Clara!
Clara: Shh, baby, I have you. You're safe. I've got you.
Clara squeezed the crying child tightly to her chest, her own breath coming in ragged, painful gasps.
Up above, Victoria gasped in absolute disbelief, her hand flying to her open mouth as she stared at the maid sitting unharmed with the girl on the floor.
Before Victoria could take another breath, the massive double doors of the grand entrance slammed open with a violent thunder, shaking the high glass windows.
Arthur: What in God's name is happening in my house?!
Arthur Sterling stepped through the doorway, his tailor-made suit damp with light rain, his face dark with severe anger.
He took in the scene in an instant—the maid on her knees crying, his daughter trembling, and his new wife trembling on the upper balcony.
Clara: Mr. Sterling... she dropped her. She tried to end her life!
Arthur: You did what?!
Arthur's heavy footsteps echoed violently across the marble foyer as he charged straight toward the grand staircase, his eyes locked on Victoria.
Victoria: Arthur, wait! It's not what it looks like! She slipped from my hands!
Arthur: How could you do this to my daughter?!