By late afternoon, the sun cast long orange shadows across the bright marble main foyer floor.
Elena walked down the broad hallway carrying a tray of warm tea toward the sitting room.
She paused near the doorway when she heard Victoria shouting frantically into her phone again.
The wealthy woman was arguing fiercely with a local divorce lawyer about financial property division.
Victoria wanted to secure total control over the estate before Arthur returned home tonight.
She complained that the baby was the main obstacle standing between her and the fortune.
Elena nearly dropped the silver tea tray as she stepped backward into the carpeted hallway shadow.
She realized that Victoria was planning to frame an accident to discredit Elena entirely.
If Elena was fired, Victoria would have complete control over young baby Leo's daily life.
Elena carefully set the tea tray down on a nearby side table without making a sound.
She pulled her own small mobile phone out from her grey apron pocket with shaking fingers.
Elena pressed the voice recording button before stepping closer to the sitting room door frame.
Victoria's voice came through clearly as she discussed transferring money into an overseas account.
She openly admitted that she married Arthur only for his vast real estate wealth and land.
Elena recorded three full minutes of the clear confession before ending the digital recording file.
She hid her phone back in her apron pocket just as Victoria turned toward the doorway.
Victoria glared at Elena with intense cold eyes as she adjusted her champagne satin dress sleeves.
She ordered Elena to take baby Leo upstairs to the second-story balcony area immediately.
Victoria claimed she wanted to take photos of the infant under the afternoon sunlight beam.
Elena felt a surge of deep worry, but she knew she had to obey orders carefully.
She walked back into the nursery and picked up baby Leo with utmost gentle care.
As she carried the baby toward the stairs, she saw Victoria following close behind her.
Elena held the baby tightly, determined not to let any harm come to the child.
The dramatic tension in the air was reaching a boiling point inside the quiet mansion.