The bright morning sun poured through the massive glass windows of the Vance estate.
Clara adjusted her crisp blue uniform as she stood near the grand entrance floor.
She was twenty-four years old and desperately needed this job to support her elderly mother.
The mansion was larger than anything Clara had ever seen in her entire small hometown.
White marble pillars stretched high up toward the elegant painted ceilings of the foyer.
Clara took a deep breath to steady her nervous racing heart.
Mrs. Gable: Welcome to the Vance residence, Clara.
The head housekeeper gave Clara a warm and reassuring smile.
Clara: Thank you, Mrs. Gable. I am ready to work hard.
Mrs. Gable: Mr. Julian Vance expects absolute perfection, but he is a fair man.
Clara: And his wife?
Mrs. Gable looked around nervously before lowering her voice.
Mrs. Gable: Victoria is his new bride, but she is not the child's mother.
Clara felt a quiet chill run down her spine at those strange words.
Mrs. Gable: Little Leo is only seven months old, and his real mother passed away.
Clara: That is so sad for such a sweet little baby.
Mrs. Gable: Victoria only cares about Mr. Vance's vast family fortune and inheritance.
Just then, heavy footsteps echoed down the grand curved marble staircase.
A beautiful woman in an expensive champagne-gold silk dress walked into the open foyer.
Victoria: Why is everyone standing around idling on my time?
Clara immediately bowed her head out of polite respect.
Mrs. Gable: This is Clara, ma'am, our new live-in nanny assistant.
Victoria glared down her thin nose at Clara with cold disdain.
Victoria: Make sure she stays out of my sight as much as possible.
Clara: I understand, ma'am. I will do my duties quietly.
Victoria scoffed loudly and turned her back on the two women.
Clara knew right then that working here would not be an easy task.
She promised herself that she would always focus on protecting little baby Leo.