Sarah adjusted her crisp white apron while standing inside the grand foyer.
The massive stone mansion belonged to Richard Sterling, a famous billionaire businessman.
Sarah worked as the head housekeeper for the Sterling family for five years.
She loved little eight-year-old Leo like he was her own son.
Leo's birth mother passed away three years ago after a long illness.
Ever since that day, Sarah took extra care of the young boy.
She made his favorite pancakes every single morning before private school.
She read him bedtime stories whenever his father worked late hours.
Today was supposed to be a very special day for the household.
Richard was returning home early from a major corporate business trip in Chicago.
He planned to announce his formal engagement to a young woman named Victoria.
Victoria was a wealthy socialite who moved in three short months ago.
Sarah never trusted Victoria's sweet smile or her cold blue eyes.
Victoria always ignored the household staff and treated Leo like an annoying nuisance.
She often complained about the boy playing near her expensive silk dresses.
Leo walked down the hallway wearing a neat tiny grey suit.
His father insisted on dress clothes for the celebratory family dinner tonight.
Leo carried a small drawing he spent three hours carefully coloring.
It showed three people holding hands under a big yellow sun.
"Do you think my dad will like this picture?" Leo asked softly.
Sarah smiled warmly at the sweet young boy and crouched down.
"He is going to frame it and hang it in his main office," Sarah replied.
Leo beamed with pride and smoothed out his little grey jacket.
Suddenly, the heavy mahogany front doors swung open with a sharp creak.
Victoria stepped inside the grand hall wearing an elegant emerald green silk dress.
She held high-end shopping bags from the most expensive stores in the city.
Her face looked dark and stressed as she tossed her leather purse down.
"Sarah, why are these light fixtures so dusty?" Victoria shouted angrily.
Sarah stood up quickly and kept her voice polite and calm.
"I cleaned them this morning, ma'am," Sarah answered softly.
Victoria scoffed and walked toward the grand central marble staircase.
Leo ran over excitedly to show his new drawing to Victoria.
"Look what I made for Daddy's homecoming!" Leo shouted with joy.
Victoria glared down at the bright crayon drawing with utter disgust.
"Get that filthy paper away from my green dress!" Victoria snapped harshly.
She swiped her manicured hand hard through the thin air.
The sudden movement knocked the colorful drawing right out of Leo's hands.
The paper fluttered down onto the polished marble floor nearby.
Leo gasped as his eyes filled up with big hot tears.
"You ruined my picture for my dad!" Leo sobbed aloud.
Victoria stepped closer to the top step with a dark scowl.
"Your father is marrying me now, you silly little boy," Victoria hissed.
"You will learn your place in this house very soon," she added.
Sarah felt a deep chill run down her spine as she watched.