An hour passed while Lily slept peacefully inside her big quiet room upstairs.
Sarah wiped the long polished wooden banister on the top floor landing area.
She overheard quiet voices coming from the cracked door of the home office.
Victoria was speaking on her smartphone in a low sharp whispering voice.
Victoria: Everything will belong to us once the child is removed from the picture.
Sarah froze in place with her heart beating fast inside her chest.
She stepped closer to the wooden door to listen more carefully to the call.
Victoria: Marcus leaves all his wealth and the trust fund to her if I leave.
Victoria: But if an accident happens, I get total control of the estate.
Sarah held her breath so no sound would escape from her lips.
She realized the new wife was planning something truly terrible and wicked today.
She needed proof before she could tell Marcus about his new evil wife.
Marcus loved Victoria and always believed her sweet words and fake smiles.
Sarah pulled her small phone from her apron pocket with shaking cold fingers.
She pressed the audio recording button to catch the dangerous woman's words.
Victoria: Make sure the legal papers are ready by five o'clock today.
Victoria ended the phone call and walked toward the heavy office door.
Sarah quickly stepped back into the shadow of the wide stone column.
Victoria stepped out into the bright hallway looking around with sharp suspicion.
She adjusted her shiny gold dress and smoothed her long dark hair.
Victoria: Is anyone out here right now?
Sarah stayed perfectly still against the cold white wall in total silence.
Victoria walked past the hallway toward the high open balcony area nearby.
Sarah let out a soft quiet breath of relief once the woman left.
She knew she had to watch Lily every second of the afternoon.
The safety of the innocent girl was now resting entirely on her shoulders.