Victoria sneered coldly as she stood tall directly above the crawling baby boy.
Victoria: Stay out of my way, you pathetic little brat!
She raised her foot as if to push the poor innocent child aside like trash.
Little Leo looked up in sudden terror and began to cry very loudly indeed.
The helpless sound shattered the heavy silence of the massive white marble foyer.
Elena did not hesitate for even a single fraction of a tiny second now.
She rushed across the vast polished floor as fast as her legs could carry her.
She dropped down to her knees and scooped the crying baby into her arms.
She pulled little Leo tightly against her chest to shield him from any danger.
Elena: Don't you dare touch this baby!
Her bold voice echoed fiercely off the high ceilings of the lavish main hallway.
Victoria gasped in total disbelief that a humble servant dared to speak up so loudly.
Her fair face turned bright red with pure outrage at the maid's sudden defiance.
Victoria: How dare you raise your insolent voice to me in my home!
Victoria: Know your place, you useless servant!
Victoria reached over to a high side table and grabbed a heavy golden vase.
She lifted the heavy object high above her head with absolute fury in her eyes.
Elena pulled the baby closer and turned her back to protect his fragile body.
She closed her eyes tightly and prepared herself for whatever blow might fall next.
Victoria hurled the heavy golden vase violently against the hard marble ground near Elena.
The expensive piece shattered into a hundred jagged pieces with a deafening metallic crash.
Sharp fragments skittered across the floor, echoing loudly throughout the whole quiet mansion.
Little Leo screamed in terror, burring his tiny wet face deep into Elena's neck.
Elena kept her body wrapped securely around the baby to block any flying glass.
Victoria: You will be fired for this insolence before the sun goes down!
Victoria: Give me that sniveling child right now, you miserable woman!
Elena: I will never let you harm this innocent boy as long as I live!
Elena stood up slowly, keeping her posture firm despite her shaking knees and legs.
She stared directly into Victoria's angry eyes without showing a single trace of fear.
Victoria took another aggressive step forward, her sharp nails curling into tight fists.
She reached out to grab Elena's dark hair to force her down to the ground.
Elena backed away cautiously, keeping her precious burden tucked safely away from harm.
The thick tension in the grand hallway grew so heavy that nobody could breathe easily.
Victoria raised her hand again, ready to slap the young maid across the face.
Just then, the massive front double doors swung open with a sudden loud bang.
Heavy footsteps rushed frantically into the house from the bright driveway right outside.
Arthur Sterling stood in the open doorway, his navy blue suit looking slightly rumpled.
He had returned unexpectedly early after forgetting important legal documents for his meeting.
His sharp dark eyes took in the terrible scene of destruction within two seconds.
He saw the shattered golden vase scattered all across the white marble floor.
He saw his crying son wrapped tightly in the terrified housekeeper's protective arms.
And he saw his wife with her raised hand frozen in mid air above them.
Arthur: What on earth is happening here right now?!
His deep commanding voice boomed through the high halls like a thunderous roar.