It was a clear Tuesday afternoon when Mark left the estate for an urgent board meeting across town. He kissed Leo on the forehead, smiled at Victoria, and told his driver to head toward the financial district. The heavy double doors clicked shut, and the quiet sound of Mark's luxury car fading down the driveway signaled the start of a nightmare.
Victoria turned around, her sweet smile instant turning into a cold, contemptuous glare. She looked down at little Leo, who was playing quietly with his toy train on the polished light marble floor of the grand hall. The toddler was wearing a tiny black tuxedo for an upcoming family photo session later that evening. Victoria tapped her high heels loudly against the marble, walking toward the helpless boy with clear anger in her eyes.
Victoria: Stop making those annoying noises right now, you little brat.
Leo looked up, his big blue eyes wide with fear as he pulled his toy train closer to his chest.
Victoria: Don't you dare look at me like that! You are just like your useless mother.
She kicked the toy train away, sending it sliding across the slick hall floor where it shattered against the baseboard. Leo burst into loud tears, reaching out his small hands for his broken toy. Victoria grabbed the boy roughly by his small arm, pulling him up from the floor with force. Instead of comforting him, she began spinning him around in tight, vicious circles on the slippery marble.
Victoria: Cry louder! Go ahead and cry, nobody is here to help you now!
The poor boy screamed in terror, his little legs swinging through the air as his head spun wildly. The sound of his weeping echoed off the high white walls, filling the massive mansion hall with pure agony. Victoria laughed, enjoying the power she felt over the defenseless child while holding his wrist tightly. She had no idea that Elena was just around the corner in the dining area, carrying a tray of fresh linen.
When the piercing sound of Leo's cries reached Elena's ears, her blood ran cold. She dropped the linen tray onto a nearby chair and sprinted toward the main hall as fast as her feet could carry her. The sight that met her eyes made her heart drop into her stomach. Victoria was spinning the terrified toddler around like a ragdoll, completely ignoring his desperate choking sobs.
Elena: Stop it right now! Are you out of your mind?
Elena did not hesitate for a single second, completely forgetting about her job, her salary, or her lower social status. She charged across the marble floor like a lioness protecting her cub. She reached out and snatched little Leo straight out of Victoria's grasp, pulling the sobbing toddler tightly into her chest. Victoria stumbled back, shocked that a simple maid dared to intervene in her cruel game.
Victoria: How dare you lay your filthy hands on me, you ignorant servant!
Elena: You are a monster! He is just a baby!
Victoria: I am the future mistress of this house, and I will do whatever I want with him!
Victoria raised her hand to strike Elena, her eyes burning with malicious pride. But Elena was done staying silent while an innocent child suffered. Before Victoria's hand could descend, Elena swung her right hand with everything she had, striking Victoria square across the cheek with a loud crack that echoed through the hall. The sudden force made Victoria's head snap back, but Elena was not finished protecting the boy.