The cold draft from the open terrace shook the heavy velvet curtains across the second-floor gallery.
Standing along the high stone ledge, Victoria tightened her grip on eight-month-old Maya, her dark velvet evening gown brushing against the brass balustrade.
Victoria: Cry all you want, you little beggar!
Victoria: You and this child don't deserve my family's legacy!
Victoria: One slip over this edge, and Julian's entire trust fund comes straight to me.
Down on the main marble floor thirty feet below, Elena dropped her laundry basket, her heart stopping dead in her throat.
Elena: No! Put her down! Step away from that ledge!
Victoria: Watch her fall, maid! Watch your precious little heiress disappear!
Victoria opened both hands wide, letting the infant drop headfirst into empty air.
Elena screamed, her blue uniform snapping as her shoes skidded across the slick white tiles.
She threw her entire body into a desperate slide, her arms locking out like iron bars just as Maya's blanket hit her chest.
The impact knocked the breath from Elena's ribs, sending her tumbling onto her side across the cold stone.
Elena: I got you... I got you, baby!
Elena: I'll protect you with my life.
Maya shrieked in absolute terror, hot tears soaking into Elena's white collar as the maid sobbed against her forehead.
High above, the sharp click of designer heels echoed down the sweeping marble staircase.
Victoria marched down the curved steps, her face twisted in ugly, venomous rage as she pointed a long manicured finger.
Victoria: Hand her over to me right now, trash!
The heavy front double doors blew inward with a booming slam as Julian Sterling sprinted inside in his dark tailored suit.
Julian: What is this madness?!
He took four long strides across the floor, his right palm whipping through the air with a deafening crack that sent Victoria crashing onto the marble.
Victoria: She tried to kidnap our baby!
Elena: She threw her off the balcony!
Julian: Get out!
Victoria clutched her bleeding lip on the stone floor, completely unaware of the sealed envelope inside Julian's coat that would destroy her family before sunset.