The smell of burnt linen and scorched steam drifted through the living room of the grand estate[cite: 1].
Seven-month-old Ethan lay on the plush velvet sofa, kicking his little feet in terror as his screams echoed off the ceiling[cite: 1].
Victoria stood over the baby in her silver-embellished gown, holding an electric iron only inches from his chest[cite: 1].
Steam hissed from the hot metal plate as she leaned down with a cold sneer[cite: 1].
Victoria: Quiet down you little brat[cite: 1]!
Victoria: Your crying is ruining my afternoon tea with the charity committee[cite: 1]!
Victoria: One small slip with this iron and nobody will ever question my authority in this house again[cite: 1].
Maria rushed through the dining room archway in her charcoal maid uniform, dropping a silver tray with a loud clatter[cite: 1].
She screamed at the top of her lungs, sprinting across the marble tiles with wild panic in her eyes[cite: 1].
Maria: Get your dirty hands off that child[cite: 1]!
Maria threw herself forward, knocking Victoria's arm aside and scooping the baby against her shoulder[cite: 1].
The heavy iron clattered onto the sofa arm, scorching a deep brown burn mark into the silk fabric[cite: 1].
Victoria: How dare you touch me, you pathetic servant[cite: 1]!
Maria: You were trying to burn his chest! He is just an infant[cite: 1]!
Victoria: I was steaming the wrinkles out of the slipcovers before guests arrived, you idiot[cite: 1]!
The grand double doors swung open with a booming crash as heavy footsteps echoed through the hall[cite: 1].
Julian Sterling strode into the foyer in a tailored burgundy suit, his eyes widening in pure shock[cite: 1].
Julian: Ethan! What is going on here[cite: 1]?
Maria: Sir, she tried to burn your baby's chest with a hot iron[cite: 1]!
Julian: You tried to mutilate my son[cite: 1]?!
Julian’s hand cracked across Victoria's face with deafening force, sending her crashing hard onto the marble floor[cite: 1].
Julian: You are dead to this family! Drag this psychopath out[cite: 1]!
Victoria gasped on the cold stone, totally unaware that the manila envelope in Julian's pocket was about to strip away her entire fortune[cite: 1].