The sun reached its highest point in the sky and illuminated the vast double-height entrance foyer.
Richard had left early that morning for an important corporate board meeting in the city center.
Elena was wiping down the polished wooden railing near the base of the white marble staircase.
Upstairs on the open balcony, Victoria walked slowly with small Maya trailing closely behind her steps.
The second-floor railing was made of elegant white iron with wide decorative gaps along the bottom edge.
Victoria led the innocent child right toward the edge where the steep drop overlooked the marble hall.
She checked the dark hallway corners to make sure no staff members were watching her actions.
Elena happened to look up through the open staircase gap while holding her soft cleaning cloth.
Her heart immediately stopped beating when she saw Victoria intentionally nudge the toddler toward the drop.
Victoria gave a sudden cold laugh as the small girl stumbled outward over the edge.
Victoria: Oops, bye-bye little one!
A sudden gasp tore through the high ceiling of the empty room as fear gripped Elena.
There was no time to yell for help or search for another adult in the house.
Elena dropped her cleaning rag instantly and sprinted across the slippery marble floor at full speed.
Her knees hit the hard stone surface with a loud slide as her arms reached upward.
The small toddler tumbled straight down through the open air toward the ground below.
Elena extended her arms as far as she could and caught the child safely against her chest.
Elena: Got you! I have got you, Maya!
The heavy impact knocked the air straight out of Elena's lungs, but she held on tight.
The toddler whimpered softly and pressed her tiny face into the maid's warm shoulder.
Elena sat on the hard floor, weeping tears of pure relief as she cradled the baby.
Elena: I have got you! You are safe now, baby...