The hissing steam rose off the hot metal soleplate, filling the mansion living room with a sharp, burning smell.
Seven-month-old Noah lay kicking on the velvet sofa, his tiny face bright red as tears soaked his yellow onesie.
Victoria leaned right over his shivering chest in her sparkling gold sequin gown, tilting the scorching iron down.
Victoria: Quiet down you little brat!
Victoria: Stop crying before I press this right against your ribs!
Victoria: You think your mother left you an inheritance? You won't live to see a single dime of it.
Noah choked on a high shriek, his tiny fists waving wildly in the air.
From the hallway arch, Rosa sprinted across the polished marble floor in her charcoal uniform, moving like a flash of lightning.
Her right hand whipped out with all her strength, smacking Victoria across the cheek with a deafening crack.
The heavy iron flew out of Victoria's hand, crashing down onto the stone floor and hissing against the tiles.
Rosa: Get your dirty hands off the child!
Rosa swept the screaming infant into her arms, pressing him against her chest and rocking him frantically.
Rosa: Don't you ever come near this baby again, you sick monster!
Victoria: You filthy maid! You hit me in my own parlor!
The double oak doors swung open with a booming thud as heavy footsteps echoed into the grand hall.
Ethan Sterling marched inside in his tailored red velvet suit, his eyes widening in pure shock at the chaos.
Victoria: Ethan! What is wrong with you?
Ethan: What is going on?
Rosa: Sir, she tried to burn your baby with a hot iron!
Ethan took four furious strides across the room, his open hand cracking across Victoria's face with brutal force.
Victoria slammed onto the cold marble floor, her sequined gown scraping against the floor.
Ethan: You monster! You are dead to this family!
Victoria clutched her bleeding lip on the stone, totally unaware that the safe in Ethan's private study held a secret that would destroy her entire life before the night was over.