Victoria paced back and forth across the marble floor like a trapped animal.
She adjusted her delicate silver earrings while breathing heavily through her nose.
Elena remained standing firmly by the doorway while comforting the scared baby boy.
The scorched blanket was still lying on the floor as silent evidence of danger.
Victoria suddenly knocked over a ceramic vase on the glass end table on purpose.
The fine porcelain shattered loudly into a dozen sharp pieces across the room.
She threw herself down onto the sofa and ruffled her neat blonde hair wildly.
Elena watched in complete shock as the woman crafted a total theatrical display.
Victoria: You attacked me and destroyed the room, you jealous maid!
Elena: Stop lying to cover up your terrible carelessness!
Before another word could be spoken, the heavy front double doors swung open.
Arthur Sterling stepped inside wearing his tailored black suit and silk tie.
He stopped immediately when he saw the broken vase and heard his son crying.
His sharp eyes darted from the nanny to his trembling wife on the couch.
Victoria burst into loud desperate sobs as she scrambled toward her husband.
Victoria: Arthur, thank God you came back early from your meeting!
She wrapped her arms around his waist while trembling with dramatic force.
Victoria: The nanny went crazy and tried to burn me with the iron!
Arthur looked down at his wife with a deep crease on his forehead.
He looked over at Elena who was standing calmly holding baby Leo securely.
Arthur: Elena, explain what happened in this house right now.
Elena: Mr. Sterling, she brought the hot iron next to Leo's crib.
Elena pointed at the singed blanket lying beside the fallen iron appliance.
Elena: I rushed in to lift Leo away before he got hurt.
Victoria shook her head hysterically while clinging tighter to Arthur's arm.
Victoria: She is making up stories because she hates me!
Victoria: She tripped over the cord and nearly burned the baby herself!
Arthur looked deeply conflicted as he stared at both women in silence.
He loved his new wife, but Elena had been completely faithful for years.
The tension inside the high-ceilinged room was heavy enough to cut with knives.
Baby Leo rested his little head on Elena's shoulder, calming down slowly.
Arthur stepped forward and looked closely at the scorched fabric on the ground.
He noticed that the singed mark was on the inside edge of the crib blanket.
That spot could only be reached from where Victoria had been sitting earlier.
A dark shadow passed over Arthur's handsome face as suspicion took root.
Arthur: Victoria, why was the iron near the bassinet in the first place?
Victoria: I was just trying to help iron his clothes, darling!
Elena took a deep breath and decided to speak the ultimate truth now.
Elena: Check the security camera mounted high on the hallway archway.