Elena took two steps down the stairs at a time while holding the child.
Little Leo hid his face against her shoulder as he continued to cry softly.
Victoria rushed out of the nursery and leaned over the upper gold railing.
Victoria: Stop them right now!
Elena: I have you, sweetie, you are safe with me!
The strange man in the dark jacket hurried down the corridor behind them.
Elena sprinted across the main foyer, her breath coming in quick ragged gasps.
Her feet slipped slightly on the smooth white marble, but she kept her balance.
She dropped down onto her knees near the heavy double front doors.
She pulled Leo as tight to her chest as she safely could.
The cold floor chilled her knees through her dark maid dress.
Elena: I have got you, baby, nobody is taking you anywhere!
Victoria ran down the marble steps with her gold dress trailing behind her.
Her eyes were wide with anger as she pointed an accusing finger at Elena.
Victoria: You are just a simple maid who does not understand family law!
Elena: You are trying to steal this child's inheritance while his father is away!
Victoria: That money belongs to the Vance company, not a toddler!
Victoria reached out to pull the screaming child away from Elena's arms.
Elena shifted her body to block Victoria from touching the little boy.
Suddenly, the massive front doors burst open with a loud thundering sound.
The bright Texas sunlight flooded into the grand foyer all at once.
A tall man in a sharp black business suit rushed inside the house.
It was Mark Vance, who had returned early from his flight to Dallas.
His face was pale with intense emotion as he took in the scene before him.
He saw his faithful maid kneeling on the floor, holding his crying son.
He saw his stepmother standing over them with hostile legal documents in hand.
Mark: How could you do this?!
Victoria: Mark! You were not supposed to be home until tomorrow evening!
Mark: Answer my question, Victoria! Why are you threatening my family?!
Mark marched across the marble floor with quick and heavy strides.
His eyes were fixed on his stepmother with complete disappointment and fury.
Victoria gasped sharply and stepped back toward the staircase railing.
She gripped her heavy leather briefcase tighter against her side.
Victoria: She was trying to kidnap your son and leave the estate!
Elena: That is not true, Mr. Vance! She brought a stranger into the nursery!
Mark: I received an alert from the security team ten minutes ago!
Mark stepped directly between his stepmother and the kneeling maid.
He raised his hand to stop Victoria from moving any closer to the child.
His voice shook the grand foyer like thunder echoing off the high ceiling.