By early afternoon the heavy summer sun beat down brightly upon the white estate walls.
Arthur had to leave the house quickly for an emergency business meeting downtown.
He kissed his young son on the forehead before walking out the front door.
Arthur: Be a good boy for Martha until I come back home tonight.
Leo: I will daddy, I am building a big toy tower right now.
Arthur smiled softly and stepped into his dark blue luxury sedan parked outside.
The heavy iron gates closed behind his car as it rolled down the long driveway.
Inside the grand hallway, the air turned instantly cold as soon as Arthur left.
Elena stood near the tall grand staircase with her arms crossed tightly.
She glared down at young Leo who was stacking small colorful wooden blocks.
Elena: Pick up those noisy cheap toys right now and go to your room!
Leo looked up with wide frightened eyes at his tall stepmother standing over him.
Leo: But daddy said I could play in the main living hall today.
Elena: I do not care what your father said to you earlier today!
Elena stepped closer and forcefully kicked the toy tower across the bright room.
The wooden blocks clattered loudly across the polished floor in every direction.
Leo started to cry softly as he dropped his small hands to his lap.
Martha rushed out from the nearby dining room after hearing the loud crash sound.
She saw the young boy trembling in fear near the edge of the large carpet.
Martha: Please ma'am, do not yell at the poor innocent boy like that!
Elena: Stay out of this or you will lose your job today, old woman!
Elena pointed her finger sharply toward Martha with intense burning rage in her eyes.
She hated the old maid for always standing between her and the little boy.
Martha: Mr. Arthur would be very heartbroken if he saw this behavior right now.
Elena: My husband is not here to save either of you from my choices!
Elena grabbed a priceless crystal vase from the nearby glass accent table.
She hurled it down onto the hard floor right next to the crying child.
The delicate glass shattered into a thousand tiny sharp pieces across the white tiles.
Leo screamed in sudden panic and covered his small face with both hands.
Elena stepped closer to the child and pointed at the mess on the floor.
Elena: You will take the blame for breaking this expensive family antique today!
Martha: That is a cruel lie and I will not let you frame him!
Martha stepped quickly between Elena and the terrified little boy on the floor.
Elena raised her hand high in anger and pointed toward the rear hallway door.
Elena: Get out of my sight before I ruin your life forever, Martha!
The old maid stood her ground firmly despite her body shaking with deep emotion.
She knew she had to protect the child no matter what it cost her personal safety.
Deep inside her pocket, Martha held her personal mobile phone with an active call line.
Arthur was listening to every single word through the open audio connection right now.