The afternoon brought heavy rain against the tall glass windows of the study.
Clara walked quietly along the upper balcony carrying a tray of clean linens.
She stopped abruptly near the open oak doors of Victorine's private room.
A harsh voice echoed from inside the brightly lit master bedroom suite.
Victorine was speaking on the telephone to an unknown caller in town.
Victorine: I cannot stand looking at Ethan's child another day!
Clara held her breath and backed into the shadows of the hallway wall.
Victorine: Once the inheritance papers are signed, I will act.
The heiress laughed softly in a dark and chilling manner.
Victorine: The boy will be sent away to a distant boarding school.
Clara gasped silently and pressed her back against the cold wallpaper.
She realized that Victorine was planning to get rid of baby Leo entirely.
The rich woman only cared about securing Ethan's massive fortune for herself.
Clara needed proof before she could inform Mr. Vance about the truth.
She knew Ethan loved his wife and trusted her completely with everything.
Without strong evidence, Clara would simply lose her job and be dismissed.
She returned to the nursery with a racing heart and shaking hands.
Little Leo was sleeping peacefully inside his carved wooden bassinet.
Clara: I will protect you no matter what happens, sweet boy.
She sat down in the rocking chair near the window to watch the rain.
Every ticking second felt like a dangerous countdown inside the house.
Victorine was scheming behind closed doors to tear the family apart.
Clara carefully recorded the date and time inside her small paper notebook.
She resolved to keep her eyes open for any further suspicious actions.
The truth was slowly coming to light in the grand mansion hall.
Clara prepared herself for the difficult confrontation that was surely coming next.