Victoria moved quickly down the remaining steps of the wide white staircase.
Elena backed toward the heavy wooden front doors of the estate.
Victoria: Do not turn your back on me when I am speaking to you!
Elena: You are scaring the baby with your loud shouting, Victoria.
Victoria: Give me the child before you make this situation much worse for yourself.
Elena held Sophia tighter, feeling the soft warmth of her baby's gentle breath.
She reached into her jacket pocket to feel for her mobile phone.
Her fingers touched the empty fabric and her stomach sank in complete terror.
She had left her phone sitting on the nursery table upstairs during the morning feeding.
Victoria noticed Elena's panicked expression and let out a short cruel laugh.
Victoria: You have no way to call Arthur or anyone else for help right now.
Elena: Arthur loves us, and he will never let you separate our family.
Victoria: Arthur will do whatever I tell him when he sees the legal documents.
Victoria held up the heavy paper folder so Elena could see the black legal print.
Victoria: I have prepared papers to place Sophia under a private family trust fund.
Elena: A trust fund does not give you the right to take my child!
Victoria: It gives me full guardianship control over her estate and daily life.
Elena took another fast step back toward the open archway of the dining room.
She saw old Maria, the loyal senior housekeeper, watching silently from behind the door.
Maria had served the family for thirty years and knew all of Victoria's harsh secrets.
Elena caught Maria's worried gaze and gave a small pleading sign with her eyes.
Elena: Please, Maria, help me get to the front gate safely!
Victoria: Quiet, Maria! Go back to the kitchen and mind your own duties!
Maria paused for a second before bowing her head and stepping back into the shadows.
Elena felt completely isolated inside the massive, quiet mansion.
Victoria: Hand over the child, Elena, or I will call the police for trespass.
Elena: I am Arthur's lawful wife, and this is my home too!
Victoria: This home belongs to the Sterling name, which you will never truly bear.
Victoria reached out her hand toward the pink blanket covering baby Sophia.
Elena turned her shoulder sharply to protect her daughter from Victoria's grip.