The morning sun cut through the tall glass windows of the grand mansion.
Elena adjusted her light blue uniform apron as she polished the hallway mirror.
She had worked for the wealthy Vance family for nearly three years.
Her main duty was caring for seven-year-old Leo after his mother passed away.
Leo was a gentle child who spent most of his afternoons reading quietly.
Everything changed six months ago when Arthur Vance married his new wife Victoria.
Victoria wore expensive emerald green silk dresses and treated the staff with cold disdain.
She wanted the full family inheritance for herself and saw little Leo as a threat.
Arthur was a busy CEO who spent long hours at his corporate office city center.
He believed Victoria was a loving stepmother because she always acted sweet around him.
Whenever Arthur left for work, Victoria showed her true cruel nature to the household.
Elena noticed how Leo flinched whenever Victoria walked into the grand dining room.
She made it her personal mission to shield the young boy from Victoria's harsh words.
That Tuesday morning, Arthur had left early for a major board meeting downtown.
Victoria walked down the upper hallway with a look of pure cold hatred in her eyes.
Leo was standing near the top of the white marble staircase holding a small toy car.
Victoria stepped close to the young boy and grabbed his small arm very tightly.
Leo cried out in fear as he tried to pull his arm back from her grip.
Elena heard the sudden commotion from the bottom of the long staircase and looked up.
Victoria glared down at the young child with absolute malice written across her face.
She pushed the innocent boy hard right toward the steep drop of the marble steps.
Leo gasped loudly as his foot slipped completely off the edge of the polished top stair.