The heavy bundle plummeted toward the hard marble floor of the grand foyer below.
Maria did not hesitate for a single second as she leaped toward the lower staircase flight.
She scrambled down the slick steps while stretching both arms out as far as possible.
Her knees hit the cold stone floor hard as she slid across the central grand entryway.
She opened her arms wide and caught the heavy swaddled bundle securely against her chest.
The impact knocked the breath straight out of Maria as she collapsed onto her side.
She wrapped her arms tightly around the bundle to shield it from any violent shock.
Tears of pure relief overflowed from Maria's eyes as she held the precious child close.
She pulled back the soft white blanket to check on the quiet newborn infant immediately.
The baby began crying loudly, her tiny chest moving up and down with healthy strength.
Maria let out a loud sob while pressing the crying child gently against her shoulder.
Maria: You are safe now, my sweet child.
Up on the high marble balcony, Elena stood frozen in complete horror and growing terror.
Her face lost all its color as she clutched her hand tightly against her throat.
She had never expected the quiet maid to react with such incredible speed and bravery.
Elena looked down at the foyer floor with wide eyes filled with absolute panic.
She realized that her cruel action had been witnessed clearly from start to finish.
The massive front doors of the mansion suddenly swung open with a loud thud.
Arthur Vance stepped inside the grand foyer holding his heavy leather briefcase.
He had returned early from his morning meeting to retrieve an important legal document.
Arthur stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Maria weeping on the floor.
The sound of his newborn daughter crying hysterically echoed off the high vaulted ceiling.
Arthur dropped his heavy briefcase onto the floor and rushed directly to Maria's side.
Arthur: Maria, what happened here?
Arthur: Why is my baby crying like this on the floor?
Maria looked up through her streaming tears and pointed directly toward the upper balcony.
Her shaking hand pointed straight at Elena, who was backing away from the railing.
Maria: She deliberately dropped the baby over the balcony rail, sir!
Maria: I had to slide across the floor to catch her before she hit!
Arthur turned his head slowly and locked eyes with his younger sister up above.
His jaw clenched tightly as intense rage filled his face within a single heartbeat.
A heavy sub-bass silence seemed to settle over the entire grand foyer area.
Arthur stood up straight, his hands curling into tight fists at his sides.
Elena shrank back against the cream wall, unable to utter a single word of defense.
Arthur took a deep breath, his eyes cold and dangerous as he started moving forward.