The quiet afternoon inside the Dallas mansion shattered the moment six-month-old Leo was lifted over the cold wooden railing of the second-floor balcony. High above the pristine white marble foyer, Julian’s fiancée, Victoria, held the infant up in the air with a tight, unyielding grip. Her green velvet dress shimmered under the grand crystal chandelier, casting long shadows against the bright white wall where a framed American flag hung. Below her, the open foyer stretched out like a cavern of stone, cold and unforgiving.
Victoria: You don't belong in this family, you little parasite!
Leo: WAAAH!
Victoria: Stop your crying! You think your father's money is going to save you from me?
Victoria's eyes were cold and full of bitter resentment as she looked down at the tiny baby squirming in her hands. She had hated the child from the moment she moved into the Sterling estate, viewing him as the only obstacle standing between her and full control of the multi-million-dollar family trust fund. The high-society guests and domestic staff were scattered in nearby rooms, completely unaware of the horrifying moment unfolding near the stairs.
Victoria: Let's see how well your father's trust fund protects you now.
Without warning, Victoria opened her hands and let the baby fall. A sudden, sharp gasp filled the air as the tiny infant plummeted straight through the open space, falling toward the hard marble floor below. At that exact second, Mark, a family cousin dressed in a sharp grey suit and tie, stepped out from the library doorway directly into the foyer.
Mark: LEO!
Mark didn't hesitate for a fraction of a second. He launched his body forward across the slick marble tiles, sliding hard onto his knees with his arms outstretched to catch the falling child. With a heavy thud of landing, Mark caught the baby securely against his chest, just inches before the infant's head could strike the solid stone floor. Friction burned through his suit trousers, but he held the child tight, his chest heaving with desperate emotion.
Mark: I've got you! I've got you, baby!
Leo: WAAAH!
Mark: You're safe now... You're safe now, Leo...
Tears of immense relief streamed down Mark's face as he cradled the crying infant against his shoulder, holding him close to shield him from the world. But as he stood up and looked up toward the upper balcony, his relief turned into an explosive, furious rage that was about to rip the Sterling family apart forever.