The grand house was unusually quiet after Richard's luxury car drove away into town.
Victoria walked slowly down the long upper corridor toward the bright secondary nursery room.
Elena was dusting the photo frames hanging along the white wall near the balcony railing.
She saw Victoria approach the nursery door with a sharp, calculated look in her eyes.
Victoria: Elena, go down to the basement laundry room and fetch the linens right now.
Elena: Ma'am, the nanny is on her break, so I must stay near Maya.
Victoria: Are you refusing a direct command from the mistress of this house?
Elena: No, ma'am, but Mr. Vance asked me to watch her closely today.
Victoria: I am her stepmother, and I will take care of her myself right now.
Elena hesitated for a moment, feeling a strong knot forming deep inside her stomach.
She knew she could not disobey Victoria without risking her job at the grand house.
She nodded quietly and stepped toward the service staircase leading down into the basement.
Victoria waited until the maid's footsteps faded completely down the distant stairs.
She pushed open the wooden nursery door and walked inside where Maya was sitting.
, The little girl was playing with a small plush bear near the open balcony door.
Victoria stepped closer, looking at the innocent child with deep bitterness and cold resentment.
Victoria: You think you will inherit everything your father owns, don't you?
Maya: Look, Mommy Victoria, my bear is sleeping on the soft chair!
Victoria: I am not your mother, and you will not ruin my future plans.
Victoria reached down and grabbed the toddler firmly by her small upper arm.
Maya let out a tiny cry of confusion as she was yanked off the carpet.
Victoria pulled the crying child out of the nursery onto the high marble balcony corridor.
The white marble railing looked down over the two-story foyer on the lower floor.
It was a dangerous height with a long drop down to the hard stone floor below.
Victoria lifted Maya high toward the top of the wide marble balustrade edge.
Maya: No, stop, high up! I am scared, let me down!
Victoria: Nobody is around to save you now, little girl.
Victoria pushed the frightened toddler over the edge toward the dangerous open space.
Down below in the hallway, Elena was rushing back up the basement stairs with linens.
She heard the sudden loud cry of the child echo sharply off the stone walls.
Her heart dropped into her throat as she sprinted toward the main entrance hall.
She looked up and saw Maya holding onto the outer edge of the railing ledge.
Victoria stood over the railing, pulling the child's small fingers away from the marble.
Victoria: Oops, bye-bye little one, it was all just a tragic accident!
Elena dropped her laundry basket on the floor and sprinted across the foyer space.
The child slipped from the edge, falling downward through the bright open daylight above.
Elena threw her body forward, sliding on her knees across the slick marble floor.
She reached out her arms with every ounce of strength in her desperate body.
Elena: Got you! I've got you, Maya!
A loud, heavy thud echoed across the grand entrance as Elena caught the falling toddler.
The force knocked the breath out of Elena's lungs, sending her rolling backward slightly.
She gathered the terrified child tightly against her chest, shaking from head to toe.
Maya screamed loudly in horror, burying her face into Elena's soft gray maid uniform.
Elena held the small girl closely, tears streaming down her pale, sweat-stained cheeks.
Elena: I've got you! You're safe now, baby... You're safe with me...
On the upper floor balcony, Victoria gasped in utter shock and deep violent rage.
Her cruel scheme had completely failed because of the quick actions of a maid.
She rushed down the wide marble staircase, her heels clicking loudly on every step.
Her face was twisted with extreme fury as she marched right up to Elena.
Victoria: Give her to me this instant, you stupid, foolish girl!
Elena: You pushed her! You tried to harm this innocent little child!
Victoria: It was an accident! She slipped from my hands while playing!
Victoria: Give her back to me before I have you arrested for kidnapping!
Elena stood up slowly, holding Maya securely in her strong, protective arms.
She looked straight into Victoria's cruel eyes with total fearlessness and fierce defiance.
Elena: You will never touch this child again as long as I breathe.
Victoria raised her hand in pure rage, striking Elena hard across the face.
The sharp sound of the slap cracked through the large, empty marble foyer.