Clara polished the dark wood of the grand staircase every morning at dawn.
The sun barely touched the tall glass windows of the massive mansion.
She worked quietly so she would not wake the family upstairs.
Arthur Vance was a very wealthy man who owned a huge shipping empire.
He lived in this giant home with his baby son named Leo.
Arthur had lost his first wife two years ago after a sudden illness.
It was a very sad time for everyone in the house.
Clara had worked for the family long before the mother passed away.
She loved little Leo as if he were her own nephew.
Six months ago, Arthur had married a new woman named Victoria.
Victoria was young and wore beautiful dresses made of rich blue velvet.
She spoke with a loud voice and loved expensive diamond jewelry.
However, Victoria never smiled at the staff or gentle little Leo.
She often looked at the child with cold and distant eyes.
Clara noticed how Victoria stayed away whenever the baby cried.
The new wife preferred spending money at fancy clothing shops downtown.
She frequently talked about the huge family inheritance on her phone.
Clara kept her head down and continued cleaning the spotless floors.
She knew it was not her place to speak about the master's wife.
Yet, Clara could not shake a strange feeling in her stomach.
Something about Victoria felt very wrong and unsafe for the family.
One afternoon, Arthur was preparing to leave for an important business trip.
He carried a dark leather briefcase down the polished marble hallway.
Victoria walked next to him in her glowing blue velvet dress.
She held his arm tightly and gave him a bright smile.
Arthur kissed her cheek gently before looking at the baby's nursery door.
He told her to take good care of little Leo while he was gone.
Victoria promised him that the child was in safe hands.
Clara stood near the doorway holding a clean white towel.
She saw the fake smile disappear from Victoria's face the moment Arthur left.
The heavy front doors shut with a loud and echoing thud.
Victoria turned around and glared down at Clara with pure disgust.
She told Clara to go fix dinner in the far kitchen right away.
Clara nodded her head softly and walked down the quiet hall.
She stopped behind a decorative curtain to grab a clean broom.
Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps moving quickly across the shiny marble floor.
It was Victoria pushing little Leo in his heavy wooden stroller.
The baby was resting quietly inside the soft white blankets.
Victoria looked around the large room to see if anyone was watching.
She had a strange and sharp look in her dark eyes.
Clara held her breath and stayed very still behind the long curtain.
She wondered why Victoria was taking the baby toward the tall steps.