The crystal chandelier in the high ballroom ceiling shook as cold daylight washed over the white marble floor[cite: 1].
Seven-month-old Leo kicked his tiny legs, his face bright red from crying as Victoria carried him past the tall pillars[cite: 1].
Her maroon diamond evening gown glittered with every stride, shimmering with thousands of tiny jewels[cite: 1].
She held the swaddled infant at arm's length, her eyes filled with cold, venomous hatred[cite: 1].
Victoria: Cry all you want! You will never belong in this family![cite: 1]
Without warning, she opened her manicured hands and hurled the helpless child straight down[cite: 1].
The boy hit the hard marble floor with a sickening, heavy thud, gasping before letting out an ear-piercing scream of agony[cite: 1].
Across the ballroom, Clara dropped her cleaning bucket, falling to her knees and crawling frantically toward him[cite: 1].
Clara: No! Dear God, no! Don't hurt him![cite: 1]
She reached the infant under the framed American flag, carefully cupping his trembling head in her hands[cite: 1].
Clara: I've got you, little one. Nana has you. Breathe, baby, breathe![cite: 1]
Victoria stood over them, her lips curling into a cruel, arrogant smirk[cite: 1].
Victoria: Who do you think he'll believe? His future wife, or a worthless nanny?![cite: 1]
Clara: You dropped an innocent infant on stone! You are a monster![cite: 1]
Victoria: I run this estate now, maid! You are nothing but cheap domestic help![cite: 1]
The grand double doors banged open with a deafening crash, bouncing hard against the doorstops[cite: 1].
Ethan Vance charged into the ballroom in his black tailored overcoat, his eyes wild with terror[cite: 1].
Clara: Sir! She threw your baby onto the hard floor to destroy him![cite: 1]
Ethan sprinted across the room, his heavy boots echoing like gunfire across the stone[cite: 1].
He stepped right in front of Victoria, his open hand cracking across her face three times with blinding fury[cite: 1].
The violent impacts threw Victoria hard onto the floor, her diamond gown tearing on the stone[cite: 1].
Ethan: YOU TOUCHED MY BABY! TAKE THIS, MONSTER![cite: 1]
Victoria gasped on the marble, completely unaware that the manila envelope inside Ethan's overcoat held a truth that would destroy her life forever[cite: 1].