The afternoon sun spilled across the marble foyer of the Dallas mansion, casting long shadows over the polished floors. Downstairs, Elena tightened her grip on her feather duster, her heart heavy with the quiet tension that had filled the house for months. Ever since Marcus Vance married Victoria, the vast home felt less like a sanctuary and more like a battleground. Elena was just a maid, hired to keep the estate pristine, but her true loyalty lay with little Lily, Marcus's one-year-old daughter from his late wife.

Victoria: Move faster, Elena. The floors look filthy, and Marcus will be home any minute.

Elena: I'm working as quickly as I can, Mrs. Vance. I just finished wiping down the nursery.

Victoria: I don't care about your excuses. Just make sure you stay out of my way.

Elena lowered her gaze, stepping back into the shadow of the grand archway. She watched as Victoria walked up the grand staircase, her heels clicking sharply against the cold stone. At the top of the landing sat Lily's stroller, the little girl strapped inside, playing quietly with a small stuffed bear. Victoria stood over the stroller for a brief moment, her expression unreadable. But as the sound of a luxury car engine echoed from the driveway outside, Victoria's demeanor shifted instantly.

Elena: Mrs. Vance? Is the baby okay up there?

Victoria: Mind your own business, maid.

Without another word, Victoria placed her manicured hands on the handle of the stroller. She didn't adjust the brakes, nor did she pull the baby back toward safety. Instead, with a cold, deliberate shove, she pushed the heavy stroller directly toward the edge of the steep marble staircase. Elena gasped in sheer horror as the stroller tipped over the top step, beginning a terrifying, chaotic descent down the flight of stairs. Instinct overtook fear, and Elena sprinted toward the bottom of the landing with everything she had, praying she wouldn't be too late to save the innocent child.