Clara: STOP! LEAVE HER ALONE!
Clara lunged forward, throwing her weight toward the edge of the pool. She shoved Victoria’s hands aside with desperate strength and reached into the cold water.
Victoria: Get your filthy hands off me, you useless maid!
Clara: She’s drowning! Let go of her right now!
Clara scooped tiny Lily up into her arms, pulling the soaked, coughing toddler onto the dry stone deck. Lily gasped for air, her tiny chest heaving as water spilled from her mouth, her loud cries echoing across the open yard.
Lily: Waaaah! Warm! Hold me!
Clara: I’ve got you, baby. You’re okay, I’ve got you safe right here.
Clara wrapped her own apron around the shivering child, rocking her back and forth on her knees. Victoria stood over them, her face red with pure fury, smoothing down her designer dress.
Victoria: HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME! Do you have any idea who I am in this house?!
Clara: You were holding her head under the water! She could have died!
Victoria: I was giving her a lesson! She was misbehaving, and you stepped completely out of line!
Clara: That is a two-year-old baby! That isn't a lesson, that is abuse!
Victoria: You are fired! Pack your cheap things and get off my property this second before I call the police for assault!
Clara: Go ahead and call them! Tell them what you just did to your stepdaughter!
Victoria: She is NOT my daughter! She’s a brat left behind by Richard’s dead wife, and you are just hired help!
Before Clara could reply, heavy footsteps echoed from the glass patio doors. Richard Sterling stepped out onto the deck, wearing his dark tailored suit, his briefcase slipping out of his hand and clattering against the ground.
Richard: What in the world is happening out here?! Why is Lily screaming like that?!
Victoria: Richard! Thank goodness you’re home! This insane maid just attacked me!
Clara: Mr. Sterling, look at your daughter! She was pushed underwater!
Victoria: She’s lying, Richard! The baby fell in because Clara wasn't watching her, and when I tried to pull her out, Clara hit me!
Richard stared at his dripping, shivering daughter, then looked up at Victoria’s immaculate, completely dry hands.
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