The polished white marble of the Sterling estate foyer reflected the morning sun like a sheet of pure ice.

Rosa held the two-month-old infant pressed tight against her chest, her knuckles pale beneath her gray uniform cuffs.

Evelyn: Hand that baby over to me right now!

Evelyn Sterling stepped forward, the crimson silk of her morning robe swirling around her bare legs like spilled wine.

Rosa: Mrs. Sterling, please... the doctor said he needs his medication first. He has a fever!

Evelyn: Know your place in this family! You are a paid servant, not his mother!

The guests standing along the marble pillars lowered their voices to tense, hushed whispers, none daring to step in.

Rosa took a step back, her eyes wide with terror as Evelyn reached out with claw-like manicured nails.

Rosa: I can’t let you take him upstairs again! Not after what happened on the terrace!

Evelyn’s eyes flashed with venomous rage as she lunged forward, shoving both hands hard against Rosa’s shoulders.

Rosa stumbled backward, twisting her entire frame in mid-air to take the brunt of the fall on her own hips and back.

Her body slammed against the hard marble with a sickening thud, but she kept both arms curled tightly around the baby's blanket.

Rosa: Please don't hurt him!

The swaddled baby let out a tiny, frightened wail against Rosa's neck as tears streamed down her bruised face.

Evelyn stood over them, raising her foot as if to kick the trembling maid out of her way.

Before her shoe could make contact, the massive double front doors blew wide open with a concussive bang.

Roman: Take your hands off them right now!