Clara: LILY!
The tiny girl plummeted through the air, her pink blanket fluttering wildly as her terrified screams cut through the silence of the mansion. The drop from the tenth floor was over a hundred feet straight down toward the unyielding marble surface.
Clara: Lord, give my legs strength! Please help me save her!
Clara did not hesitate for a single microsecond. She threw aside her cleaning rags and kicked off her heavy work shoes. She sprinted across the slick, polished marble floor, her heart pounding against her ribs like a sledgehammer.
Clara: I am coming, baby girl! I've got you!
She tracked the falling infant with her eyes, calculating the speed and angle as the baby dropped past the seventh floor, then the fifth floor, then the third floor. The floor beneath Clara's bare feet felt ice cold, but her body was burning with pure adrenaline.
Clara: Just a few more feet! Move, Clara, move!
Clara dove forward across the grand floor, extending her arms out wide toward the center of the foyer right as the child fell into range.
Clara: I GOT YOU! YOU'RE SAFE!
With a sharp gasp, Clara caught baby Lily tightly against her chest, absorbing the heavy impact with her arms and rolling across the marble floor to break the fall. The sudden force knocked the wind completely out of Clara's lungs, but she kept her arms locked firmly around the infant, shielding Lily's tiny head with her palms.
Clara: Shh... it's okay, baby girl. It's okay. Clara's got you. You are safe. I have you right here.
Baby Lily buried her face into Clara's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably and clinging to the maid's uniform with her tiny hands. Clara lay on her back on the cold floor, breathing heavily, tears streaming down her own cheeks as she held the unharmed child close.
Elena: What?! How on earth did you catch her?! That is impossible!
Up on the tenth floor, Elena gripped the balcony railing in shock, her face pale with horror and rage as she realized her evil plan had failed right before her eyes.
Elena: You stupid, meddling maid! You were supposed to let her fall!
Clara: You monster! You absolute monster!
Before Elena could say another word, the heavy double entrance doors of the mansion slammed open with a thunderous bang. Arthur Vance rushed into the grand foyer, holding his briefcase, his face full of panic from the sudden screams echoing through his home.
Arthur: WHAT HAPPENED?! What is all this screaming?!
Arthur froze in his tracks as he saw Clara sitting on the marble floor, trembling, holding a crying baby Lily tightly in her arms.
Arthur: Clara?! Lily?! Why is my daughter crying like that? Why are you on the floor?!
Clara lifted her hand, pointing her trembling finger straight up toward the high balcony where Elena was still standing in shock.
Clara: SHE THREW HER DOWN FROM THE TENTH FLOOR!
Arthur: WHAT?! What did you just say?!
Clara: Mrs. Vance! She held Lily over the railing and dropped her down on purpose! She tried to kill your baby daughter, Mr. Vance!
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