Chapter 1 - The Iron and the Rescue
Sarah didn't think twice. She threw the silver spoon clattering onto the marble counter and sprinted toward the drawing room.
Her heart hammered against her ribs.
She rounded the corner just as the thick plume of steam hissed from the heavy black iron.
Victoria was leaning over the white wooden crib, a twisted sneer on her perfectly painted lips.
"Get away from him!" Sarah screamed.
She lunged forward, shoving the wealthy socialite hard in the shoulder.
Victoria gasped in shock.
The heavy iron slipped from her grip, crashing onto the pristine marble floor and singeing the edge of an expensive Persian rug.
Baby Leo wailed louder, his tiny face red from the lingering, unnatural heat.
"Are you insane?" Victoria shrieked, clutching her shoulder. "You filthy little servant, how dare you touch me!"
Sarah ignored her.
She scooped the sobbing infant into her arms, pressing his soft cheek against her gray uniform.
"Shh, Leo, I've got you," Sarah whispered, her hands shaking. "You're safe now."
Footsteps thundered down the hallway.
Ethan rushed into the drawing room, his tie undone and a stack of corporate legal papers still clutched in one hand.
"What is going on in here?" Ethan demanded, his blue eyes darting from the crying baby to the smoking iron on the floor.
Victoria instantly burst into tears.
Her cruel sneer vanished, replaced by the trembling, fragile mask of a terrified woman.
"Oh, Ethan!" Victoria sobbed, running into his arms. "It was awful!"
Ethan held her, looking utterly confused.
"What happened, Victoria?" he asked, rubbing her back.
"I was just trying to smooth a wrinkle on my scarf near the window," Victoria lied, her voice shaking perfectly.
She pointed an accusing, manicured finger at Sarah.
"Then your crazy maid came charging in and attacked me out of nowhere!" Victoria cried.
Sarah stared in absolute disbelief.
"That's a lie!" Sarah shot back, holding Leo tighter.
"She was holding that steaming iron directly over Leo's face, Mr. Sterling!" Sarah explained urgently.
Ethan looked at Sarah, then down at the iron burning a hole in his antique rug.
"Is this true, Victoria?" Ethan asked, his voice hardening slightly.
"Of course not!" Victoria gasped, acting deeply offended. "I was nowhere near the crib!"
She buried her face in Ethan's chest.
"She dropped the iron when she tackled me," Victoria sniffled. "She's always hated me, Ethan. You know she has."
Ethan ran a hand through his dark hair, visibly torn between his weeping fiancée and his trusted maid.
"Sarah, take Leo to the nursery," Ethan ordered quietly.
"But Mr. Sterling, I saw her—"
"I said take him to the nursery, Sarah," Ethan repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Sarah swallowed the lump in her throat.
May you like
She shot Victoria one last furious glare.
Victoria peeked over Ethan's shoulder, flashing Sarah a cold, triumphant smile.
