Elena screamed in absolute horror as the stroller tipped forward, its front wheels flying into thin air over the steep steps. The stroller began clattering loudly down the grand marble staircase, picking up dangerous speed with every single bounce. Inside the carriage, tiny baby Clara woke up instantly and began crying out in sheer terror. Victoria stood at the top of the landing, watching the falling stroller with a completely cold, still expression on her face, making no move to reach out her hand or shout for help.
Without thinking about her own personal safety for even a single second, Elena dropped her cleaning cloth and ran forward toward the base of the stairs. She sprinted up the lower five steps, reaching her bare arms out toward the heavy stroller as it bounced wildly down the hard stone. Her foot caught the sharp edge of a marble step, causing her knee to twist violently as her body tumbled hard onto the cold floor. Elena fell down the final four steps, her body slamming against the polished marble floor with a heavy, painful thump that knocked the wind out of her lungs.
Gasped for air, Elena ignored the burning fire shooting through her shoulder and twisted her body flat across the slick floor. She threw her upper torso forward right into the path of the speeding carriage, catching the silver front frame with both of her shaking hands just inches before it crashed into the thick stone pillar. The stroller slammed hard against Elena's chest and forearms, coming to a full and sudden stop right beside her fallen body. The heavy metal handle hit her shoulder, but Elena held on tight, refusing to let the stroller tip over sideways onto the hard marble.
Elena lay sprawled across the cold, polished floor right next to the carriage, breathing in rapid, breathless gasps as tears filled her dark eyes. She quickly pulled herself up onto her knees, her hands trembling violently as she reached inside the pink padded interior to check on the small child. Baby Clara was crying loudly, her tiny fists waving in the air, but the safety harness had held her securely in place inside the soft seat cushion. Elena inspected the baby's small head, arms, and legs with gentle fingers, weeping with deep emotional relief when she saw no dark bruises or broken bones anywhere on the small infant.
Elena: I saved her! Oh thank God, I saved her!
Elena pulled the crying baby close against her neck, stroking her soft fine hair while lying bruised on the grand entrance floor. Above her, the clicking sound of fast high heels echoed loudly across the open foyer as Victoria rushed down the staircase. Victoria's eyes were wide, and her golden dress swished around her legs as she put on a dramatic expression of wild shock and panic. At that exact moment, the heavy double doors of the private home office clicked open, and Adrian Vance walked quickly out into the main hall holding a stack of legal papers in his hand.
Victoria: Adrian! Oh my goodness, Adrian, come quick! Help us!
Victoria shouted hysterically, pointing her finger right at Elena while wiping fake tears from her cheeks. Adrian dropped his white legal papers onto the floor and ran straight toward the bottom of the grand stairs, his face turning pale with immediate fear when he heard his baby daughter sobbing loudly. Victoria ran up to her husband, grabbing his blue shirt sleeve with dramatic, shaking hands as she pointed down at the bruised house maid resting on the marble floor.
Victoria: She pushed my baby! The maid pushed Clara down the stairs!