Chapter 3 - The Airborne Catch
Without thinking, Victoria grabbed Lily by her small upper arms.
She lifted the three-year-old completely off the floor.
"You arrogant little brat," Victoria hissed.
Instead of setting her down, Victoria stepped back toward the center of the foyer and shoved the child violently away.
Lily was hurled through the air, her yellow dress billowing as her small body sailed across the slick marble floor toward the sharp edge of a low glass table.
A terrified scream tore from the child's throat.
At that exact moment, the service doors leading from the kitchen swung open.
Elena—the live-in maid—stepped into the foyer carrying a tray of polished glassware.
She took one look at the airborne toddler and dropped the silver tray.
CRASH.
Glass shattered against the tile, but Elena didn't hesitate for a fraction of a second.
She threw her body forward, sliding across the polished black marble on her knees with her arms extended wide.
"Put her down this instant! What are you doing?!" Elena screamed.
A split second before Lily’s head could strike the sharp glass table, Elena caught the toddler against her chest.
She curled her torso around the child, absorbing the heavy momentum against her own ribs as they skidded across the stone together.
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"I've got you! It's okay, sweetheart!" Elena gasped, her breath ragged.
Lily buried her face in Elena’s blue uniform, weeping hysterically.
