Elena adjusted the sleeves of her emerald green dress as she walked into the estate.
The air inside the grand dining room felt cold despite the crackling fireplace.
Victoria sat at the head of the long oak table looking cold and distant.
Her navy blue suit jacket was pressed without a single wrinkle on it.
A small silver pin gleamed bright on her dark lapel.
Elena took her seat quietly near the middle of the long table.
She looked over at her husband Mark for some small sign of comfort.
Mark kept his eyes glued straight down at his phone screen.
He refused to make eye contact with his young wife.
The family had gathered to discuss the trust fund distribution for the year.
Victoria held complete legal control over every single dollar in the family estate.
She loved to remind everyone about her total financial control.
A heavy wooden platter was placed right in front of Victoria.
It held nothing except dry bones left over from the afternoon roast.
Victoria smiled slowly as she looked across the polished wooden table.
She gripped the edge of the heavy platter with both hands.
With a smooth shove, she pushed the bones toward Elena's plate.
The wood scraped loudly against the shiny tabletop surface.
Elena stared at the pile of dry bare bones sitting before her.
Her heart sank down straight into her stomach instantly.
She felt her face burning up with intense shame and anger.
The rest of the family sat around the room in absolute silence.
Nobody spoke up to defend the quiet young woman.
Mark just cleared his throat and looked away toward the window.
Victoria leaned back in her tall wooden chair with deep pride.
She crossed her hands neatly over her dark lapel pin.
The silence in the grand dining hall grew heavier by the second.
Elena felt tears prickling right at the back of her eyes.
She refused to give Victoria the joy of seeing her cry.
She took a deep breath to calm her rising nerves down.
The night was only just beginning for this divided household.