The bright morning sun shone through the tall front windows of the grand Dallas mansion.
Brenda stood near the top of the wide wooden staircase while holding a set of legal papers.
Her mother in law Evelyn walked down the steps with slow and careful steps.
The two women had been arguing about the family real estate business for over an hour.
Evelyn stopped on the middle step to look back up at Brenda with a cold expression.
She demanded that Brenda hand over the keys to the main office downtown right away.
Brenda refused to give up her authority over the estate papers she held in her hand.
Evelyn turned around quickly to stress her words with a strong gesture of her hand.
Her heel caught the smooth edge of the wooden step beneath her right foot.
Evelyn lost her balance suddenly and gasped loud as she tumbled backward down the flight.
Brenda reached out her hand fast but she could not catch the elderly woman in time.
Evelyn hit the bottom of the stairs hard and lay still on the white marble floor.
Brenda gasped in horror while clutching her throat with both of her shaking hands.
The front double doors flew open wide with a heavy boom that echoed through the home.
Mark rushed into the foyer after hearing the loud crash from the front driveway outside.
He ran across the marble floor toward his mother with a face full of complete terror.
Mark fell to his knees beside Evelyn and checked her pulse with a trembling finger.
He looked up at Brenda with deep anger burning inside his eyes.
Mark: What have you done to my mother?!
Brenda backed away from the edge of the landing with tears filling her eyes.
Brenda: I didn't mean for this to happen! It was a total accident!
Mark stood up fast and pointed his finger directly at Brenda's trembling face.
Mark: Stop lying! I saw the whole thing with my own eyes!
He stormed up the steps to confront her about the long history of their bitter fight.