The crystal chandelier hanging over the penthouse living room cast a cold light across the New York skyline. Victoria stepped toward the glass railing, her maroon velvet dress rustling against the pristine marble floor. Standing just inches away from the edge was Chloe, her blue satin dress draped softly over her six-month pregnant belly. On the white wall behind them, the framed American flag artwork reflected the tension gathering in the huge room.
Victoria: You really thought you could come into this family and take everything, didn't you?
Chloe: Victoria, please. I just want to talk about the baby's estate fund.
Victoria: That money belongs to the Sterling family, not some gold-digger from upstate.
Chloe: Mark is my husband! He wants his child to be taken care of!
Victoria: Mark is blind, but I see right through you.
Chloe pulled back quickly, her right hand resting over her stomach as she felt the cold glass railing against her spine. Victoria stepped closer, her dark eyes filled with absolute hatred for the young woman standing before her.
Chloe: Don't come any closer. You're scaring me.
Victoria: Good. You should be scared.
With a sudden, violent shove, Victoria slammed both hands into Chloe's soft shoulders with incredible force. Chloe gasped loudly, instantly losing her footing on the slick floor as her body tipped backward over the top step. Her high heels caught the upper edge, sending her falling into open space before crashing hard against the sharp steps. Her body bounced violently down the staircase, breaking a giant porcelain vase at the bottom before coming to a sudden stop on the cold lower marble floor.
Victoria: Oops. Looks like you lost your footing.
Down below, the maid Elena dropped her cloth and fell to her knees beside Chloe's limp body. Tears filled her eyes as she searched for a pulse.
Elena: SHE PUSHED HER! SOMEONE HELP ME!
Mark rushed into the hallway, stopping dead in his tracks as he saw his wife bleeding while Victoria watched coldly from above.
Mark: YOU PUSHED MY WIFE?!
Victoria: Mark, darling, don't be ridiculous! She tripped over her own long dress!
Mark: Shut up! Just shut up!
Mark sprinted across the polished marble floor, sliding to his knees beside his unconscious wife. Her eyes fluttered shut, her face turned pale, and a thin trail of dark blood began soaking through her bright blue dress. Mark reached out with trembling hands, gently lifting her head off the hard ground while screaming for help.
Mark: Chloe! Baby, look at me! Can you hear my voice?!
Chloe: M-Mark... the baby... please save our baby...
Mark: I am right here! Don't move at all!
Elena: Sir, her pulse is weak! We need an ambulance right now!
Mark: Call nine-one-one! Why are you just standing there?! Call them now!
Elena: I already dialed, sir! The paramedics are coming up right now!
Victoria slowly walked down the glass staircase, her heels clicking loudly on every step as if nothing wrong had occurred at all. She smoothed her dress and adjusted her red velvet sleeves, placing a fake smile of concern across her cold face as she approached her son.