The morning sun lit up the glass dome above the grand mansion foyer.
Mark stood near the staircase while checking his schedule for the afternoon boardroom meeting.
He was a successful executive who built a strong career in commercial real estate.
His young wife Sarah walked slowly down the marble steps while holding her swollen stomach.
She was six months pregnant with their first child and radiated peaceful joy every single day.
They had recently moved into the family estate to help settle a complex inheritance trust fund.
Mark loved his wife deeply and promised to protect her from every possible danger.
However, dark tension had been growing inside the house ever since his sister Amanda moved back.
Amanda had recently gone through a bitter divorce lawyer process that left her feeling deeply bitter.
She believed that the family mansion and the trust fund belonged entirely to her.
Amanda: Must you walk so slowly every single morning, Sarah?
Sarah: I am just taking my time so I do not trip on these slippery marble stairs.
Amanda: You act like you own this entire house now.
Mark stepped between them before the argument could grow any louder.
Mark: Amanda, that is enough tone for one morning.
Amanda: You always take her side over your own blood sister, Mark!
Mark: Sarah is my wife and she is carrying my child.
Amanda: And I am the one who was left with nothing after my lawsuit!
Amanda crossed her arms and glared at Sarah with pure resentment.
Sarah took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice gentle and calm.
Sarah: We want you to feel welcome here while you sort out your legal settlement, Amanda.
Amanda: I do not need your fake pity, Sarah!
Amanda turned around on her high heels and stormed up toward the upper floor hallway.
Mark took his wife by the hand and felt her trembling fingers.
Mark: Do not let her get under your skin, sweetie.
Sarah: She looks at my belly with so much anger, Mark.
Mark: I will speak to our estate lawyer today about finding her a separate apartment downtown.
Sarah nodded slowly, but a dark feeling of fear remained inside her heart.
She knew that Amanda's jealousy was growing worse with every passing afternoon.