The sun shone brightly through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the Whitman family estate.
Every marble tile in the grand entryway reflected the golden morning light.
An impressive American flag hung proudly on the tall white wall near the front foyer.
From the outside, the mansion looked like a place of peace and extreme wealth.
Inside the walls, a cold feeling of fear had taken root over the past year.
Young Leo Whitman sat quietly in his small room on the second floor.
He was only eight years old, but his eyes carried a deep sadness.
His father, Arthur Whitman, was a busy executive who ran a billion-dollar shipping empire.
Arthur spent long hours at the corporate office trying to secure his family's future.
After Leo's real mother passed away, Arthur felt terribly guilty leaving his son alone.
Two years ago, he met Victoria at a high-society charity event in the city.
Victoria was stunning, charming, and possessed an easy smile that fooled everyone around her.
She seemed to care deeply for Arthur and expressed great concern for his young son.
They married in a lavish ceremony that made the front page of every local newspaper.
Arthur signed a prenuptial agreement, but he also updated his trust fund for his son.
He wanted to make sure Leo was completely provided for if anything ever happened.
However, the moment the wedding rings were exchanged, Victoria's warm demeanor vanished completely.
She hated the boy because he stood between her and total control of the inheritance.
If Leo were out of the picture, the family estate would belong entirely to her.
Only one person in the whole household noticed the quiet cruelty Victoria showed the child.
Hannah was the head maid who had worked for the Whitman family for ten years.
She had promised Leo's late mother that she would always watch over the little boy.
Hannah kept a sharp eye on Victoria every single time Arthur left the mansion.
This morning, Arthur had left early for an urgent board meeting across town.
Victoria dressed in an expensive emerald-green diamond evening dress for an afternoon luncheon.
Her high heels clicked loudly against the polished hardwood floor of the upstairs hallway.
Leo stepped out of his bedroom wearing his tailored grey suit for school.
He tried to walk past his stepmother without making any eye contact at all.
Victoria stopped right in front of the grand curved marble staircase.
She blocked the path completely and stared down at the young boy with cold eyes.
Her hand gripped the polished wooden banister as her jaw tightened in anger.
Leo froze in place, his small shoes gripping the slippery marble step beneath him.
He could hear the distant sound of Hannah vacuuming the rugs downstairs in the living room.
He wished with all his heart that his father were home to protect him today.
Victoria took a slow step closer to the terrified child.
A dangerous smile spread across her red lips in the bright daylight.