The marble bathroom inside the luxury Dallas mansion smelled of expensive floral soap and burning fuel.
Chloe: Hold still, you ungrateful little brat!
Maya: AHH! DADDY, HELP ME!
Seven-year-old Maya squeezed her eyes shut as her stepmother, Chloe, stood over her in a beige silk robe, holding a glowing lighter right next to the little girl's arm.
Sarah: Mrs. Vance, please! Put that away! You're going to hurt her!
Chloe: Shut up, Sarah! Mind your own business and get out of my way!
The metallic lighter clattered against the white marble floor, rolling toward the wall near a framed American flag decor.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the grand hallway outside as the white double doors slammed open with a loud bang.
Mark: What the hell is going on in here?!
Mark stood in the doorway in his black tuxedo, his hair disheveled and his face pale with sudden panic.
Chloe: Mark! Thank goodness you're here! She tried to attack me with that lighter!
Chloe: Get her out of here now before she sets the whole mansion on fire!
Sarah: That is a complete lie, Mr. Vance! She was threatening her!
Chloe: Keep your mouth shut, maid!
Mark ignored his wife completely and rushed across the bathroom floor, dropping to his knees beside his daughter.
Mark: IT'S OKAY, SWEETHEART! LET ME SEE YOUR ARM!
Maya: It hurts, Daddy! She held the fire right against my skin!
Mark gently lifted Maya's small wrist. Right on the tender skin of her forearm was a bright red, blistering burn mark.
A cold, terrifying silence fell over the room as Mark stared at his daughter's arm. His hands trembled, his chest rising and falling in rapid breaths.
Slowly, Mark stood up. His distress transformed into pure, explosive fury as his jaw set tight and his eyes locked onto Chloe.
He lunged forward, stepping right into Chloe's space until he was towering over her.
Mark: DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH MY DAUGHTER AGAIN!
Chloe backed away against the vanity, but Mark was done taking excuses, and the secret behind her cruel act was about to tear the family apart.