The bright chandeliers inside the vast mansion shone brightly on the spotless floors.
Victoria stood near the grand staircase with her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Her silk gold dress caught the light with every single small move she made.
She looked down at the older woman who was kneeling on the cold tiles.
Elena wiped the marble with an old cloth because her hands were shaking badly.
Her knees ached terribly from spending hours on the hard floor without resting once.
Victoria: Clean it properly, old lady!
Elena wiped her forehead with her wet sleeve and let out a quiet sigh.
She did not want to make any trouble in her son's big household.
She had sacrificed her entire life so that Julian could go to college.
Now he was a famous lawyer with a giant real estate estate business.
Yet his wife treated his elderly mother like an unpaid servant every day.
Elena: I am going as fast as I can, Victoria.
Victoria: Your best is simply not good enough for my home.
Victoria tilted her glass of sweet orange juice with a dark, mocking smile.
She poured the sticky liquid directly over the poor woman's gray hair.
Victoria: Oops, looks like you missed a spot!
Elena lowered her head as the juice trickled slowly down her pale cheeks.
Tears mixed with the sweet drink as she tried hard not to sob.
She continued to scrub the stain because she loved her son so deeply.
She knew Julian worked very long hours at his corporate law firm nearby.
She did not want to burden his mind with arguments inside the house.
Victoria laughed softly while watching the older woman struggle on the floor.
She felt powerful whenever she made someone else feel small and weak.
Victoria: Make sure you clean the hallway after this mess too.
Elena: Yes, Victoria, I will do it right away.
The front doors suddenly burst open with a loud and echoing crash.
Heavy footsteps clicked rapidly across the high foyer toward the living room area.
Julian stepped into the grand hall holding his leather briefcase in hand.
His face turned dark as his eyes fell upon his soaked mother.
His heart shattered into pieces at the painful sight before his eyes.
He dropped his expensive leather bag onto the clean floor without caring.
Julian: What is the meaning of this sight right now?
Victoria gasped loudly and quickly tried to hide her empty glass cup.
She stepped back with a fake smile on her bright red lips.
Victoria: Julian, darling, you came home early from work today!
Julian: Answer my question before I lose my sanity right here!
Julian stormed across the massive hall with quick and furious strides forward.
His hands were clenched tightly into shaking fists by his dark suit.
He could not believe the cruel scene playing out in his home.
His own mother was wiping the floor like a total stranger here.
Victoria backed away until her heels pressed against the wooden table behind.
Victoria: She dropped her glass and was just cleaning her mess!
Elena: Julian, please do not start an argument over this now.
Julian ignored his wife's excuses and stepped between the two women immediately.
His dark eyes flamed with pure anger toward his arrogant wealthy wife.
He had tolerated her proud attitude for far too many long months.
Now she had crossed a line that could never be forgiven again.