Lily tried to pull her small hand away from Vanessa's tight grip.
Lily: Please let go, you are hurting my arm!
Vanessa: Keep quiet right now or things will get much worse for you!
Vanessa leaned down until her face was inches away from Lily's ear.
Vanessa: You are just a spoiled little brat who ruins everything nice!
Lily: My daddy told me I could have some cake...
Vanessa: Your daddy is not here right now to protect you, little girl.
Vanessa pointed a sharp finger at Lily's trembling face.
Vanessa: Once I marry your father, you will be sent away to a strict boarding school far away.
Lily: No, Daddy would never send me away from home!
Vanessa: He will do whatever I tell him to do because he loves me, not you.
Lily squeezed her eyes shut as tears rolled down her warm cheeks.
She had suspected for weeks that Vanessa did not really like her.
Vanessa always spoke softly when Richard was nearby, but her voice turned cold as ice when they were alone.
She would scold Lily for making the smallest noises while playing with her toys.
She even pushed Lily's drawings off the kitchen counter into the trash bin when Richard was not looking.
Lily was too scared to say anything because she did not want to make her father sad.
She knew how lonely her father had been since her mother passed away.
Richard seemed so happy whenever he talked about his future with Vanessa.
So Lily had kept quiet and tried her best to stay out of Vanessa's way.
But now, surrounded by hundreds of strangers in the ballroom, Lily felt entirely helpless.
Vanessa grabbed a napkin and wiped her dress hastily, glaring at the weeping girl.
Vanessa: Go stand in the hallway until I tell you that you can come back inside!
Lily: But it is dark out there, Vanessa...
Vanessa: I do not care, move your feet right now before I get really mad!
Vanessa gave Lily a heavy push toward the side exit door of the hall.
Lily stumbled backward and almost tripped over her dress again.
She looked around the room, hoping her father would appear from the crowd.