The next afternoon David had to leave early for an important emergency business board meeting.
Victoria watched his black luxury sedan pull down the long paved driveway with delight.
She turned around with a cold smirk spread across her heavily painted face.
Eleanor stood nearby near the tall glass double doors holding a wooden cane.
Victoria: Now that my rich husband is gone we can fix her attitude.
Eleanor: Call that noisy brat down to the main garden right now.
Lily was sitting upstairs in her colorful bedroom drawing pictures of her late mother.
Victoria slammed the bedroom door open with a loud booming bang that startled her.
She grabbed Lily roughly by her small arm and pulled her off the floor.
Victoria: You are going to clean the muddy flowerbeds outside right now!
Lily: But daddy told me I could paint pictures in my room!
Victoria: I do not care what your foolish father told you to do!
Lily: You are hurting my arm please let me go Victoria!
Victoria: You will call me mom or face severe punishment today child!
The cruel woman dragged the sobbing young girl down the grand marble staircase quickly.
Maria the maid was sweeping the front entryway when she saw the sudden commotion.
Her heart sank into her chest as she witnessed Victoria's harsh cruel actions.
Maria: Please ma'am she is just a little child let her go!
Eleanor: Mind your own business and go clean the back kitchen instantly!
Victoria: Fire this nosey maid if she speaks another word today mother!
Maria stepped back reluctantly but kept her worried eyes glued to the double doors.
She knew she needed to find a way to save the helpless child.
Victoria hauled Lily out into the center of the muddy rose flower gardens.
Recent spring rains had turned the dark garden dirt into deep slippery sticky mud.
Victoria pointed toward a freshly dug deep planting hole near the garden edge.
Victoria: Get down in that messy dirt hole right now you spoiled brat!
Lily: No please it is cold and dirty down in that hole!
Eleanor: Force her down into the hole until she learns her lesson!
Victoria pushed the screaming young child down into the deep muddy garden pit.
Lily's clean white dress was instantly ruined by the thick wet cold mud.
She sobbed loudly while trying desperately to climb back up the slick wall.
Victoria grabbed a full plastic garden bucket overflowing with heavy dark wet mud.
Victoria: Say the words right now or stay buried in this hole!
Lily: Daddy help me please come home right now daddy!