The freezing water hit four-year-old Lily all at once, taking her breath away in a sudden, painful gasp. Ice cubes bounced off her tiny shoulders, clattering against the metal chair before rolling across the polished white marble floor of the Palm Beach mansion. Her white summer dress was instantly soaked, sticking to her trembling skin as the frigid water dripped down her arms.
Lily: "Please stop, mommy! Please stop! It's too cold!"
Victoria: "I told you to sit still while I fixed your hair. You didn't listen to me, so now you suffer the consequences."
Lily: "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I won't move again, I promise!"
Victoria tossed the empty metal bucket onto a nearby side table with a loud, ringing clatter. She smoothed her elegant beige outfit, her dark eyes completely cold and devoid of remorse as she stood sternly over the shivering little girl.
Victoria: "You'll stay cold until you learn how to obey me, you ungrateful little brat."
Lily: "It hurts! My cheek hurts!"
A sharp piece of flying ice had left a thin red scratch on Lily's pale cheek, mixing with the tears streaming down her wet face. She shuddered violently, her tiny lips turning blue as she tried to wrap her wet arms around herself for warmth.
Victoria: "A tiny scratch won't kill you. You're just dramatic like your mother was. Now shut up before I get another bucket from the freezer."
Lily: "Daddy... I want my daddy..."
Victoria: "Your daddy is in meetings all day. He doesn't have time for your pathetic crying."
Victoria turned her back on the sobbing child and walked over to the velvet sofa, completely unbothered by the little girl's agony. But before she could sit down, the massive mahogany double doors of the foyer slammed open with a deafening crash. Heavy, hurried footsteps echoed violently off the tall marble walls as a man in a charcoal grey suit rushed into the house.
Julian: "LILY!"
Julian Sterling sprinted across the wide foyer, his heart hammering against his ribs in sheer horror as he saw his shivering daughter soaked in ice water. He didn't even look at Victoria as he dropped heavily to his knees beside the chair.
Julian: "Oh God, Lily! Sweetheart, what happened?!"
Lily: "Daddy! It's so cold, Daddy!"
Julian: "I've got you, baby! I'm right here!"
Julian grabbed the heavy bucket of leftover ice off the table and furiously dumped it across the floor, sending ice cubes scattering loudly in every direction. He wrapped his warm wool suit jacket around her tiny, shivering frame and lifted her tightly into his arms. As the little girl cried hysterically against his shoulder, Julian turned his head, his eyes burning with pure, unbridled fury as he stared down Victoria. He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low growl that shook the entire room.
Julian: "Watch me."