The scream echoed down the grand hallway of the Dallas mansion, piercing the quiet morning.
Inside the white marble bathroom, eight-year-old Aurora clutched her arm, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
Aurora: AHH! IT HURTS!
Vanessa: Stand still and stop yelling! You brought this on yourself!
Vanessa, wearing an expensive emerald green satin robe, gripped the young girl's forearm tightly, pointing at a fresh red burn mark on the skin.
In the corner of the bathroom, Beatrice, the family's elderly African American nanny, stood frozen with a cold washcloth in her trembling hands.
Beatrice: Miss Vanessa, please let go of her! She is just a little child!
Vanessa: Mind your place, Beatrice! I am going to be the mistress of this house next month!
Heavy, rapid footsteps rushed down the corridor, and the heavy white wooden door burst open with a loud slam.
Daniel stood in the doorway, his brown suit coat slightly open, his face flushed with panic and sudden fury.
Daniel: WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!
Vanessa turned toward him instantly, her expression shifting from cold spite to wide-eyed helplessness in a fraction of a second.
She pointed an accusing finger straight at the sobbing little girl.
Vanessa: DANIEL! THANK GOD! THIS GIRL JUST WENT CRAZY AND ATTACKED ME!
Aurora: Daddy, no! It hurts so bad!
Vanessa: She tried to throw a hot curling iron at my face, Daniel! I had to grab her arm to protect myself!
Daniel didn't answer her. He dropped his leather briefcase onto the marble tile and dropped down to his knees beside his crying daughter.
He gently took Aurora's hand, examining the angry red blister forming near her elbow.
Daniel: AURORA, ARE YOU OKAY?!
Aurora: Daddy, I didn't touch the iron! She burned me on purpose because I spilled juice!
Vanessa: She is lying, Daniel! You know how stubborn she gets!
Daniel slowly raised his head, his eyes locking onto Vanessa with an icy, terrifying glare that made her voice freeze in her throat.
Daniel: EXPLAIN THIS TO ME RIGHT NOW!
Vanessa gasped softly, taking a quick step backward as the air in the bathroom turned cold, realizing her lies were about to shatter.