The cold ice water hit Maya's face with a violent splash, soaking the crisp collar of her black-and-white maid uniform.
She gasped, her vision blurring as water dripped down her eyelashes and pooled around her collarbone.
Clara: WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YOU CARELESS LITTLE SERVANT!
Clara stood in the grand hallway of the Dallas mansion, her white lace wedding gown fanning out across the polished marble floor.
Maya: I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO!
Clara: You ruined the hem of my dress! Do you have any idea how much this designer gown costs?!
Maya dropped to her knees, trembling as she reached into her apron pocket to pull out a dry towel.
As she pulled the cloth out, a small paper item slipped from her pocket and fluttered down onto the slick floor.
A loud click echoed through the hall as Clara took a step forward, her glittering silver high-heeled shoe stopping right beside the object.
It was an old, faded vintage Polaroid photograph.
Clara rustled her heavy lace train, slowly bending down to scoop the small photo off the marble floor.
Her hands began to shake as she looked at the image—two young girls smiling in a sunlit backyard, one wearing a party dress and the other a simple cotton frock.
Clara: WHO GAVE YOU THIS?!
Maya: MY LITTLE SISTER... BEFORE THEY TOOK YOU... YOU WERE GONE!
Clara's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening behind her delicate bridal veil as tears welled up in her eyes.
An older woman in a sharp white dress hurried down the hallway, her heels clicking aggressively against the tile as her face twisted with rage.
Evelyn: Clara, get away from that trash! The ceremony starts in ten minutes!
Clara: EMMA!
Clara ignored the older woman, dropping her bouquet and wrapping her arms tightly around the sobbing maid, shielding her completely.
Clara: THIS IS MY SISTER! TOUCH HER AGAIN AND THIS WEDDING BECOMES YOUR TRIAL!
Evelyn froze in her tracks, her smug smile instantly vanishing into total panic. What deep secret was about to ruin this wedding?