The polished white marble of the master bathroom in the Dallas mansion usually reflected light like a mirror.
Today, it reflected pure terror.
Seven-year-old Lily backed into the corner, her tiny spine pressed against the cold stone surface.
Her stepmother, Victoria, stood over her with a cold, unyielding glare, holding a glowing red lighter in her hand.
Victoria: Stop moving, you ungrateful little brat!
Lily: Please, Victoria! It hurts! I didn't mean to drop the glass!
Victoria: You need to learn a lesson about respecting my home!
An older maid stood near the doorway, her hands clutching her apron in sheer panic.
Maria: Mrs. Sterling, please! Stop! She's just a child!
Victoria: Shut your mouth, Maria, or you’ll be fired before sunset!
Victoria brought the open flame down onto the young girl's delicate skin.
A piercing scream echoed through the multi-million-dollar estate.
The red lighter dropped from Victoria's fingers, clattering loudly against the immaculate marble floor.
The double white doors slammed open with violence, throwing open the entire room.
Marcus Sterling, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo after rushing home from his corporate charity gala, stood in the doorway.
His face turned pale as he took in the scene before him.
Victoria instantly spun around, her expression shifting from cruelty to total panic, pointing frantically at the child.
Victoria: SHE ATTACKED ME! GET HER OUT OF HERE!
Marcus: What in God's name is happening in here?!
Victoria: She lost her mind, Marcus! She scratched my arm and tried to push me!
Marcus didn't listen to her words; his eyes locked onto his daughter sobbing uncontrollably on the floor.
He rushed past Victoria, his expensive shoes sliding across the slick stone as he dropped to his knees beside Lily.
Marcus: It's okay, baby. Let me see your arm.
Lily: Daddy, it burns! She burned me!
Marcus gently pulled back the child's sleeve, exposing a fresh, red, blistered burn mark right on her soft skin.
The room went completely silent as Marcus staring down at the mark, his worry hardening into intense, vengeful rage.
He stood up abruptly, turning toward Victoria with eyes that looked capable of destruction.
Before she could speak another word, he grabbed her shoulder and shoved her violently back against the marble vanity counter.
Marcus: DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH HER AGAIN!
Victoria gasped, clutching the edge of the granite vanity as her husband towered over her.
Victoria: Marcus, you don't understand! She's lying to you!
Marcus: Shut up! Look at her arm!
Victoria: She burned herself by accident while playing with my lighter!
Maria: That is not true, Mr. Sterling! I saw everything!
Marcus turned his head sharply toward the housekeeper, his breath heavy with fury.