The bright white luxury kitchen of the Sterling estate was dead silent except for the painful sound of bitter weeping. Polished white marble tile stretched across the floor, reflecting the warm overhead lights. On the far wall, a large American flag hung framed near the marble archway.
Kneeling beside the island counter were two young girls, Lily and Mia, clutching their red, swollen cheeks. They wore matching white maid uniforms that were far too big for their small frames. Tears ran down their pale faces, dripping onto the clean tile.
Footsteps echoed sharply down the hallway. Carter Sterling, returning early from a government conference, stepped through the double doors. He wore a dark navy designer suit with a small American flag patch pinned over his chest.
He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening in pure horror as he saw the young girls crying on the floor.
Carter: What happened?! Who did this to you?!
Lily: Daddy! You came back!
Mia: Daddy, it hurts so bad!
Carter sprinted across the white marble floor, dropping to his knees beside his young daughters. He reached out with shaking hands, gently touching the dark red finger marks stamped across Lily's soft cheek.
Carter: Who put these uniforms on you? Who laid their hands on my babies?
Lily pointed a trembling finger off-camera toward the marble archway near the walk-in pantry.
Lily: She slapped us both over and over and tried to throw us out!
Carter turned his head slowly. Standing beside the marble island was Victoria, his fiancée of six months, wearing an elegant red silk dress. She raised her right hand, casually inspecting her freshly manicured fingernails with a cold smirk.
Victoria: Oh, don't be so dramatic, Carter. I was simply maintaining discipline in your home while you were away.
Carter: Discipline? You forced my seven-year-old twin daughters into servant clothes and beat their faces?!
Victoria blew on her red fingernails and let out a light, snarky laugh, putting on an exaggerated, theatrical persona.
Victoria: They deserved every bit of it, darling! They're untrustworthy thieves!
Carter's heart turned to ice. He stood up slowly from the marble floor, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white, setting off a storm that would shatter the Sterling empire forever.