The bright Texas sun poured through the high arching windows of the Dallas estate, casting a cold glare across the pristine white marble corridor.
Victoria: "Drink it!"
Clara: "No... please... stop..."
Victoria: "You are going to swallow every single drop! Do you hear me?"
Maria: "Stop! She didn't do anything wrong!"
Victoria: "Shut your mouth, Maria! Keep your hands on that wheelchair and don't you dare move!"
Clara gasped for air as the sharp, acidic liquid was forced past her lips, spilling over her chin and soaking the front of her dress.
Clara: "I can't... the baby... please..."
Victoria: "Don't play the victim with me! You thought you could come into this family and take what belongs to us?"
Maria: "Mrs. Vance, please! She's in pain! Look at her face!"
Victoria: "Push her forward! Push it, I said!"
Maria: "No, Mrs. Vance! I won't let you hurt her anymore!"
With a desperate push, Maria tried to steer the wheelchair away, but the abrupt shift sent Clara tumbling hard onto the marble floor.
White document pages flew into the air, fluttering down around her trembling body like snow.
Clara: "Ah... my stomach... help me..."
Victoria: "Get up! Stop pretending!"
Maria: "Oh Lord... Clara! Clara, answer me!"
Victoria stood tall over the pregnant woman, her black dress rigid, her face devoid of any mercy as tears mixed with orange juice on Clara's bruised cheek.
Victoria: "You brought this on yourself. You think a gold digger like you can ruin the Vance name?"
Clara: "I... I loved him... I never wanted your money..."
Victoria: "Liars always say that right before they lose everything."
The heavy mahogany front doors clicked open, echoing loudly through the massive foyer.
Heavy, measured footsteps sounded on the polished tile.
Julian: "Mother?"
Victoria froze, the pitcher shaking in her hands as her face turned completely ghost white.
Julian stood in the doorway holding his leather briefcase, his eyes wide with absolute horror as he looked at his wife lying helpless on the floor.