The water ran loud and fast from the brass kitchen faucet, splashing across piles of crystal bowls and greasy dinner plates.
Victoria's manicured hand gripped the back of six-year-old Emma's neck, forcing her face down toward the soapy, overflowing basin.
Victoria: Wash every single dish, you useless brat! You stop only when I tell you to stop!
Emma: Please, Victoria! The water is burning hot! My hands hurt so bad!
Victoria: I don't care about your hands! You scrub until your fingers bleed!
Emma choked as soapy spray hit her nose and mouth, her tiny sneakers kicking wildly against the base of the white kitchen cabinets.
Victoria: Your dead mother isn't here to spoil you anymore! You earn your food in this house!
Emma: Daddy! Daddy, please come home!
Heavy leather dress shoes slammed against the hardwood entryway floor as the front door banged open.
Julian Sterling charged into the kitchen in his dark Italian wool suit, his briefcase hitting the floor with a hollow thud.
He grabbed Victoria's arm and ripped her away from the counter, pulling his soaked, screaming daughter into his chest.
Julian: Get away from my daughter! Emma, look at me, daddy's here!
Emma clutched his wet lapels, her small frame shaking violently as she pointed a trembling finger at the woman in the sparkly maroon dress.
Emma: Daddy, she forced me to wash dishes and tried to drown my head in the sink!
Julian stood up slowly, his teeth grinding together as his eyes turned pitch-black with pure rage.
Victoria: Julian, she's exaggerating! She refused to clean up her mess!
Julian's open palm cracked across Victoria's face with a deafening pop, sending her body flying sideways onto the cold marble floor.
Julian: How dare you! You're ruined forever!
Victoria clutched her burning red cheek on the floor, gasping for breath as Julian pulled his sobbing child tight.
Julian: Pack your bags and get out of my house now!
Victoria looked up with pure venom in her eyes, unaware that Julian had just returned with the proof that would destroy her family forever.