Victoria raised her hand in anger to slap the music papers away again.
Instead of backing down in fear, young Lily stood her ground on the bench.
She grabbed Victoria's wrist firmly and pushed the woman's hand back with surprising force.
Victoria stumbled backward on her high heels and lost her balance against the table.
Her emerald gown caught on the edge of a heavy antique chair nearby.
Victoria gasped in sheer humiliation as she tried to regain her shaky balance instantly.
Victoria: How dare you lay a hand on me, you rude little monster!
Lily: You destroyed my mother's song, and I will not take your abuse!
Martha quickly stepped between the furious woman and the brave young girl immediately.
Martha: Mrs. Sterling, please calm down before someone gets hurt in here!
Victoria: Get out of my way, Martha, before I fire you right now!
Victoria tried to push past Martha to grab Lily's shoulder once again violently.
Lily reached down instantly and picked up the torn pieces of her mother's music.
She looked straight at Victoria with cold determination burning brightly in her eyes.
Lily: Touch me again and I will make you pay for everything!
Victoria froze in place because she had never seen such fierce strength before.
The little girl's voice was low, clear, and completely free of any fear.
Victoria cradled her bruised wrist while gasping loudly from the unexpected physical resistance.
She could not believe that a child had stood up to her power.
Victoria: You will regret this day for the rest of your miserable life!
Lily: My father will hear every detail about what you did today.
Victoria laughed bitterly while smoothing down the wrinkled silk of her expensive dress.
Victoria: Your father listens to me, not a foolish child like you!
Martha took Lily by the hand and gently pulled her away toward the door.
Martha: Come along, Lily, let us fix these pages in the kitchen.
Lily followed Martha slowly, but she never took her eyes off her stepmother.
Victoria stood near the American flag, her face red with embarrassment and anger.
The grand music hall felt entirely different after that fierce and decisive confrontation.
Lily realized that her stepmother was actually weak beneath all her arrogant threats.
The young girl promised herself that she would fight to protect her mother's legacy.
She held the torn music sheets tightly against her heart as they walked out.
Behind them, Victoria slammed her hand down on the wooden table in fury.
She knew that controlling this house would be much harder than she thought.