The bright sun shone brightly over the huge backyard patio of the suburban mansion.
Dozens of rich guests walked around the private pool holding cold drinks and laughing soft laughs.
Ten-year-old Lily stood near the edge of the clear blue water wearing her favorite summer dress.
Her cruel stepmother Victoria walked up behind her with a fake smile pinned on her face.
Nobody in the crowd noticed the small pair of metal scissors tucked secretly into Victoria's sleek purse.
Victoria leaned down close to the young girl's head while pretending to fix her pretty brown hair.
Victoria: Stand still and look happy for our rich guests today.
Lily: You are pulling my hair too hard, Victoria.
Victoria leaned closer and used the scissors to cut off a thick lock of hair secretly.
Lily: Please stop hurting me!
Before anyone could react, Victoria placed her palm against Lily's back and shoved her hard into the deep pool.
A massive splash echoed across the concrete patio as the helpless child sank below the blue surface.
The nearby guests gasped loudly in absolute shock at the sudden disturbance in the quiet water.
Victoria immediately crouched down at the poolside edge holding the cold metal scissors firmly in her hand.
She sneered downward at the struggling girl with pure anger burning deep inside her dark eyes.
Victoria: You think you're prettier than me?
Lily thrashed her small arms around frantically while trying to gulp down fresh air above the pool surface.
Victoria: Neither you nor your dead mother will ever outshine me in this rich house.
The cold words cut deeper than the sharp scissors she held tightly against her expensive silk dress.
Victoria glanced around quickly to make sure her lies would sound completely real to the nearby crowds.
She adjusted her fake terrified face just as footsteps echoed across the stone patio floor from afar.