By late afternoon, dark grey storm clouds began rolling across the sky above Dallas. Renata returned home early from her spa appointment, looking stressed and visibly annoyed. She stormed through the front entrance, throwing her designer purse onto the hallway table without saying a word to the house staff. She marched straight upstairs toward the primary master bathroom, demanding that Lily follow her inside for a quick bath before dinner. Hannah felt an immediate wave of alarm wash over her. She decided to stay close by the hallway doors, listening intently to every sound coming from inside the luxury room.
Inside the bright, white marble bathroom, Renata stood near the large soaking tub. High-key natural daylight flooded through the high windows, reflecting off the polished marble walls and a framed American flag artwork hanging near the corner. Renata shed her coat and pulled on a vibrant green silk robe. Her face looked hard and unyielding as she plugged a heavy professional hair dryer into the wall outlet. Lily sat small and motionless on a low wooden stool near the counter, clutching her stuffed bear with white knuckles.
Renata: DON'T MOVE! Sit straight and stop squirming like a little brat!
Lily: I want my daddy! I do not want to be in here with you!
Renata: Your daddy is not here to save you now! You will sit still and listen!
Lily: You are mean! You took my mommy away from us!
Renata: Keep your mouth shut if you know what is good for you, girl!
Renata lifted the heavy hair dryer high in the air, her expression filled with pure fury. She stepped threateningly close to the terrified child, her eyes flashing with cold anger. Outside in the hallway, Hannah heard the harsh yelling and did not hesitate for a single second. She threw open the heavy bathroom door and rushed into the room, her heart racing with adrenaline as she put herself directly between the cruel stepmother and the helpless little girl.
Hannah: STAY AWAY FROM HER! Do not you dare touch another hair on her head!
Renata: Get out of here, you pathetic maid! This is none of your business!
Hannah: CALL THE POLICE! Someone help us right now! She is out of control!
Renata: You have lost your mind! I will have you fired and thrown in jail!
Hannah lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Lily's small shoulders and pulling her back away from the edge of the deep bathtub. In the sudden scuffle, Renata slipped on a wet patch of water near the tile floor, stumbling backward against the edge of the marble counter. She dropped the heavy hair dryer, which crashed loudly onto the floor. But instead of showing fear, Renata's face instantly shifted into a villainous smirk. She saw an opportunity to turn the situation to her advantage before anyone else arrived.
Renata deliberately reached up and scratched her own face with her long polished fingernails, creating a red mark across her cheek. She pulled her green silk robe open to look disheveled and threw herself down against the cold white tiles. Hannah watched in sheer disbelief as the evil woman began fake-crying, letting out loud theatrical wails of distress to make herself look like the innocent victim of an unprovoked attack.