The bright summer sun flooded through the tall arched windows of the grand Vance mansion.
Golden light bounced off the polished white marble floors inside the wide entrance hallway.
A massive American flag hung proudly on the high oak wall near the front entrance.
Seven year old Leo stood near the grand staircase holding his small red toy car.
His little fingers squeezed the plastic wheels as he looked up at the huge ceiling.
The house was usually quiet during the hot afternoon hours when his father worked late.
Leo missed his mother who had passed away three years ago after a long sickness.
His father Arthur Vance had worked hard to keep their family company strong and growing.
Arthur brought home expensive toys but he was often stuck in high level business meetings.
Three months ago Arthur introduced his new fiancee Victoria to the quiet family estate.
Victoria wore stunning designer clothes and spoke in a sharp confident voice to everyone around.
She smiled at Arthur whenever he was watching her inside the formal dining room.
But her warm expression vanished the second Arthur walked out of the front door.
Victoria hated the mess that a young child brought into the pristine luxury home.
She wanted the entire estate for herself and planned to alter Arthur's final will.
The heavy front door rattled as high heels clicked loudly across the polished marble floor.
Victoria walked into the foyer wearing a bright emerald green silk dress that rustled loudly.
She glared down at little Leo sitting on the clean floor with his small toy.
Victoria: Why are you leaving trash on my spotless marble floor today?
Leo looked up with big scared eyes and pulled his small legs in tight.
Leo: It is just my toy car Victoria.
Victoria: I told you never to speak unless I ask you a direct question!
She snatched the red toy car right out of his tiny trembling hands instantly.
Leo: Please give it back to me!
Victoria: You need to learn your place in this giant house before sunset!
She threw the toy car across the hall where it cracked against the baseboard.
Tears welled up in Leo's eyes as he stared at his broken favorite plastic car.
He scrambled to his feet and tried to back away toward the hallway door.
Victoria took two fast angry steps forward and grabbed the sleeve of his shirt.
Victoria: You are coming with me to the carriage house out back right now!
Leo: No please I want my daddy!
Victoria: Shut up and move your feet right now!
She dragged the terrified child across the shiny floor toward the heavy back entrance.
Leo cried out loud as his small shoes slid along the slick white marble surface.
Victoria held his arm tightly with a cold sharp grip that left red marks.
Victoria: You have no real place in this house anymore you little brat!
Her loud harsh voice echoed off the high ceiling and bounced down the hallway.
Leo tried to pull his arm free but he was far too small to break away.
He wept openly as his little heart pounded wildly inside his chest from total fear.
The emerald green dress swished violently with every fast stride Victoria took down the hall.
She wanted to hide the boy away before the lawyers arrived for the meeting.
Victoria planned to convince Arthur that Leo was too unruly for a normal home life.
She dreamed of sending him far away to a distant boarding school next month.
Leo kept sobbing as he dragged his feet along the smooth hard marble floor.
His small white dress shirt was rumpled and his dark trousers were covered in dust.
He looked toward the front door hoping his loving father would somehow appear quickly.
Victoria: Stop crying before I give you a real reason to weep today!
She tugged his small arm harder as they neared the dark side doorway.
The wide house felt huge and scary to the defenseless young boy in that moment.