The white marble master bathroom felt colder than a morgue under the bright overhead vanity lights[cite: 1].
A silk American flag hung framed on the wall opposite the freestanding porcelain tub, perfectly straight and still[cite: 1].
Margaret held six-month-old Owen over the open toilet bowl, tossing him lightly into the air with a tight sneer[cite: 1].
Margaret: One little slip, and this entire estate belongs to my daughter[cite: 1].
Margaret: Nobody will ever know you didn't just crawl in while the maid was downstairs[cite: 1].
She opened her wrinkled fingers and dropped the infant straight down into the freezing water[cite: 1].
A heavy splash echoed off the polished marble tiles as the baby let out a choked, terrified cry[cite: 1].
Heavy running boots slammed across the master bedroom threshold as the door swung back against the baseboard[cite: 1].
Liam Sterling burst through the entrance in his dark grey work shirt, his eyes locking onto the porcelain bowl in raw panic[cite: 1].
Liam: No! Owen[cite: 1]!
He dove across the slick floor, shoving Margaret aside with his shoulder as he thrust both arms into the water[cite: 1].
He hauled his soaking, gasping baby out of the bowl, pulling Owen tight against his chest[cite: 1].
Water dripped off the infant's shivering chin as Liam buried his face into the child's wet hair[cite: 1].
Liam: What did you do[cite: 1]?!
Margaret backed away toward the open bathroom door, clutching her heavy wool coat with trembling hands[cite: 1].
Margaret: You wasn't supposed to come home...[cite: 1]
Liam: Who told you I'd be gone[cite: 1]?!
Margaret: You don't understand... This had to happen tonight[cite: 1].
Her manicured hand darted nervously into her deep coat pocket, but the glow of her phone screen caught the light[cite: 1].
Liam lunged, ripping the device straight out of her grip with a violent snap of his wrist[cite: 1].
On the glass, two text messages from an unsaved number burned into his eyes: "I got him alone. The next part starts tonight," followed by "Did you do it?"[cite: 1]
Liam: Who are you working with[cite: 1]?!
Margaret: Ah[cite: 1]!
His palm whipped through the air, striking her across the face with a crack that shook the room, completely unaware of the trap waiting downstairs[cite: 1].