The wind blew hard through the open gallery doors of the Dallas mansion, snapping the silk American flag against the stone pillars.
Six-year-old Emma pressed her back against the high terrace rail, her small hands shaking as her pink dress fluttered in the gust.
Victoria stood over her in a silk pink shirt, her diamond rings catching the morning light with a cold, sharp gleam.
Victoria: Stop your sniveling, you little nuisance.
Emma: Please, Victoria! I want to go downstairs to wait for Daddy!
Victoria: Your daddy isn't here to protect you today, and he never will be again.
Emma: Daddy promised he was coming home early from the airport!
Victoria: Your father cares about our corporate merger, not a messy little orphan from his past.
Victoria grabbed the little girl by both wrists, hoisted her off her feet, and shoved her straight over the stone edge.
Emma plummeted through the empty air thirty feet above the marble floor, her terrified screams echoing off the ceiling.
Emma: Daddy! Daddy, help me!
Down in the foyer, the heavy double doors flew wide open as Julian Sterling walked in wearing his tailored blue suit.
He dropped his leather briefcase, looked up toward the vaulted chandelier, and felt his heart stop dead in his chest.
Julian: Emma!
Julian sprinted across the slick marble tiles, diving forward onto his knees with his arms stretched out wide.
The impact slammed hard into his chest, knocking the wind straight from his lungs as his knees burned against the stone.
He clutched the weeping child against his neck, his hands checking her trembling arms and legs.
Emma: Daddy, I was so scared!
Julian: I've got you, baby! Daddy has you!
Julian stood up with his daughter locked in his arms, his vision turning completely red with blind, murderous rage.
He charged up the marble staircase, reached the balcony, and slapped Victoria hard across the face.
Julian: Don't you ever dare touch my child again!
Victoria: Julian! How dare you strike me in this house!
Julian: Get out of my house!
Victoria stumbled against the stone railing, totally unaware of the locked legal folder inside Julian's jacket that held the secret to end her life forever.