The summer heat burned hot over the massive Texas estate.
Hannah stood on the polished marble floor of the grand foyer.
Her hands were trembling as she held her small leather bag.
She had lived in this house for five difficult years.
Ever since her father passed away, everything had completely changed.
Her stepmother Margarethe took total control of the family business.
Margarethe walked down the grand staircase with a cold smile.
Margarethe: You should pack your things and leave today, Hannah.
Hannah: My father left half of this house to me.
Margarethe: That old will is completely invalid now, dear child.
Hannah: You hid the real paperwork from the family lawyer!
Margarethe: You have no proof of anything you say.
Hannah stepped back toward the heavy wooden front door.
She knew that her stepmother was capable of doing terrible things.
The air inside the house felt thick and very scary.
Mark, the loyal butler, stood quietly near the hallway corner.
He had served Hannah's father for over twenty long years.
He watched Margarethe treat young Hannah with total cruelty.
Mark kept his eyes lowered to avoid any suspicious looks.
Margarethe: Move out before I call the local police department.
Hannah: You are taking everything my father built for us!
Margarethe: This mansion belongs to me and my estate now.
Margarethe stepped closer to Hannah with a dark glare.
Hannah felt her heart beating fast inside her chest.
She did not want to leave her father's memories behind.
The family trust fund was supposed to protect her future.
Instead, Margarethe had spent thousands of dollars on expensive jewelry.
Hannah: I will fight you in the county court, Margarethe.
Margarethe: You do not have the money for a lawyer.
Margarethe grabbed Hannah by her silk shirt collar suddenly.
Hannah: Let go of me right now!
Margarethe: You will sign the house rights over today!
Hannah pulled back as hard as she possibly could.
The delicate gold necklace around Hannah's neck snapped instantly.
Bright beads rattled loudly across the cold marble tiles.
Margarethe shoved Hannah backward toward the steep stone steps.
Hannah lost her footing on her high heels completely.
She tumbled backward down the steps into the lower hallway.
A loud sound echoed through the massive empty mansion.
Hannah gasped in deep pain on the floor below.
Margarethe looked down at her stepdaughter without any remorse.
Margarethe: That was your own foolish fault, little girl.
Mark rushed forward from the dark hallway immediately.
Mark: Miss Hannah, please do not try to move!
Hannah: She... she pushed me down on purpose!
Margarethe: She tripped over her own feet, Mark.
Mark: I saw what happened with my own eyes.
Margarethe turned around to face the old butler fiercely.
Margarethe: Keep your mouth shut if you want your paycheck.