The morning light streamed into the pristine white bedroom of the Vance mansion.
Mrs. Vance lay quietly in her large four-poster bed.
She was feeling weak after months of battling a sudden illness.
Her loyal housemaid Elena stood near the wooden nightstand.
Elena adjusted the plush pillows to make the old woman comfortable.
Suddenly, the heavy door turned open with a harsh click.
Vanessa stepped into the sunlit room holding a hot bowl.
Her beige outfit looked expensive, but her smile was cold.
She carried a bowl of hot soup meant for the mother.
Elena noticed the sharp look in Vanessa's narrowed eyes.
Vanessa walked straight toward the edge of the bed.
Without a word of warning, she tossed the liquid forward.
Elena gasped loud and leaped in front of the bed.
The scalding soup landed heavily across Elena's bare arms.
She cried out in sharp pain as she hit the floor.
Her skin turned red where the hot soup touched her.
Mrs. Vance gasped and tried to sit up quickly.
Footsteps echoed loudly down the grand marble hallway outside.
Adrian Vance burst through the double doors in complete shock.
He wore a tailored black double-breasted suit and tie.
He stopped dead in his tracks at the scene.
Elena was groaning on the light marble floor in pain.
Vanessa immediately dropped her head and started to fake tears.
She pointed her finger down at the hurt maid on the tile.
Vanessa: She dropped it!
Vanessa: I tried to catch it, but she pushed me!
Elena shook her head while sobbing quietly from the burn.
The pain was burning through her lower arms relentlessly.
Mrs. Vance raised a weak, trembling hand toward her son.
Mrs. Vance: Adrian, no... She's lying!
Mrs. Vance: She tried to burn me!
Adrian turned his body slowly toward his young wife Vanessa.
His face hardened into a mask of pure cold anger.
Adrian: Tell me the truth, Vanessa.
Vanessa dropped her fake innocent act in an instant.
Her eyes flashed with red venom as she screamed out loud.
Vanessa: Ask your precious mother why she's giving away your fortune!
Adrian took one heavy step closer to the loud woman.
He pointed sternly toward the open hallway behind her.
Adrian: Get out of my house right now!
Adrian: Get out before I call the police on you!
Vanessa glared hard at the two of them in anger.
She spun around on her high heels and stormed out.
The heavy bedroom doors slammed shut behind her retreating back.