The white marble living room was dead silent under the glow of the high ceiling chandeliers.
Clara stood near the entrance, her red silk dress catching the light as her hands shook with rage.
Clara: You can't stop me, Richard! I know what you did!
Richard adjusted his dark navy suit jacket, stepping closer to her with a cold, terrifying smile.
Richard: You think anyone is going to listen to a word you say?
Clara: I have the bank records! I know you drained my father's trust fund!
Clara: You have no power here!
Richard's jaw clenched tight as his eyes narrowed into a dark, furious glare.
Without warning, Richard raised his hand and delivered a hard, violent slap across her face.
The impact spun Clara around, sending her crashing hard onto the cold marble floor.
She held her throbbing cheek, feeling the burning red mark spreading across her skin.
Clara: How dare you!
Before she could move, Richard stepped forward and kicked her hard in the stomach.
Clara gasped for breath, curling into a ball near the grand fireplace as her hair fell wild over her face.
Richard stood directly over her, pointing his finger toward the heavy front door.
Richard: Get out of my house and never return!
Clara looked up from the floor, wiping a drop of blood from her lip as her breathing came in heavy, ragged gasps, completely unaware that this brutal expulsion would trigger the downfall of a multi-million-dollar empire.