The bright luxury living room of the Sterling mansion in Dallas felt cold despite the afternoon sun streaming through the grand windows.
Little Leo sat on the polished piano stool, his tiny hands reaching toward the ivory keys.
Victoria: Get your dirty hands off that!
Victoria shoved the helpless toddler with full force, sending him flying off the stool onto the hard tiled floor.
The baby hit the floor with a loud, sickening thump and immediately began to scream in pain.
Clara: Shh, it's okay... I've got you, little one.
Clara rushed across the room, scooping the sobbing boy into her arms and holding him tight against her chest.
Victoria: Don't comfort him! He needs to learn his place in this house!
Clara: He's just a baby, ma'am! He didn't mean any harm!
Victoria: I don't care! He's sticky and ruined my quiet afternoon!
A heavy silence fell over the doorway as a tall shadow stretched across the white marble entryway.
Ethan stood in the entrance, his dark three-piece suit perfectly fitted, his face completely pale with pure rage.
Victoria: Ethan! What are you doing here?!
Victoria gasped, taking a step back as her face drained of all color.
Ethan didn't say a word as he strode forward with terrifying speed, his jaw locked tight.
Victoria: Ethan, wait, let me explain—
Before she could finish her sentence, Ethan brought his hand across her face in a sharp, brutal slap.
The force knocked Victoria off her feet, sending her crashing onto the floor in a heap of blue satin.
Ethan: Don't you ever touch my son again! Get out!
Victoria: Ethan, please! It was an accident!
Ethan: I saw what you did with my own eyes.
Victoria cowered on the floor, trembling violently as Ethan loomed over her like an imposing wall of fury, but this wasn't the first time she had targeted the motherless boy.