The sound of heavy porcelain smashing on marble echoed straight through the grand mansion foyer. Thick pink strawberry cream and crushed white sugar flowers smeared across the polished stone floor, ruining months of planning in a single second.

Victoria: Look at what you have done, you clumsy brat!

Ten-year-old Lily pulled her trembling arms against her white lace dress, tears spilling over her flushed cheeks as she backed away.

Lily: I did not mean to! I just wanted to see the candle!

Victoria: You ruined the entire party! Do you have any idea how much this designer cake cost?

Lily: Please, Victoria, it was an accident!

Victoria: Shut your mouth! You always ruin everything in this house!

Victoria raised her hand, her manicured nails catching the afternoon sun as she shoved the little girl backward with all her strength.

Lily lost her footing on the slick frosting and fell hard onto the cold floor, crying out in sheer panic.

Lily: Daddy, help me! She shoved me into the cake!

The massive front doors rattled open, and heavy leather shoes struck the floor with furious speed.

Richard: You are safe now, my daughter!

Richard dropped right to his knees in the middle of the crushed frosting, wrapping his dark suit coat completely around Lily's trembling shoulders.

Victoria: Richard, darling, wait! She is lying to you! She threw a tantrum and threw herself down!

Behind Richard, a sharp woman in a dark navy tailored suit stepped through the doorway holding a sleek black digital tablet.

Elena: Play the full recording, Richard!

Victoria's smug smirk instantly evaporated, her pale skin turning as white as the powdered sugar across the floor as the tablet's screen lit up.