The polished marble floors of the Dallas mansion reflected the bright morning sun, but inside, the air was heavy and cold. Chloe stood near the grand foyer, holding a leather leash in her hand like it was a casual accessory. At the other end of that strap was two-year-old Toby, sniffling softly as he sat on the cold floor, his tiny knees scraped and red.

Chloe: "Get up, Toby. We don't have all day."

Maria: "Ma'am, please, he's crying! He fell on the step!"

Maria rushed out from the hallway, her hands trembling as she wiped her uniform. She had worked for the Vance family for over four years, long before Chloe moved into the mansion as Arthur’s second wife. Maria knew every corner of this house, but lately, it felt like a cage filled with cruelty.

Chloe: "Mind your own business, Maria. He needs to learn discipline. My father dragged his hunting dogs on leashes, and they turned out fine."

Maria: "He is not a dog! He is a baby, a human child!"

Chloe turned, her eyes flashing with pure venom. She stepped toward Maria, yanked the toddler's strap tightly, and pointed a polished fingernail directly at Maria’s face.

Chloe: "You are paid to clean my floors and keep your mouth shut. If Arthur hears one word of your whining, I'll make sure you're fired without a dime."

Maria: "You can't treat him like this..."

Chloe: "I can do whatever I want in this house. Now back off!"

Chloe swung her hand, striking Maria across the jaw with a loud, sharp snap. Maria staggered back, gripping her cheek as tears filled her eyes. Chloe didn't even blink. She pulled the harness strap again, dragging the weeping boy toward the back garden.

Maria fell to her knees, clutching her bruised face, her chest heaving with desperate heavy breaths. She looked at the front entrance, praying for the sound of tires on the driveway. Arthur was supposed to be in Chicago until Friday, but Maria knew that if someone didn't stop Chloe today, the boy wouldn't survive her cruelty much longer. Down the hall, the heavy oak doors suddenly rattled violently.