The crystal chandeliers in the grand estate dining room hummed softly above the long mahogany table.
Clara: You have no right to speak to me that way!
Clara stood near her seat, pointing an trembling finger directly at the older woman sitting across from her. Her white evening dress rustled as her chest heaved with anger.
Evelyn: Watch your tongue in my house, young lady. You are a guest here.
Clara: I am your son's fiancée, Evelyn! Not your servant!
Before Clara could draw another breath, a tall shadow crossed the floor. Julian, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo, rushed over with his face contorted in furious rage.
He brought his open palm around with full force, catching Clara directly across her cheek.
The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the high-ceilinged room like a gunshot.
Clara's head snapped to the side. The impact knocked her off balance, sending her crashing hard onto the cold marble floor.
Julian: Never speak to my mother like that!
Evelyn: Good boy, Julian. She needed to learn her place.
Clara lay on the floor, her cheek burning crimson against her pale skin. Her breath came in ragged, shaky hitches as her hand reached out across the marble, clutching her sleek white clutch bag.
Julian: Get up and apologize to her right now, Clara!
Clara slowly turned her head, looking straight up at Julian. Her eyes were completely dry, filled not with tears, but with a freezing, terrifying calm.
Clara: Remember every word you just said.
Julian: Is that a threat? You have nothing!
Clara pushed herself up off the floor, standing tall in her white dress. Without another word, she turned her back on them, her heels clicking steadily against the marble as she walked through the double doors into the grand hallway.
She climbed into the back seat of her black town car and pulled the door shut.
Driver: Where to, ma'am?
Clara held her smartphone to her ear, her voice dripping with ice.
Clara: Freeze everything.