The heavy oak front door groaned on its hinges as Karen pushed her way into the cold, silent mansion.
Distant crying echoed through the high-arched halls, sending a chill down her spine.
Karen: Lily? Lily, where are you?!
She rounded the corner into the expansive marble living room, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Near the far wall, a cruel woman was pinning a terrified little girl to the floor, her sharp fingernails digging into the child's small shoulders.
Lady Beatrice: Keep your mouth shut, you ungrateful brat! You do as you're told in this house!
Lily: Stop! Please! It hurts!
Over on the plush white Italian sofa, Julian sat lounging back with his ankles crossed, casually swirling a glass of expensive bourbon while holding his iPhone.
Julian: Teach her some manners, Beatrice. She's been whining all afternoon about missing her mother.
Karen didn't hesitate for a single second. She charged across the polished marble floor, her boots clicking loudly against the stone.
She grabbed Beatrice by the collar of her silk blouse and aggressively shoved the woman backward with all her strength.
Beatrice stumbled over an antique footstool and crashed awkwardly onto the floor, gasping for air.
Karen: Don't you ever lay a hand on her!
Julian: Well, well. Did you forget how to knock, Karen?
Karen dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around her small, trembling daughter.
Lily: Mom! Mom, please get me out of here! Don't leave me again!
Karen: I'm right here, baby. I'm taking you home right now.
Julian smirked, tapping his phone screen with a lazy thumb as he looked down his nose at her.
Julian: You aren't taking anyone anywhere. The temporary custody order is crystal clear, Karen. You're trespassing on my private estate.
Karen stood up slowly, her silver hair pulled back into a tight bun, her eyes blazing with absolute, unfiltered rage.
She strode toward the sofa with purpose, the air in the room turning freezing cold.
Before Julian could even lift his glass to his lips, Karen swung her arm back and delivered a thunderous slap straight across his smug face.
The crack of palm meeting cheek echoed like a gunshot off the high marble ceilings, snapping his head violently to the side.
Julian froze, a bright red handprint instantly blooming across his pale skin as he stared at her in total disbelief.
Julian: You... you crazy bitch—
Before he could react or stand, Karen whipped her arm around and landed a second, even harder backhand slap against his other cheek.
The impact sent his iPhone flying out of his hand, skidding across the polished marble floor until it smashed hard against a mahogany table leg.
Karen leaned down until her face was mere inches from his reddened, trembling cheek, her eyes locking onto his with terrifying fury.
Karen: You've just made the worst mistake of your life.