The balloons were still hanging high across the decorated living room when the high-pitched screaming started.
Rachel dropped her serving tray onto the glass coffee table and spun around toward the commotion.
Across the room, her sister Amanda was clutching her crying toddler tightly against her blue dress.
Amanda: He just hit my daughter!
The entire living room fell completely silent as guests lowered their paper plates and juice cups.
Standing near the snack table, twenty-two-year-old Julian stood with his arms crossed over his grey shirt.
A smug, arrogant smile spread across his face as he looked down at the sobbing three-year-old child.
Julian: She needed to learn a lesson.
Amanda squeezed little Lily closer to her chest, her own tears streaming rapidly down her red cheeks.
Amanda: She is three years old, Julian! She just wanted to touch your plastic toy car!
Julian: She grabbed it without asking. In the real world, actions have consequences.
Amanda: You're a grown man! You don't strike a toddler at a birthday party!
Rachel felt a sudden wave of hot blood rush straight to her face.
She moved across the carpeted floor, her brown dress swaying with her quick, heavy footsteps.
Julian: Stay out of this, Aunt Rachel. You don't run this family anymore.
Rachel: Shut your mouth, Julian.
Before Julian could react, Rachel raised her right hand and delivered a hard, cracking slap across his cheek.
The sound echoed off the walls, making several party guests gasp out loud.
Julian's head whipped sharply to the side from the sheer force of the impact.
He stumbled backward, clutching his reddening skin with a look of pure shock and sudden outrage.
Julian: How dare you slap me!
Rachel pointed her finger straight at his chest, her eyes wide with unbridled rage.
Rachel: Go to hell, you monster!
Julian's eyes narrowed as he held his cheek, trying to regain his composure in front of the crowd.
Julian: I'm telling my father! He owns the trust fund that pays for this entire house!
Rachel: Get out of this house now!
Julian backed away toward the front hallway, muttering curses as the crowd parted to let him pass.
Rachel stood her ground, her chest heaving as the front door slammed shut, completely unaware that Julian's bitter threat about the family trust was about to turn into an all-out war for their entire inheritance.