The hardwood floor of the hallway felt icy cold beneath Claire's trembling hands. She was six months pregnant, and her red hair was scattered across her face as she curled her body into a tight ball, trying desperately to shield her swollen belly. Standing over her was her older sister, Chloe, wearing a sharp black blazer and an expression filled with pure greed.
Chloe: GIVE ME THE TRUST CODE!
Claire: I can't, Chloe! Stop it!
Chloe: Give me the numbers right now, Claire, or you aren't getting up from this floor!
Chloe reached down and yanked Claire's hair backward, twisting her hand to force Claire's head up. Claire gasped, tears streaming down her pale cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut and wrapped both arms firmly around her stomach.
Claire: YOU'RE HURTING THE BABY!
Chloe: I don't care about your baby! I care about my half of our father's inheritance!
Claire: Dad left the trust fund to my child! He knew you would gamble it all away!
Chloe: He was senile! Give me the digital key code to the offshore vault, or I swear I'll make sure you regret ever coming back to this house!
The heavy oak front door suddenly swung open down the hall. Rapid, heavy footsteps echoed off the high white walls as Mark stepped inside, carrying his heavy black gym bag. He froze in absolute shock, his blue eyes widening as he took in the horrific scene unfolding in his own hallway.
Mark: What the hell is going on here?!
Chloe's head snapped around. In an instant, her terrifying face melted into a look of fake panic. She pointed one manicured finger up toward the black security camera mounted high on the ceiling near the doorway.
Chloe: Mark! Thank God you're home! SHE ATTACKED ME FIRST!
Claire: Mark... help me... please...
Chloe: She went crazy, Mark! I just asked her about our family papers, and she threw herself on the floor and tried to scratch my face! Check the security system!
Mark didn't say a word. He slowly pulled his smartphone from his suit pocket as a soft digital chime echoed from the screen, displaying a live cloud notification. He looked down at the notification, then raised his head, his face twisting into pure, uncontrollable rage.
Mark: You shouldn't have touched my wife, Chloe.
Before Chloe could react, Mark closed the distance between them in two massive strides and raised his hand, unleashing a brutal, heavy slap that sent Chloe flying back against the wall with a sickening thud, leaving her to collapse onto the floor in complete horror. But as Mark knelt to pull his crying wife into his arms, the nightmare was far from over.