The morning sun was shining brightly over the massive brick mansion and its private lake.
Dozens of guests walked across the manicured green lawn while wearing expensive silk clothes.
Emily adjusted her summer dress over her round pregnant belly and took a deep breath.
She always felt nervous whenever her mother in law hosted these large family gatherings.
Victoria stood near the marble patio while sipping champagne from a crystal glass.
She watched Emily with cold eyes that showed no warmth or affection at all.
Emily had grown up in a small town with very little money or status.
Victoria believed that Emily was only after the family trust fund and vast estate.
Mark walked up behind his wife and gently placed his hand on her lower back.
Mark: Are you feeling okay today, sweetheart?
Emily: I am doing fine, but your mother keeps staring at me.
Mark: Just ignore her and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Emily smiled weakly because she knew ignoring Victoria was never an easy task.
Their five year old daughter Little Sophie ran past them while wearing a white dress.
She giggled as she chased a blue butterfly toward the decorative wooden garden dock.
The dock sat right at the edge of the shallow estate garden pool.
Victoria stepped away from her group of friends and followed the little girl.
Emily watched her mother in law closely from across the wide green lawn.
She noticed Victoria reaching down toward the wooden safety latch on the platform wheels.
A strange feeling of dread filled Emily's heart as she began walking faster.
Sophie stepped up onto the wooden play platform to get a better view.
Victoria gave the wooden frame a quick push while nobody was looking directly at her.
The wooden platform rolled forward rapidly toward the edge of the knee deep water.
Sophie screamed as the structure tipped into the shallow garden pool with a splash.
Water flew everywhere as the little girl fell sideways into the muddy bank.
Emily did not hesitate for a single second when she saw her daughter fall.
Despite her pregnancy, she sprinted across the grass as fast as she could.
Her heart pounded wildly inside her chest as she heard Sophie crying out loudly.
Mark was standing near the barbecue pit and turned around in sudden shock.
Guests gasped as Emily splashed into the shallow edge to grab her daughter.