The hissing steam poured off the hot steel plate in thick, burning clouds across the plush armchair.
Seven-month-old Clara sat kicked back against the yellow cushion, happily giggling and waving her tiny hands.
Victoria stood over the baby in her pure white designer dress, her eyes cold as ice.
Victoria: You think you're going to inherit this entire family estate, don't you?
Victoria: Smile while you can, you little parasite.
She gripped the black plastic handle of the heavy clothes iron and pressed the scalding metal directly onto the infant's bare foot.
A sickening sizzle filled the quiet living room, followed by an ear-splitting shriek of pure agony.
Victoria: Cry all you want. Nobody is coming to save you from me.
Across the polished marble hall, Elena dropped a silver tray of tea glasses and broke into a full sprint.
Her gray maid uniform whipped in the air as she lunged into the parlor with wide, horrified eyes.
Elena: Get away from that child, you evil psycho!
Elena swung her right arm with all the force in her body, smacking Victoria squarely across the cheek.
The violent slap knocked Victoria back against the sofa table, sending the burning iron clattering onto the tiles.
Elena snatched little Clara into her arms, pulling the screaming child tightly against her chest while tears streamed down her own face.
Elena: You monster! What did you do to this baby?!
Victoria: How dare you touch me, you worthless servant! I'll have you thrown into the gutter!
The heavy front double doors slammed open with a booming crash that rattled the crystal chandelier.
Marcus Sterling charged inside in his dark tailored suit, stopping dead in his tracks at the screams.
Marcus: What happened in here?!
Elena: Sir, look at what she did to your baby! Look at her foot!
Marcus saw the blistered red flesh on his daughter's tiny heel, and a darkness took over his eyes that no one in the room had ever seen before.