Meanwhile, Lily sat in the vast, empty kitchen. She wore an oversized dark red knit sweater, a comforting piece of clothing that used to belong to her grandmother. She was hungry, having missed breakfast amidst the chaos, and had reached for a box of cereal on the counter. In her clumsiness, the box tipped, spilling dry flakes across the immaculate white floor.
Jessica walked in just as the box fell. The bride's face flushed with immediate, unhinged rage.
"You stupid, clumsy brat!" Jessica hissed, stepping forward and grabbing Lily roughly by the arm. The little girl flinched, tears instantly welling in her eyes. "Look at what you did! This floor was just polished! You are nothing but a burden, do you hear me?"
Lily whimpered, trying to pull her arm away. "I'm sorry, Jessie. I was just hungry."