By early afternoon, Mark's business meeting finished much earlier than he originally expected.
He decided to surprise Lily by taking her out for ice cream at the local park.
He parked his car in the wide driveway and grabbed his heavy briefcase from the passenger seat.
Inside the house, Victoria was getting more impatient with the quiet child.
She poured ice-cold water from a heavy crystal pitcher into a clear glass.
Lily sat near the entrance of the foyer, her face flushed red from crying all morning.
Victoria: Call me mom, right now!
Lily: My mom is in heaven, you are not my mom!
Victoria's face twisted with deep rage as she held the cold pitcher over the child's head.
She tilted the pitcher, pouring the freezing water directly onto Lily's face and dress.
Lily gasped for air, shrinking down into her wheelchair as the icy liquid soaked her skin.
Victoria: Say mom before I refill it!
Lily: Stop, please, it's so cold!
The heavy entrance double doors swung open wide just as the harsh words echoed through the hall.
Mark stepped inside, holding his briefcase, and stopped dead in his tracks at the awful sight.
He saw his sweet daughter soaked and shivering, crying uncontrollably in her wheelchair.
He saw Victoria standing over her with the heavy water pitcher held high in the air.
Mark dropped his briefcase onto the floor with a loud bang that rang out everywhere.
Mark: Dad is here!
He rushed forward across the white marble floor with an intensely furious look on his face.
Mark knelt down quickly and wrapped his arms tightly around his trembling daughter.
Lily held onto his neck with all her tiny strength, sobbing into his wet shoulder.
Lily: Daddy, she said mommy disappeared because of me!
Mark felt a wave of pure outrage wash over his entire body as he processed her words.
He stood up slowly, turning to face Victoria with total fury in his eyes.
Victoria gasped, stepping back as she realized she had been caught in the act.
Mark grabbed the crystal pitcher from her hand and threw it across the large room.
It shattered against the far wall with a sharp crash, sending pieces flying everywhere.
Mark stepped forward, pushing Victoria back hard as his voice shook the heavy walls.
Mark: There is, there is no wedding, you monster!