Sarah rushed across the wooden floor without stopping to breathe.
She shoved Clara aside to protect her crying baby girl.
She lifted Emma gently out of the high chair tray.
Emma hid her wet little face against Sarah's warm neck.
Sarah: Do not ever touch my daughter like that again!
Clara: You need to teach her some proper manners right now!
Sarah: She is ten months old, you cruel cold woman!
Clara: You are raising her to be weak and loud!
Sarah stepped close to Clara with her eyes blazing bright.
She raised her hand and slapped Clara across the face.
The loud sharp sound echoed through the entire dining room.
Clara stumbled back against the decorated wooden dining table.
She held her red cheek with a look of pure shock.
Clara: How dare you lay your hands on me in public!
Sarah: You crossed a line the moment you touched my child!
Clara: It was barely anything, you crazy foolish mother!
Mark hurried out from the kitchen with a heavy tray.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the screaming.
His jaw clenched tightly as he saw his wife shaking.
He looked at Emma's red eyes and Clara's red cheek.
A dark shadow of anger crossed over Mark's face instantly.
He put the heavy tray down on the counter roughly.
Mark: What did you just do in my home, Aunt Clara?
Clara: Your wild wife just lost her mind over nothing!
Sarah: She grabbed Emma roughly because she dropped a toy!
Mark's eyes turned cold as ice as he stepped forward.
He loved his daughter more than anything else in life.
He spent years protecting his small family from toxic relatives.
Now the toxicity was standing right inside his own home.
Clara tried to fix her mustard sweater with shaking hands.
She still thought she could manipulate Mark like old times.
Clara: I am your elder, Mark, you must respect me!
Mark: Respect is lost when you hurt a defenseless baby!