Mark sat inside his private office while staring at his young baby boy.
The infant giggled softly while reaching up for his father's hand.
Mark smiled through his deep grief because his sweet wife had passed away during childbirth.
He promised to protect his newborn baby with every single breath in his body.
His family owned a large real estate empire worth millions of dollars in California.
His father had recently remarried a younger woman named Victoria.
Victoria always acted kind around Mark's aging father during family dinners.
However, Mark could easily see right through her fake sweet smile.
She wanted the entire family trust fund for herself and her own future.
The baby was the primary heir to the multi-million dollar estate.
That single detail made the child a massive target for Victoria's dark ambition.
Tonight was the annual charity gala held inside the family mansion.
Hundreds of wealthy guests were arriving in expensive luxury cars.
Mark dressed his young son in a bright white cotton onesie for the party.
He then fixed his own black tuxedo ties in front of the mirror.
A strange feeling of anxiety was settling deep inside his chest tonight.
He walked out into the grand hallway holding his darling son tightly.
Victoria was standing near the top of the marble staircase in a sparkling light blue embellished gown.
She glanced down at the helpless baby with cold hatred in her dark eyes.
Mark felt a sudden chill run down his spine as she stepped closer.
He held his son even closer against his firm chest.
Victoria gave a dry laugh while touching her expensive pearl necklace.
The grand party was just beginning down on the lower floor below them.