Lily burried her face deep into her father's dark suit jacket.
Her tiny body was shaking uncontrollably from pure fear and exhaustion.
Richard held her tight, feeling how small and fragile she felt in his arms.
Victoria took a step back, trying to keep her calm voice intact.
Victoria: You spoil her too much, Richard.
Victoria: A child needs rules when the father is away working.
Father: This is not rules, this is absolute cruelty!
Victoria: I am just trying to raise her to be respectful!
Richard pressed his lips against Lily's warm forehead to comfort her.
He could feel the rapid beating of her small frightened heart.
Father: Tell daddy what happened, sweet girl.
Father: You are safe with me now, I promise.
Lily pulled her tear-stained face back just a few inches.
Her blue eyes were wide with deep fear as she looked at Victoria.
Lily: She locked me in the dark pantry all night long yesterday!
Lily: It was cold and I was crying for help for hours!
Richard felt the room spin as absolute rage filled his mind.
He looked over at the large wooden pantry door near the fridge.
The heavy lock was turned sideways in its polished brass frame.
Victoria's face turned completely pale as her hands began to shake.
Victoria: Stop lying right now, you ungrateful little brat!
Victoria: Richard, she is making up stories to get me in trouble!
Lily: I am not lying, Daddy!
Lily: She said if I told you, she would send me away forever!
Richard felt a burning anger he had never experienced in his life.
He looked at the woman he had trusted with his only child.
Her elegant appearance could no longer hide the cold truth underneath.
Father: Never call my daughter a liar again.
Victoria: Richard, listen to reason for just one moment!
Father: Look at her face, Victoria!
Father: Look at what you did to my baby girl!
Victoria: I am your wife, you take her side over mine?
Father: You are a monster in my house.