Miles away in the financial district, Mark sat in his high-rise boardroom.
He felt an unexplainable wave of unease wash over him during the contract presentation.
His phone vibrated silently on the polished conference table, displaying an incoming security alert.
The smart home app connected to his house sensors flagged unusual acoustic activity in the living area.
Mark excused himself from the high-stakes meeting without offering a single word of explanation.
He hurried down to his car, his heart pounding wildly against his ribs.
Something inside his gut told him that his daughter was in severe danger.
He drove across town at full speed, running two yellow lights in his rush to return home.
When he pulled into the long driveway, he noticed the fence workers gathered near the front glass.
They were waving their arms urgently, pointing toward the main living room windows.
Mark slammed his car into park and leaped out before the engine even turned off.
He charged up the front steps and grabbed the heavy brass door handle.
The door swung open with a violent thud, echoing through the wide marble entryway.
"Lily!" Mark roared, his voice filled with pure panic and protective fury.
He sprinted across the polished floor, his leather shoes skidding against the slick surface.
The sight that greeted him in the living room shattered his heart into a thousand pieces.
Lily was soaked, weeping, and shivering uncontrollably in her small wheelchair.
Ice cubes lay scattered all across her lap and the marble floor surrounding her.
Victoria stood right beside her, holding the empty glass bowl with a cold expression.
Mark rushed past Victoria and dropped to his knees right beside his terrified daughter.
He wrapped his arms around Lily, shielding her freezing body with his warm wool coat.
"I've got you, baby, you're safe!" Mark whispered softly as tears welled in his eyes.
Lily buried her face into her father's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably from relief.
Mark felt her tiny body trembling against his chest, and his sadness instantly turned into rage.
He stood up slowly, turning around to face the woman he had foolishly trusted in his home.