Mark walked over to the landline phone mounted on the bright white wall.
He dialed his head security guard and put the call directly on the speakerphone.
Mark: Escort Claire off the property immediately and lock the main entrance gates.
Claire: Mark, please! We can sit down and talk about this like adults!
Mark: There is nothing left to talk about between us.
Two large security guards arrived at the dressing room door within seconds.
They stood tall in their black suits, blocking any escape path out into the hallway.
Claire looked around the room and realized she had completely lost all her power.
She snatched her leather purse off the vanity table with trembling, angry hands.
Claire: You will regret choosing a child over a life of luxury with me!
Mark: I will never regret protecting my daughter from a wicked person like you.
The guards politely guided Claire down the long hallway toward the front exit doors.
Her loud high heels echoed against the marble floor until the front door slammed shut.
Silence returned to the massive house as the heavy tension finally began to clear.
Mark turned back to look at Lily, who was still trembling on the wooden stool.
He felt a deep sense of shame for not seeing Claire's true nature much sooner.
He walked across the room and dropped down onto his knees right beside his daughter.
Mark: I am so sorry I did not protect you earlier, my sweet girl.
Lily: Is she really gone forever, Daddy?