Late that afternoon, Victoria caught Lily near the high balcony railing upstairs.
The sunlight filtered brightly through the large glass dome high above the atrium.
Victoria stepped close to the girl, standing between her and the hallway exit.
Victoria: You think your father will always be here to protect you?
Lily backed up slightly, her small shoes scraping softly on the polished floor.
Lily: My daddy loves me, and he lives here too.
Victoria: This entire mansion will belong to me very soon.
Lily: Please step away from me, Victoria.
Victoria reached out and grabbed the strap of Lily's yellow summer dress tightly.
Victoria: You are going to boarding school far away from here!
Lily: No! Daddy said I am staying right here with him!
Lily pulled back sharply to break free from Victoria's firm grip.
Victoria pulled harder, dragging the child toward the dangerous top stair edge.
Lily gasped loudly as her foot caught on the edge of the smooth marble step.
Lily: Stop! You are hurting my arm!
Victoria showed no sympathy as her sharp fingernails dug into the fabric.
Victoria: You are leaving this house one way or another!
Down below in the kitchen, Arthur heard the raised voices echoing down the shaft.
He immediately dropped his water glass onto the counter and ran toward the foyer.
Arthur: Lily! Victoria! What is going on up there?
The sound of his voice caused Victoria to panic on the landing above.
She gave a sudden, harsh shove toward the stairs to cover her actions.
Lily lost her footing completely on the slick marble edge of the upper step.