Lily wrapped her small arms tightly around Mark's neck, burying her wet face in his shoulder.
Mark held her close, feeling how small and fragile she felt in his protective arms.
He patted her back gently while whispering soothing words directly into her soft hair.
Sarah stepped forward timidly, wiping the tears from her red eyes with her apron corner.
She told Mark that Victoria had been unkind to Lily whenever Mark was away on trips.
Sarah explained how Victoria forced the child to eat simple scraps away from the dining table.
Victoria raised her voice loudly, telling Sarah to shut her mouth and stop telling lies.
She stepped closer to Mark, insisting that the maid was making up stories for extra money.
Mark stood up slowly while holding Lily securely against his side with one arm.
His face was hard like granite as he looked directly into Victoria's panicked eyes.
He asked his daughter softly if what the maid said was the real truth of the home.
Lily nodded her head slowly while keeping her eyes fixed firmly on her father's neck.
She whispered that Victoria locked her in the room whenever Mark left the city for work.
Mark felt a wave of dark fury rise up inside his chest at these terrible new facts.
He had trusted Victoria with his home and with the care of his precious only daughter.
He realized now that her sweet personality had been a fake act to secure his fortune.
Victoria tried to touch Mark's arm, but he pulled away from her touch with total disgust.
He told his head security officer to keep Victoria inside the main living area for now.
The tall guard stepped forward immediately, blocking Victoria from moving any closer to Mark.
Victoria began to yell angrily, dropping her polite voice completely in front of everyone.
Mark turned his back on his wife and carried Lily toward the quiet private study nearby.
He wanted to make sure his daughter was safe and comfortable before handling the business side.