The drive back home felt like the longest twenty minutes of Mark's entire life.
He ignored every red light, focused entirely on reaching his small child quickly.
His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned completely white.
He pulled into the long paved driveway of his grand suburban estate.
The large front doors stood closed, looking calm and peaceful from the outside driveway.
Mark left his truck running in the driveway and rushed up the front steps.
He slammed his hand against the heavy double white doors and threw them open wide.
The loud bang echo through the tall ceilings of the main foyer entrance.
Inside, the house was silent except for a soft, painful crying sound from the corner.
Clara was sitting gracefully in her chair, holding a crystal glass of water casualy.
She looked up instantly, her eyes widening in complete shock when she saw Mark standing there.
Clara: Honey, wait... what are you doing home so early?
Mark: Step away from my daughter right now!
Clara: You don't understand, she was throwing a huge tantrum!
Lily: Daddy!
The toddler lifted her small arms up from the cold floor, covered in tears.
Mark took three long, aggressive strides across the polished marble floor toward Clara.
His face was red with pure rage as he confronted the woman he planned to marry.
Clara stood up quickly, dropping her glass onto the small side table nearby.
She tried to reach out toward Mark's arm to calm his obvious anger.
Mark shoved her hand away firmly, blocking her from taking another single step forward.
Mark: Do not lay a finger on me or this child ever again!
Clara: I was just teaching her some simple discipline, Mark!
Mark: You treated my daughter like an animal in my own home!
Maria stepped out from behind the hallway doorframe with her green phone in hand.
She was wiping tears from her eyes, looking terrified but deeply relieved Mark arrived.
Mark dropped to his knees immediately right beside his small, shivering child.
He wrapped his arms around Lily and pulled her tight against his chest.