David stood in the bright foyer while his chest rose fast.
He wrapped his arms around Lily to comfort her soft crying.
The little girl buried her wet face into his navy suit.
Victoria stood near the grand archway holding her wine glass tight.
Her hands shook slightly as the red liquid moved inside glass.
She tried to put on a soft and innocent smile quickly.
Victoria: David, you are misunderstanding the whole situation completely.
David: Do not lie to me while my child bleeds!
David gently checked the red scrapes on Lily's small arms.
The marks looked fresh and very painful to the touch.
Lily sniffled softly and hugged her father as hard as possible.
Lily: She said I was a burden to this family.
Victoria: She is exaggerating because she was simply grounded today!
David: Grounded children do not scrub floors in maid clothes!
David stood up slowly and kept Lily behind his back safely.
He glared at Victoria with eyes full of deep disappointment.
He had married Victoria six months ago after a brief romance.
She had promised to love Lily like her own biological child.
Now the horrible truth was standing plain in front of him.
Victoria took a sip of her wine to calm her nerves.
Victoria: I was teaching her discipline and hard work while away.
Lily: She locked me in the laundry room for three hours!
David felt his heart break into a thousand sharp pieces again.
He looked around the spotless mansion with absolute disgust now.
The shiny floors were cleaned through the suffering of his child.
David: You abused my trust the second I left town.
Victoria: I am your wife, and I deserve respect here!
David: You lost all respect when you touched my daughter.
Victoria lowered her wine glass onto a nearby side table.
Her arrogant attitude slowly turned into sharp, cold anger now.
Victoria: This house belongs to both of us under our marriage!
David: This house is mine, and you leave today!
Victoria laughed softly in a dark and bitter way then.
She stepped closer to David without showing any real regret.
Victoria: You cannot throw me out without a huge legal fight.
David pulled his cell phone from his inner suit pocket.
He held the phone firmly up toward Victoria's nervous face.
David: Watch me call the police right now for child abuse.