David carried Lily safely to his black sedan parked in the driveway.
He strapped her gently into her car seat in the back.
He stroked her soft blonde hair until her heavy breathing calmed down.
David: Are you hurt anywhere, Lily?
Lily: No, Daddy, but it was so dark inside.
David locked the car doors and took a deep, shaky breath.
He needed to understand why his own sister would commit such a cruel act.
Evelyn and Richard had been struggling financially for several long months.
Richard had lost his high-paying position at an investment firm downtown.
Their lavish mansion was facing imminent foreclosure by the bank.
They needed millions of dollars to keep their high social status alive.
David remembered the legal trust left behind by their late father.
The multi-million dollar inheritance was set up specifically for Lily.
If anything ever happened to Lily, the entire trust fund passed to Evelyn.
David felt a sickening wave of horror wash over his whole body.
Evelyn had planned to take the child far out of the country.
She wanted to claim the legal inheritance money for herself.
David pulled his phone from his coat pocket and dialed his lawyer.
David: Mark, I need you at my house immediately.
Mark: What happened, David? Is everything okay?
David: Evelyn tried to take Lily to secure the estate fund.
Mark let out a harsh, sharp breath through the phone receiver.
Mark: Do not speak to her without me present.
David started the engine and drove away from the grand estate.
He watched the rear view mirror carefully the entire drive home.
Lily fell asleep in her seat, exhausted from the endless crying.
When they reached home, David carried her upstairs to her bed.
He tucked her in tightly with her favorite pink blanket.
He swore to himself that he would never let anyone hurt her again.
Downstairs, the front doorbell rang with a sharp, loud buzz.
David walked into the living room and opened the front door.
Mark stood on the porch holding a thick black leather binder.
Mark: We need to file for a restraining order today.
David: We are going much further than that, Mark.