Mark lunged forward and shoved Victoria away from the stairs, sending her tumbling onto the cold white marble floor. She let out a sharp cry as her elbow hit the hard stone, spilling the remaining iced tea across her green dress. Mark paid her no attention and immediately dropped to his knees beside Clara.
He wrapped his strong arms around his daughter, pulling her small body close against his black suit jacket. Clara buried her face into his chest, weeping uncontrollably as all the stress and fear left her body. Mark pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her cold, wet shoulders, shielding her from the harsh environment.
Mark: It is over now, baby. Dappa is home. Nobody will ever hurt you again.
Clara: She took my phone, Dappa. She locked me in the pantry at night.
Mark: She did WHAT?!
Clara: She said if I told you, she would make sure you never came back.
Mark clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. He looked over his shoulder at Victoria, who was struggling to stand up while holding her bruised arm. Her eyes darted toward the front doors, clearly thinking about making a sudden run for her car parked outside.
Mark: Do not even move an inch! If you step out that door, I will personally make sure you spend the rest of your life in state prison!
Mark stood up while holding Clara safely in his arms. He walked over to the landline phone mounted on the wall near the kitchen entrance and dialed emergency services directly. His voice remained steady and cold as he reported the physical abuse and child endangerment happening inside his home.
Dispatcher: Emergency services, what is your location?
Mark: I need police officers and an ambulance at my estate immediately. My employee abused my young daughter.
Dispatcher: Officers are on their way right now, sir. Stay on the line.
Victoria realized the gravity of the situation and started scrambling toward her designer handbag left on the entryway table. Mark blocked her path with a dark, commanding look that made her freeze instantly in her tracks. The illusion of her power over the household shattered completely.