Mark rushed into the bright laundry room as his heart shattered into pieces.
He dropped down on both knees beside his crying eight-year-old daughter.
He wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her close to his chest.
Mark: What happened to your hands, Lily?! Talk to me, sweetie!
Lily rested her wet face against his shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.
Lily: Mommy made me stay home from school to wash heavy pots!
Mark: She made you scrub iron pots in steaming hot water all day?
Lily: She said I was lazy and told me not to stop until you arrived!
Mark looked at Lily's raw red palms and felt a wave of absolute fury.
He carefully turned off the running hot water faucets with quick motions.
He guided Lily to sit safely on a dry chair near the back wall art.
Mark: Sit right here, baby, Dad is going to take care of everything now.
Mark stood up fast, his jaw clenched tightly with intense anger and betrayal.
He turned around and marched toward Chloe, who was standing near the door.
Chloe put her hands up and tried to look scared and completely innocent.
Chloe: Mark, honey, she is lying to you! She wanted to help me!
Mark: Do not dare call her a liar after what you just did!
Chloe: She spilled grease everywhere, so I asked her to help clean it!
Mark: She is an eight-year-old child, not a servant in this house!
Chloe: You are raising her to be spoiled and disobedient to adults!
Mark pointed his finger directly at Chloe's face as his voice boomed loud.
Mark: You lied to me, you mistreated my daughter, and you ruined our trust!
Chloe: It was just a simple household task, you are completely overreacting!
Mark: Get out of my house right now before I call the police!
Chloe's polite mask slipped away, revealing a harsh and bitter snarl on her face.
Chloe: You can't just kick me out, I am legally your lawful wife!
Mark: You will leave this house today, or I will file formal charges!
Chloe stepped back into the hallway, clutching her pink blouse in anger.
Chloe: You will regret this, Mark, I will take half of everything you own!
Mark: You will not get a single dime from me or this estate!
Mark grabbed Chloe's purse and coat from the front hallway hook instantly.
He shoved them into her hands and opened the big front entrance door wide.
Mark: Get out right now and do not ever come near my child again!
Chloe stumbled out onto the front porch as neighbors watched from across the street.
Mark slammed the door shut and locked every single deadbolt on the frame.
He leaned back against the solid door, shaking with outrage and deep relief.
He knew this conflict was far from over, but his daughter was safe now.
He turned back down the hallway to comfort his sweet, traumatized little girl.