Marcus pulled Lily close against his wide chest right away.
He held her tiny head close to his warm suit jacket.
Lily gasped for air and cried hard into his dark shoulder.
Marcus checked her small arms and legs for any bad injuries.
He felt relieved when he saw she was not hurt at all.
His deep fear turned into absolute rage in one quick second.
He set Lily down safely behind a big soft couch cushion.
He told her to stay there and keep her eyes closed tight.
Then he stood up and turned toward the long grand staircase.
His eyes were burning with pure anger at his cruel sister.
Chloe stood at the top of the stairs looking very pale.
She realized right then that she had gone way too far.
Marcus took big heavy steps up the bright marble stairs.
Chloe tried to step back into the long upper hallway space.
Marcus reached the top of the landing in three fast seconds.
He confronted Chloe directly near the big silk wall hanging.
He raised his voice so loud that the glass windows shook.
He pointed his finger right in front of her nervous face.
He demanded to know why she treated a child so badly.
Chloe tried to make up a cheap lie right on the spot.
She claimed that Lily had tripped on her own big shoelaces.
Marcus shouted that he had seen everything with his own eyes.
He told her that her lies would not save her today.
Chloe began to cry fake tears to get his easy sympathy.
Marcus did not fall for her fake act this time around.
He grabbed her suit bag from the wide hallway closet door.
He threw the heavy bag right down on the marble floor.
He stepped closer and looked straight into her scared eyes.
The air in the big room felt cold and very heavy.