Mark carried Lily inside and wrapped her in a warm towel.
The little girl was still trembling from the cold shock.
He placed her safely on the living room sofa nearby.
Then he turned around to face Elena in the hall.
Mark: How did she fall into the deep end?
Elena: She slipped while running near the slippery pool edge.
Mark: You were supposed to be watching her right there!
Elena: I turned my back for just one brief second!
Mark: You did not even try to help her!
Elena: I do not know how to swim, Mark!
Mark remembered that Elena had taken swimming lessons last summer.
She had swum across that very same pool last week.
The lie hit him like a cold gust of wind.
He stepped closer to Elena with a dark stern expression.
Mark: You know how to swim perfectly fine, Elena.
Elena: You are confusing me with someone else right now!
Mark: Stop lying to my face in this house!
Elena: Why are you blaming me for an accident?
Mark saw a flash of anger cross Elena's face.
She pointed a long manicured finger directly at his chest.
Elena: You care more about her than your wife!
Mark: She is a child and my only daughter!
Elena: She is constantly standing in our way, Mark!
The room went completely silent after those heavy words dropped.
Mark felt his heart freeze inside his chest right then.
He remembered the huge life insurance policy signed last month.
He remembered how keen Elena was on updating the family trust.
Everything was beginning to line up in a terrifying way.
He stared at her with deep disappointment in his eyes.
Mark: What did you really want to happen tonight?
Elena: Do not accuse me of something terrible like that!