Arthur took a slow sip of his black coffee in the bright kitchen.
He suddenly heard a sharp noise echo across the high marble ceilings.
It sounded like a faint gasp coming from the second-floor balcony balcony area.
He put his ceramic cup down quickly on the dark quartz countertop.
His instinct told him that something was terribly wrong upstairs.
Up on the landing, Evelyn stood over the young girl near the decorative banister.
She grabbed the child's small shoulder with a harsh and sudden grip.
Lily stumbled backward against the low marble ledge in complete surprise.
The little girl looked up into her stepmother's cold and unmoving eyes.
Evelyn pushed the child over the edge into the open space of the atrium.
Lily screamed out in pure panic as her feet lost contact with the floor.
Her bright red dress fluttered violently as she fell through the open air.
The horrifying scream tore through the quiet atmosphere of the whole mansion.
Arthur dashed out of the kitchen and into the high-key white atrium.
He raised his eyes and saw his daughter falling from the second story.
His heart stopped as pure adrenaline surged through his entire body.
He threw his phone to the floor and sprinted across the polished floor medallion.
The distance felt immense as the seconds seemed to stretch into eternity.
He tracked his daughter's descent while calculating her exact path down.
The girl's high-pitched cries echoed wildly off the classical marble pillars.
Arthur launched himself forward with every ounce of physical strength he possessed.
He extended his arms completely just as the child reached the lower level.
He caught her firmly against his chest a split second before impact.