Mark heard a loud thump coming from the second floor landing.
He stopped at the bottom of the staircase and listened very carefully.
A sharp gasp filled the air as someone moved quickly upstairs.
Mark saw Sarah standing near the upper balustrade in her bright blue shirt.
Her face was pale and her eyes were wide with sudden shock.
She looked down at Mark with a trembling lower lip.
Mark felt a wave of cold panic wash over his entire body.
He knew that something was deeply wrong in his home.
Before he could speak, the sound of tiny running feet echoed above.
Lily appeared at the top of the white marble stairs in her red dress.
Tears were streaming down the little girl's pale cheeks.
She looked terrified and held her arms out toward her father.
Mark did not hesitate for even a single second.
He rushed frantically across the wide marble foyer toward the stairs.
His sharp leather shoes slapped hard against the cold floor.
He dropped to his knees right at the foot of the staircase.
Lily came running down as fast as her small legs could move.
She threw herself directly into her father's waiting arms.
Mark wrapped his strong arms around her fragile body and pulled her close.
The little girl sobbed loudly against his crisp blue jacket.
Mark could feel her heart racing against his own chest.
He stroked her soft hair with deep emotional tenderness.
He tried his best to soothe her trembling shoulders.
He promised himself that no one would ever harm his child.
The silence in the foyer was broken only by her small cries.
Mark looked up toward the top of the grand staircase.
Sarah was still standing there, holding the handrail tightly.
Her hands were shaking as she stared down at them.
Mark demanded to know what had just happened upstairs.