Mark carried Toby up the broad spiral staircase directly to his colorful second-floor bedroom.
He set the boy down gently onto the soft blue mattress near the window.
Toby was still taking short, shaky breaths as he clutched his stuffed bear.
Mark sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked his son's hair.
Mark: Hey buddy, can you tell me what happened down there earlier?
Toby: She gets really angry whenever you travel away for work, Daddy.
Mark: Has she ever treated you like that before today?
Toby: She told me not to talk to you about our daily routine.
Mark felt a cold chill run down his spine as he heard those words.
He had married Sarah two years ago, long after Toby's biological mother had passed away.
Sarah had always seemed like a kind, caring partner in front of his wealthy relatives.
She managed the large household and helped organize charitable events for their local community.
Yet Toby had grown increasingly quiet and distant over the past few several months.
Mark had foolishly assumed his son was just struggling with standard childhood developmental changes.
Now he realized he had missed very obvious signs right inside his home.
Mark: You never have to keep secrets from me, Toby, ever again.
Toby: She said you would leave us if I made any trouble.
Mark: That is completely untrue, and I am never leaving your side.
Mark kissed his son's forehead and waited until the boy finally fell asleep.
He walked out into the quiet hallway and locked the bedroom door behind him.
The silence of the large house now felt oppressive and deeply unsettling to him.
He needed to find solid proof before making any sudden accusations against Sarah.
He remembered the modern security camera system he had installed near the front ceiling.
The central hub computer was located inside his private home office on the main floor.
He walked quietly down the back staircase toward the locked wooden office door.