Mark sat in his office overlooking the skyline of Dallas, Texas.
He was a successful businessman who loved his seven-year-old daughter, Lily, more than anything.
After losing his first wife, Mark had felt lonely for years.
Then he met Evelyn, a polished woman who seemed kind and caring.
They married in a beautiful ceremony six months ago.
Evelyn moved into Mark's sprawling mansion with enthusiasm.
She promised to treat Lily just like her own child.
However, Mark noticed subtle changes in Lily's behavior recently.
The once cheerful little girl became quiet and jumpy.
Lily began flinching whenever Evelyn entered the room.
Mark asked his daughter if everything was fine at home.
Lily always lowered her head and stayed silent.
Uneasy feelings started growing deep inside Mark's heart.
He decided to install discreet security cameras throughout the house.
He told no one about the new monitoring system.
The cameras connected directly to an app on his smartphone.
Mark hoped he was just being overly paranoid.
He prayed the footage would prove Evelyn was wonderful.
That afternoon, Mark had an important meeting downtown.
He left Lily at home under Evelyn's care.
While reviewing emails, a motion notification popped up on his phone.
The alert indicated activity in the master bathroom upstairs.
Mark tapped the screen to open the live feed.
What he saw made his blood run cold instantly.