Lily tilted the phone screen closer to her bright blue eyes.
She recognized Vanessa's face instantly in the clear photo display.
Vanessa was hugging another man on a sunny warm beach.
They were smiling together and kissing near the bright blue water.
The text messages underneath contained words of love and secrets.
Lily remembered seeing this same man at Vanessa's apartment building once.
Vanessa had told Lily that the man was just her cousin.
But the messages on the screen clearly proved something very different.
Lily felt confused and sad as she scrolled through the messages.
She loved her father deeply and did not want him hurt.
Suddenly, the bridal suite door swung wide open with force.
Vanessa stepped out holding her heavy lace wedding train up high.
She caught sight of young Lily holding her personal unlocked smartphone.
Vanessa's face instantly flushed red with intense rage and pure panic.
Vanessa: What are you doing with my phone?!
Lily: I saw the pictures... Who is this man, Vanessa?
Vanessa: Give me that phone right now!
Vanessa lunged forward aggressively toward the small helpless child.
She grabbed Lily's wrist firmly and tried to yank the device.
Lily held onto the phone with both hands while stepping back.
Lily: No! Stop, please! You are hurting my wrist!
Vanessa: Hand it over right now, you little brat!
Vanessa snatched the phone furiously out of Lily's tiny trembling hands.
Lily stumbled backward onto the hard marble floor of the corridor.
Tears began streaming down the young girl's pale wet cheeks.
Vanessa glared at Lily with cold eyes filled with terrifying anger.
She lowered her voice into a sharp and bitter quiet whisper.
Vanessa: You will keep your mouth shut if you know what is good.
Lily: You lied to daddy! You do not love him!
Vanessa: Listen to me, you stupid little girl.
Vanessa: Nobody is going to believe anything you say today.
Lily backed away on her hands and knees in pure terror.
She had never seen Vanessa act this cruel or terrifying before.
The gentle mother figure was completely gone in that dark moment.
Vanessa hid the smartphone fast behind her elaborate white wedding bouquet.
She smoothed her white gown down and took a sharp breath.
Vanessa: Stand up and wipe those pathetic tears off your face.
Lily: I want my daddy! I want daddy!
Lily scrambled up and sprinted down the hallway toward the ballroom.