Richard Vance walked down the polished hallway of his expansive modern home.
He had spent years building a successful real estate business from the ground up.
His chief focus in life was protecting his young daughter, Lily, after his first wife passed away.
Two years ago, Richard married Evelyn, a woman who seemed kind and gentle at first.
Evelyn loved expensive clothes, fast cars, and spending money from their joint accounts.
Richard believed she would be a wonderful mother figure for his young daughter.
However, small clues began to show that Evelyn cared only about wealth and status.
She was often sharp with Lily whenever Richard was out of the house working.
Lily had grown quiet and withdrawn over the last few months.
Richard assumed his daughter was just grieving her mother or adjusting to the new household dynamics.
On a bright Tuesday morning, Richard returned home early from a high-stakes board meeting.
He placed his briefcase on the foyer table and adjusted his dark charcoal suit jacket.
The mansion was unusually quiet, save for the faint sound of running water upstairs.
He walked up the grand staircase to check on his family before making lunch.
As he approached the master bathroom, he heard a sharp, harsh voice scolding someone inside.
Richard froze near the open doorway and listened intently to the heated tone.
Evelyn: You need to learn how to follow my simple rules!
Lily: I was just looking for my mother's old picture!
Evelyn: I do not care about your excuses or your silly tears!
Richard pushed the heavy double doors open with a sharp, forceful movement.
He saw Evelyn wearing a sleek silver silk robe near the bubbling golden bathtub.
She held a hot flame lighter dangerously close to Lily's small arm.
Lily stood frozen in her light grey dress with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Richard gasped in complete horror as he realized what was happening in front of him.
Richard: What is going on here?!
Evelyn spun around in complete shock, her eyes wide with sudden panic.
Evelyn: She was just being clumsy, I didn't mean to!
Richard rushed forward across the white marble floor without hesitation.
Richard: Get away from her right now!
He grabbed Evelyn's wrist tightly and forced the lighter out of her fingers.
The lighter dropped to the hard floor with a small metallic clatter.
Richard pushed Evelyn backward toward the golden bathtub with full force.
Evelyn lost her balance and fell back into the deep water with a massive splash.
Water poured over the polished rim and soaked the expensive bathroom rug instantly.
Richard paid no attention to her dripping silver robe or her furious yells.
He immediately dropped to his knees on the wet marble beside his sobbing daughter.
Richard: It's okay, daddy's here. I've got you.
He carefully inspected the red mark on Lily's soft arm while holding her close.
Evelyn coughed up water inside the tub, glaring up at Richard in absolute shock.
Richard: Get out of my house before I destroy you!