Mark carried Maya through the side service door into the spacious three-car garage.
In the corner stood a large black plastic recycling bin lined with fresh bags.
Mark opened the lid, reaching deep inside until his hand brushed against the soft brown fur of Maya's favorite teddy bear.
Mark: Found him! Mr. Brown is safe and sound, Maya.
Maya grabbed the stuffed bear, hugging it tightly against her red sweater as tears of relief filled her eyes.
Maya: Thank you, Daddy! I was so scared he was gone forever!
Mark: Nobody is taking anything from you ever again, Maya. I promise you that on my life.
They walked back into the bright kitchen, where the quiet hum of the refrigerator filled the room.
Mark set Maya down at the wooden breakfast table, pulling out a chair for her like a little princess.
Mark: You sit right here. I'm going to find Mommy's locket before Evelyn leaves this house.
Mark walked down the grand carpeted hallway toward the master suite on the first floor.
Inside the bedroom, Evelyn was frantically stuffing expensive designer handbags into a leather suitcase.
Mark: Hand over the locket, Evelyn.
Evelyn: I don't have your precious locket, Mark! Check your daughter's messy room!
Mark: Evelyn, Sam is standing outside this door. I can have a female officer search your bags at the police station.
Evelyn: You are a arrogant, cold-hearted monster, Mark Vance!
Mark: I am a father protecting his child from a greedy parasite who married me for my bank account.
Evelyn unzipped her silk robe pocket, pulled out the gold antique locket, and threw it violently onto the king-sized bed.
Evelyn: Take your cheap trinket! It's not even worth ten thousand dollars anyway!
Mark picked up the gold locket, wiping a thumb over the engraved initials on the back.
Mark: To you, it's worth ten thousand dollars. To my daughter, it's priceless.
Evelyn: I'm calling my divorce attorney the moment I step foot outside these gates!
Mark: Tell him to read Section 4, Paragraph B of our prenuptial contract. Any act of cruelty or theft forfeits all spousal support claims.
Evelyn stopped mid-reach, her face turning bright red as she glared at him in utter disbelief.
Evelyn: You put a cruelty clause in our prenup?!
Mark: I put it in to protect my daughter. I knew you were ambitious, but I never imagined you were this cruel.
Evelyn: You tricked me!
Mark: You tricked yourself by thinking money gives you the right to abuse a motherless child.
Sam stepped into the doorway, holding a clipboard in his hands.
Sam: Mr. Vance, the taxi Evelyn ordered has arrived at the front gates.
Mark: Excellent. Sam, make sure she leaves every piece of jewelry purchased with my credit cards on that dresser.
Evelyn: Those were gifts!
Mark: Those were purchases made on my corporate account. Leave them, or face theft charges before lunch.