The grand foyer was decorated with elaborate ice sculptures and polished acrylic displays.
In the center stood a tall transparent acrylic display case built for the event.
It was surrounded by decorative frost styling to showcase custom jewelry for the auction.
Mark walked toward the main staircase to check on his daughter upstairs again.
He noticed that Victoria was whispering urgently with a stranger near the display.
The man carried a heavy briefcase and wore an expensive dark grey suit.
Mark paused behind a large marble pillar to listen to their quiet conversation.
Victoria: Is the legal trust documentation signed and ready for processing today?
Man: Everything is ready once the child is officially designated under your guardianship.
Victoria: Excellent, Mark will have no legal standing once the board votes today.
Mark felt his heart slam violently against his ribs inside his chest.
He could not believe what his own stepmother was planning behind his back.
He stepped out from behind the pillar with a fierce look in his eyes.
Mark: What legal trust are you talking about right now, Victoria?
Victoria gasped sharply and spun around on her high heels with wide eyes.
Victoria: Mark, you should be reviewing those catering documents in the front office!
Mark: Answer my question before I call my estate attorney right this second.
Victoria adjusted her silver dress and regained her calm cold demeanor instantly.
Victoria: It is merely standard financial management for the family business estate, Mark.
Mark: Where is Lily right now?
Victoria: She is resting safely upstairs in the nursery with her personal caregiver.
Mark turned on his heel and bounded up the marble stairs two steps once.
He pushed open the heavy wooden door to the upstairs nursery suite immediately.
The nursery room was completely empty and the crib was totally cold inside.
The nanny was nowhere to be seen in the entire upper wing hall.
Panic surged through Mark's veins like a sudden surge of electrical shock power.
He sprinted back down the corridor toward the grand balcony overlooking the entrance.
A soft muffled sound caught his attention from the central foyer structure below.
He looked over the balcony railing down into the center of the room.
Victoria was standing beside the tall transparent acrylic tower with a cold smile.
Inside the enclosed display structure sat little Lily swaddled tightly in a blanket.
The display was locked securely to keep the child hidden until the grand reveal.
Victoria wanted to present Lily as an orphaned ward to secure the trust funds.
Mark felt a roar of pure protective fury rise deep inside his chest.