Marcus stepped out of his black car and walked up the front steps of his family estate.
The sun was shining brightly over the manicured lawn and the grand white pillars of the mansion.
A large American flag fluttered gently in the afternoon breeze near the stone patio entrance.
He had spent the last two weeks in another state finishing a critical business deal for his firm.
He expected a quiet quiet afternoon with his mother and his young daughter Lily.
Instead, he heard loud chatter and classical music echoing from the outdoor patio area.
Marcus adjusted his suit jacket as he walked through the wide arched doorway toward the noise.
He noticed several expensive luxury cars parked along the long stone driveway.
Dozens of wealthy guests were gathered around tables covered in white silk tablecloths.
His younger brother Julian was standing near the centerpiece table holding a crystal glass.
Julian was dressed in a tailored blue suit and smiled broadly at the visiting crowd.
Beside him stood his wife Victoria, dressed in an eye-catching golden designer gown.
Marcus felt a sudden wave of confusion because no family party had been planned for this weekend.
He had left strict instructions about keeping the house calm for his aging mother Clara.
Clara had been recovering from a mild illness over the past month under private care.
Marcus walked closer to the patio while keeping a sharp watch on the gathering crowd.
None of the guests seemed to notice his arrival as they laughed and drank expensive wine.
He looked around the main tables but did not see his mother anywhere in the area.
He also did not see eight-year-old Lily playing on the grass as she usually did.
A strange feeling of worry started to grow deep inside his chest.
He walked toward Julian and Victoria with slow, deliberate steps across the light stone floor.
Marcus: What exactly is going on here today, Julian?
Julian turned around quickly, nearly dropping his drink on his polished shoes.
Julian: Marcus, you were not supposed to be back until late tomorrow evening!
Victoria: We decided to host a small charity gathering for our local business partners.
Marcus: You should have asked me before inviting fifty strangers into our private home.
Victoria: It is family property, Marcus, so we have every right to use the patio.
Marcus narrowed his eyes as he looked at Victoria's dismissive smile.
Marcus: Where is Mom right now?
Victoria: She is resting upstairs in her bedroom because she was feeling very tired.
Marcus did not believe her words because Victoria looked away too quickly.
He knew that his mother loved sitting outside on sunny afternoons like this one.
Before Marcus could ask another question, he heard small footsteps running across the patio.