David loved his mansion on the quiet edge of the city. High marble floors and bright white walls made the home feel huge and clean every morning. A sharp framed American flag hung in the grand living room right above the wide sofa. It was a gift from his late father after David earned his first major business win years ago.
He lived there with his eight-year-old daughter Lily and his new wife Victoria. Victoria was young and liked expensive things like silky white dresses and soft leather bags. They had been married for only six short months, but small arguments were already starting to grow bigger in the house.
David walked down the hallway carrying his leather briefcase after a long morning at his investment corporate office downtown. He expected to hear Lily laughing or watching her favorite cartoons in the bright family room near the back patio. Instead, the big house felt completely silent and cold as he walked inside the foyer.
He placed his briefcase on the hall table and adjusted the cuffs of his clean white suit jacket carefully. Something felt wrong in the air, but he could not tell what it was just yet. He took three steps toward the kitchen to fetch a cold glass of fresh water.
Suddenly, a fast muffled thumping noise hit the thick glass doors near the back garden patio. David stopped in his tracks and turned his head toward the back garden immediately. He saw small hands hitting the clear glass pane with frantic force over and over again.
It was his small daughter Lily crying outside on the sun-baked stone patio floor. Her eyes were red, and her long brown hair was damp from sweat in the bright summer heat. The heavy glass doors were locked tight from the inside with the deadbolt turned straight.
David dropped his car keys onto the polished floor with a loud metallic crash. He ran across the vast living room as fast as his feet could carry him. His heart pounded wildly inside his chest like a heavy wooden drum beat.
He grabbed the gold metal latch and twisted it open with a loud click sound. He pushed the heavy glass french door wide open and leaned down to grab his daughter. Lily fell forward into his arms, sobbing so hard that her tiny body shook against his chest.
Lily: Daddy! Oh Daddy, you came back for me!
David pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her tiny back to comfort her. He felt her hot skin through her light cotton shirt and felt absolute horror inside his stomach. He lifted her off the stone floor easily and stepped back into the cool house.
David: Shh, it is okay baby. Daddy has got you right now.
He looked across the vast living room to see where his wife Victoria was standing. She stood near the white fireplace wearing a crisp white dress, holding a stiff Manila paper envelope calmly. She did not look worried or upset at all as she took a small sip from a cup.