Mark stood on the soft green grass of his backyard and felt his whole world shift.
His heart was pounding violently against his ribs as he stared at his wife.
Valerie looked back at him with cold anger in her dark blue eyes.
Little Lily was hiding behind Mark's legs while clutching her brother's hand tightly.
Her favorite white summer dress was covered in brown dirt stains from the garden.
Mark: How could you scream at her over a dirty dress?
Valerie: She deliberately ruined the clothes I bought her for the party!
Lily: I tripped on the garden hose by accident, Daddy!
Mark: I hear you, sweetheart, and it is completely okay.
Mark gently squeezed Lily's small trembling hand to let her know she was safe.
He then looked up at Valerie with a cold and steady gaze.
Valerie: You always spoil them and make me look like the bad guy!
Mark: You were threatening to lock her outside in the shed, Valerie!
Valerie: I was just trying to scare her into listening to me!
Leo: You pushed me away when I tried to help her!
Mark: Did you lay a hand on my son as well?
Valerie: He grabbed my arm, so I brushed him off!
Mark felt a wave of deep disappointment wash over his entire body.
He had married Valerie two years after his first wife passed away from illness.
At first, Valerie seemed sweet, caring, and deeply devoted to his young family.
She had welcomed Leo and Lily into her life with big warm smiles.
But over the past few months, her calm tone had changed into constant anger.
She complained endlessly about the mess the children made around the big suburban house.
She insisted on strict rules that made the little kids feel completely unwanted.
Mark had tried to talk to her calmly on many different occasions before.
He had believed she was simply stressed from her new job at the firm.
Now he realized the problem was much deeper than simple daily stress.
Mark: Go inside the house right now, kids.
Leo: Are you going to be okay, Dad?
Mark: I will be right inside in two minutes, buddy.
Leo led his little sister up the wooden steps of the back porch.
The heavy glass patio door clicked softly as the two children went inside.
Mark turned back to face Valerie, who stood with her arms crossed tightly.
Valerie: Do not speak to me like I am a stranger in this house!
Mark: You acted like a monster toward my little girl today!
Valerie: I am trying to run this household with proper structure and respect!
Mark: You do not get to frighten my kids to get respect!
Valerie: If you do not like my rules, maybe we should reconsider everything!
Mark: I think that is the smartest thing you have said all day.