Mark's expensive dress shoes hit the white marble steps with a loud, ringing echo that filled the entire mansion.
He practically flew down the curved staircase, his eyes locked onto the falling piece of silver metal.
The daylight streamed through the vaulted skylights, illuminating every terrifying second of the steep drop.
Lily huddled against the upper railing, sobbing loudly as she watched her mother's treasure plummet toward destruction.
Mark dove across the shiny white floor, extending both hands as far forward as he possibly could.
The heavy silver music box smacked sharply into his open palms just inches above the hard stone floor.
He skidded across the marble, cradling the silver box securely against his chest like a precious shield.
For three long seconds, the grand foyer was dead silent except for Mark's heavy, rapid breathing.
He slowly sat up on the cool marble, checking the delicate silver mechanism in his trembling hands.
The tiny mechanism clicked, and the soft, familiar song began to play quietly in the bright room.
Lily ran down the grand staircase as fast as her little feet could carry her toward her father.
Lily: Daddy, is mommy's song broken into pieces?
Mark: No, sweetie, I caught it just in time.
Mark pulled Lily tightly into a fierce protective embrace, holding her small head against his shoulder.
The little girl sobbed loudly into his tailored jacket, her tiny body shaking from the terrifying shock.
Lily: She said she was going to throw all my mommy's photos away next week!
Mark felt a wave of icy fury surge through his blood as he heard his daughter's trembling confession.
He gently set Lily down near the base of the grand stairs and stood up to his full height.
He looked straight up toward the second-story balcony where Victoria was standing with her arms crossed tightly.
She showed absolutely no remorse, looking down at them with an icy expression of complete indifference.
Victoria: You make such a dramatic scene over a cheap piece of useless junk, Mark.
Mark: Stay right where you are, Victoria!
Mark turned on his heel and bounded back up the white marble staircase with furious, powerful strides.
Victoria took a quick step back as Mark reached the upper balcony floor in mere seconds.
The air between them burned with intense hostility as they stood face to face under the arched light.
Mark: You deliberately tried to destroy the only thing my daughter has left of her late mother!
Victoria: She needs to learn that I am the mistress of this home now, not her dead mother!
Mark slammed his hand down hard against the top of the marble railing, making Victoria gasp in surprise.
Mark: You will never set rules in this house again!
He pointed his finger directly toward the grand front entrance doors down in the wide foyer below.
Mark: Don't you ever dare touch my child or her belongings again in your life!
Victoria: You cannot talk to me like that after everything I have done for your estate!
Mark: Get out of my house before I have security throw you onto the street!