Mark pulled his phone from his coat pocket while standing beside his vehicle.
He tapped the small screen to open the live security camera application.
The video feed showed the grand marble hallway inside his home instantly.
Victoria was standing near the large windows with a harsh visual expression.
Her soft smile was gone and her face looked cold and angry.
Lily was standing near the wall while holding an old family album.
Victoria stepped forward and snatched the photo album right out of Lily's hands.
Victoria: This photo album belongs in the trash bin right now!
Mark watched the phone screen in complete shock as Victoria yelled loudly.
She pointed her finger straight at the crying girl's small face angrily.
Victoria: Your father belongs to me now and so does this house!
Lily backed away toward the grand staircase while sobbing very quietly alone.
Victoria grabbed the girl's small coat sleeve and pulled her across the floor.
She demanded that Lily hand over her late mother's gold family bracelet.
Victoria: Give me that heavy gold bracelet before your father returns home!
Lily held her tiny wrist behind her back while shaking her head.
Mark felt his heart pounding violently inside his chest as he watched.
He realized that his new wife had been lying for many months.
Victoria was trying to force Lily to hand over valuable family items.
The stepmother wanted to sell the family inheritance for her own gain.
Mark sprinted down the private driveway back toward the front mansion doors.
His shoes made heavy echoing sounds against the wide stone driveway outside.
He burst through the heavy double doors with absolute anger inside his eyes.
Victoria was still shouting at Lily near the bright marble center hallway.
Mark: Stop right where you are standing right now Victoria!
Victoria jumped back in extreme surprise when she heard Mark's loud voice.
She quickly changed her face and tried to look gentle once again.
Victoria: Mark darling, you came back home so early this afternoon!
Mark walked across the room with fast and heavy steps toward them.
Lily ran straight toward her father and wrapped her arms around him.
Mark dropped to his knees and pulled his sobbing child into a hug.
Mark: You are completely safe now, my sweet little girl.