The next morning started like any other busy weekday for the family.
Mark put on his dark navy suit and adjusted his blue silk tie in front of the mirror.
He pretended that he had an early client meeting across town at nine o'clock.
Mark: I will be back late tonight because of the corporate lawsuit negotiations.
Vanessa: Take your time, honey, Lily and I will have a wonderful afternoon together.
Vanessa kissed his cheek with a gentle warmth that felt completely convincing.
Mark walked out the front door and closed it firmly behind himself.
Instead of driving to his office downtown, he parked his sedan two blocks away.
He pulled out his smartphone and opened a secure surveillance application.
Months ago, Mark had hired an security firm to protect his property against break-ins.
The installers had put visible cameras near the entryways and outer perimeter fences.
However, Mark had secretly installed hidden tiny cameras inside key interior rooms as well.
He tapped the screen to view the live feed from the kitchen area.
What he saw on the screen made his blood run completely cold in an instant.
Vanessa was no longer smiling or acting like a loving stepmother.
Her face looked strict, hard, and full of unwarranted bitterness toward the child.
Vanessa: Stop whining and clean up those spilled crayons on the floor!
Lily: I am sorry, Vanessa, I dropped them by accident!
Mark watched as Vanessa grabbed the little girl roughly by the arm.
Lily began to cry softly, hiding her face behind her small hands.
Vanessa: If you complain to your father, I will make sure you stay inside the dark room!
Mark felt a wave of pure disbelief crash over his entire body.
The woman he had married was tormenting his helpless little girl in secret.
He started his car engine and sped back toward the house immediately.