Mark held his daughter tightly against his chest while looking down at the untouched cup sitting nearby.
The steam rising from the hot liquid smelled strange, carrying a sharp chemical odor beneath the sweet honey scent.
Victoria took two more quick steps back, her expensive heels clicking loudly against the immaculate floor tiles.
Mark: Why are you stepping away if you did nothing wrong, Victoria?
Victoria: I am upset that your child would accuse me of such an awful thing!
Mark set Lily gently down behind his feet, keeping himself firmly positioned between the woman and his daughter.
He reached down toward his mobile phone and pulled up the home security mobile application on his screen.
Victoria's eyes darted toward the high corners of the ceiling where subtle security cameras were hidden out of view.
She had forgotten that Mark updated the home security system just two weeks before their planned summer wedding.
Victoria: Mark, please, let us talk about this like two sensible adults in private.
Mark: Stay right where you are while I check the recorded video footage from ten minutes ago.
Mark tapped the glass phone screen with a cold, steady thumb while keeping his eyes fixed on Victoria.
The recorded footage showed Victoria standing near the kitchen counter with a small glass bottle in her palm.
She had poured a clear liquid into the ceramic mug right before walking into the main entrance hallway.
Mark felt a cold chill run through his entire body as he watched the clear proof unfold before him.
Mark: You really tried to ruin my life inside my own home, didn't you?
Victoria: It is not what it looks like, Mark! I can explain everything!
Lily held onto her father's pant leg, wiping her wet cheeks with the sleeve of her yellow pajamas.
Lily: I saw her open the cabinet under the sink before you walked downstairs, Daddy.
Mark pulled out his phone again and immediately dialed the local emergency precinct number without hesitating once.