Mark Montgomery hurried into the bright foyer holding his leather executive briefcase tightly.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Elena kneeling on the marble floor.
She was crying, cradling the small baby who let out loud, startled whimpers.
"What is happening here?" Mark demanded, his voice echoing off the high ceiling.
Elena pointed up toward the high balcony with a trembling finger right away.
"She let the baby drop over the railing!" Elena sobbed, catching her breath.
Mark lifted his eyes instantly to see his wife standing near the edge above.
Victoria pressed her hands against her mouth, tears running down her pale cheeks.
Mark's face filled with furious anger as he dropped his heavy leather briefcase down.
He took massive strides toward the curved staircase leading up to the second floor.
"Victoria, what did you just do?" Mark shouted, his loud voice booming around.
Victoria retreated backward toward the hallway wall, shaking her head in complete panic.
"It was an accident, Mark! I lost my grip!" Victoria pleaded frantically.
"An accident?" Mark roared, stopping right on the top step facing her directly.
"You almost destroyed our entire world in a single moment!" he screamed out.
Elena stood up carefully, cradling little Lucas closely against her pink uniform apron.
She walked toward the front hallway phone to dial the emergency medical service number.
Mark pointed his shaking finger straight at Victoria's tear-stained face with deep fury.
"Get out of my house immediately!" Mark yelled, his voice cracking from rage.
"Mark, please listen to me for one second!" Victoria begged on her knees.
"Call 911 right now, Elena!" Mark ordered, ignoring Victoria's desperate weeping entirely.
The heavy house air felt icy cold as the truth began to unravel fast.