Mark walked through the front doors of the heavy stone mansion with a light heart.
The bright sun shone through the tall glass windows across the white marble foyer floor.
He carried his soft leather briefcase in his right hand after a long morning meeting.
His daughter Lily was playing upstairs in her spacious playroom near the open grand staircase.
Mark loved his five-year-old daughter more than anything else in the whole wide world.
He had spent two hard years building a quiet life after his late wife passed away.
Then he met Evelyn at a high-end charity gala in the heart of downtown Dallas.
Evelyn was elegant and wealthy, coming from a family with a massive land fortune.
She seemed sweet and caring whenever Mark was standing nearby in the large home.
He thought she would make a wonderful stepmother for little Lily as time went on.
They moved into the gated suburban estate just six months after their big quiet wedding.
Mark set his leather briefcase on the dark mahogany console table near the front entrance.
He took a deep breath and listened to the usual quiet sounds of the huge house.
Suddenly he heard a harsh voice ringing out from the high upper balcony level above.
The tone was cold and full of anger, completely unlike Evelyn's usual smooth speaking voice.
Mark froze in place near the marble coat closet and looked up toward the ceiling.
He heard the loud sound of a little girl sniffling in pure fear and sadness.
His heart started pounding fast inside his chest as he took a quick step forward.
He moved silently across the shiny floor toward the bottom of the grand curved stairs.
Evelyn was standing on the upper balcony right beside the large framed family portrait.
Her face was twisted with fury as she towered over little trembling Lily near the railing.
Lily was backing away slowly until her small back touched the white wooden banister.
She was clutching her tiny stuffed yellow rabbit tightly against her dark blue cotton dress.
Evelyn: You are just a constant reminder of his past life!
Lily: I want my daddy, please stop shouting at me!
Evelyn: Your daddy belongs to me now and so does this entire estate!
Mark felt a cold wave of horror rush through his whole body as he listened.
He had never heard his new wife speak with such terrifying and cruel hatred before.
He stepped closer to the first step of the staircase, keeping his shoes very silent.
Evelyn reached out her hand and grabbed the stuffed rabbit right out of Lily's arms.
She held the favorite toy high over the long drop down to the marble floor.
Lily let out a sharp cry and reached her small trembling hands up into the air.
Evelyn: Get out of my life right now!