Mark sat in his office and stared at the framed photo of his daughter, Lily.
Her bright smile always gave him the strength to keep working hard every day.
After his late wife passed away, Mark worked double shifts as a mechanic to survive.
Everything changed when he met Victoria at a charity car repair event last year.
Victoria was a wealthy businesswoman who inherited millions from her late father's estate.
She owned a grand mansion in Dallas, Texas, with white marble floors and giant doors.
Mark believed that marrying Victoria would give eight-year-old Lily a bright and safe future.
They were getting married in two weeks, and Mark had just moved into the estate.
However, Lily seemed unusually quiet whenever Victoria walked into the sunny living room.
Mark walked down the hallway and noticed Lily standing near the large kitchen island.
Lily was holding her favorite stuffed rabbit tightly against her blue cotton dress.
Victoria was pouring a glass of fresh juice while wearing a high-end silk robe.
Mark smiled as he approached the entrance of the bright white kitchen area.
Mark: Good morning, my two favorite girls.
Victoria: Good morning, darling. I was just offering Lily some morning breakfast.
Lily: I am not hungry, Daddy.
Mark: Are you feeling okay, sweetie?
Lily: My stomach just hurts a little bit today.
Mark knelt down on the cold floor and touched his daughter's soft forehead.
She did not have a fever, but her small hands were trembling slightly.
Victoria offered a warm smile, but her eyes remained cold and unreadable.
Victoria: She is probably just nervous about changing to her new private school.
Mark: Maybe you are right. I need to run to the auto shop briefy.
Lily: Daddy, please do not leave me here alone!
Mark: I will be back in less than one hour, Lily.
Victoria: Go handle your business, Mark. I will take good care of her.
Mark kissed Lily's cheek and walked toward the grand front double entrance doors.
He felt a strange knot in his stomach as he started his truck.
Something about Victoria's overly sweet voice made him feel deeply uneasy today.