Suddenly a tall older man walked quickly across the polished dance floor.
Grandfather Arthur wore a tailored dark navy suit with a red lapel pin.
He was the founder of the multimillion dollar family trust fund and corporation.
Arthur had been talking to business partners when he heard the commotion.
His face turned dark with anger as he saw his granddaughter in tears.
He knelt down on the wooden floor right beside little Lily.
Arthur pulled the crying girl into a tight and loving embrace.
Grandfather Arthur: It is okay, my sweet little girl.
Lily: Grandpa, she crushed my flower for no reason!
Grandfather Arthur: Grandpa is right here, and nobody will ever hurt you again.
Arthur stood up slowly and placed his body directly in front of Lily.
His eyes burned with intense anger as he glared at Victoria.
Victoria took a quick step back toward a rack of display clothes.
The metal hangers rattled loudly as her red dress brushed against them.
Mark ran over quickly with a nervous expression on his pale face.
He put his hands up in the air to stop his father.
Mark: Dad, please do not make a scene in front of our guests!
Grandfather Arthur: You hit my granddaughter's heart just to impress this woman?
Arthur stepped forward and grabbed Mark firmly by his suit lapels.
He pushed Mark away from the child with tremendous physical strength.
Mark stumbled backward onto a stack of black equipment road cases.
The plastic cases crashed loudly against the wooden floor with a thud.
The whole ballroom went completely silent as the crowd gasped in shock.
Victoria: How dare you touch your own son like that!
Grandfather Arthur: Silence yourself before I have security remove you immediately!
Arthur pointed a strong finger directly at Victoria's terrified face.
Victoria opened her mouth to argue but no sound came out.
She looked around the room and saw everyone staring at her in disgust.
Mark slowly pushed himself up from the fallen black cases on the floor.
His face was red with deep shame and embarrassment in front of everyone.
Mark: Dad, we were just trying to teach her proper manners.
Grandfather Arthur: Cruelty is not manners, Mark, and you know that well.
Arthur wrapped his heavy arm around Lily's small shoulders protectively.
He turned his back on his son and the cold woman in red.
The guests began whispering loudly to each other across the ballroom floor.
Victoria felt her heart pounding fast as she realized her mistake.
She had underestimated how much Arthur loved his little granddaughter Lily.