The next afternoon Arthur returned home early from his downtown legal office downtown.
He walked quietly through the front entrance so he could surprise his little daughter.
The sunlight washed through the high glass windows onto the white floor upstairs.
Suddenly he heard loud shouting coming from the second floor balcony near the stairs.
Arthur stopped near the tall wooden columns and listened to the angry voices above.
Elena: You are ruined my expensive silk dress!
Lily: It was an accident, Elena!
Elena: You did that on purpose, you bad child!
Lily: Please do not take my toy away!
Arthur ran toward the wide marble staircase as fast as his legs could move.
He saw Elena standing over Lily on the landing near the tall wooden railing.
Elena was holding Lily's favorite pink rabbit high up in the cool open air.
She was threatening to drop the soft toy down onto the hard floor below.
Lily was crying softly and reaching her small hands up toward her beloved toy.
Elena: Learn to respect me or you lose everything!
Lily: Give it back to me, please!
Arthur: What are you doing right now, Elena!
Elena turned her head quickly and her green dress swished across the polished floor.
She dropped the pink rabbit intentionally over the edge of the high second floor balcony.
The stuffed animal fell rapidly through the open space toward the cold marble tiles.
Lily gasped in fear and leaned dangerously close over the polished top balcony rail.
Arthur sprinted forward across the hallway floor to catch his terrified little daughter instantly.
He wrapped his strong arms around Lily and pulled her back onto safe ground.
His heart was pounding wildly against his ribs as he held her tiny body close.
Lily buried her wet face into his gray suit jacket and sobbed with heavy gasps.
Lily: Daddy, I was so scared up there!
Arthur: I have you now, my brave girl.
Elena: She tripped on her own feet, Arthur!
Arthur: I saw what you just did, Elena!
Elena: She is turning you against me on purpose!
Arthur looked at Elena with absolute shock and rising anger in his dark eyes.
He could not believe the woman he married could act so cruel toward a child.
Elena rushed down the front steps with a dramatic and panicked look on her face.
She pretended to be the victim while wiping fake tears from her cold eyes.
Arthur held his crying child firmly and pointed his long finger toward the door.
He realized that his new marriage was built on terrible lies and dark secrets.