Mark walked down the marble hallway of his Dallas home with quick steps.
He heard faint crying coming from the grand master bathroom at the end.
The heavy doors were slightly open, letting soft voices carry into the hall.
Mark paused near the gold trim of the doorway to listen closely.
He recognized his young daughter Lily crying behind the wall.
His new wife Victoria was speaking in a sharp and hurried tone.
Mark felt a cold knot form deep inside his stomach immediately.
He pushed the double white doors open with a sudden burst of speed.
Victoria stood near the marble vanity in her golden satin robe.
She held a small silver lighter near a delicate piece of paper.
Lily stood against the tile wall with tears running down her cheeks.
The silver lighter flickered softly in the bright vanity lighting.
Victoria jumped in surprise when the door slammed against the frame.
Her face went completely pale as she looked up at Mark.
Mark: What on earth are you doing with that paper, Victoria?
Victoria pulled her hands back quickly behind her golden satin robe.
Victoria: Mark, it is nothing, just an old piece of trash from the desk!
Lily: She is lying, Daddy! She took grandmother's trust document from my room!
Mark stepped forward into the bathroom with an intense stare.
His breathing was heavy as he looked at Victoria's shaking hands.
Victoria tried to hide the folded paper behind her back entirely.
Mark reached out firmly and took the lighter right from her grip.
He tossed the lighter onto the marble counter with a sharp click.
Mark: Give me that paper right now before things get worse.
Victoria took a step backward toward the large clawfoot bathtub.
She lost her balance slightly on the slippery marble flooring below.
Her heel caught the edge of the rug, making her stumble backward.
Victoria splashed heavily into the bubble-filled clawfoot tub behind her.
Soapy warm water splashed high across the golden bath fixture walls.
She sat up completely soaked, gasping in shock from the cold water.
Mark did not offer a hand to help her stand up.
He turned his back on her and knelt down beside young Lily.
Lily wrapped her small arms tightly around her father's neck.
Mark: Are you okay, sweetheart? Did she hurt you at all?
Lily: I am okay, but she tried to burn the family paper!
Mark reached down and picked up the paper from the wet floor.
He smoothed out the damp edges with his thumbs very carefully.
He recognized his mother's handwriting across the top of the page.
It was the original trust fund agreement signed ten years ago.
Mark looked back at Victoria with disappointment in his eyes.
Victoria wiped soapy foam off her shoulder with a trembling hand.
Victoria: Mark, please listen to me, I was doing this for us!
Mark: You were destroying my daughter's rightful estate inheritance behind my back.
The room fell silent as the water dripped off the bathtub edge.
Mark knew his marriage was changed forever in that single second.
He pulled Lily closer and stood up to face Victoria once more.