Richard stepped into the wide kitchen archway wearing his dark tailored suit.
He carried his leather briefcase in his right hand and looked exhausted from travel.
His flight from New York had landed two hours early due to favorable tailwinds.
He had wanted to surprise his family with a quick return before the weekend.
But as his eyes scanned the room, his expression instantly turned dark and cold.
He saw his daughter standing by the sink in a dark maid uniform.
Her face was wet with tears and her knuckles were raw and swollen.
Lily: Daddy?
The soft whisper escaped Lily's lips as her knees began to tremble.
Lily: Please stop... it hurts...
Richard dropped his heavy briefcase onto the floor with a loud thud.
The sound bounced off the high marble walls like a gunshot.
His jaw tightened so hard that the muscles in his cheeks twitched nervously.
He walked forward with slow, deliberate steps toward the kitchen island.
Victoria scrambled out of her chair, spilling red wine across the white counter.
Victoria: Oh, you came back early from New York...
She tried to force a warm, natural smile onto her trembling lips.
Victoria: We were just teaching Lily some basic life discipline, darling.
Richard: Silence!
His voice boomed through the mansion like thunder in a summer storm.
He didn't look at Victoria; his eyes remained fixed on his crying child.
He reached out and gently lifted Lily's red, soapy hands out of the sink water.
He felt the cold, rough fabric of the maid uniform under his fingers.
A surge of fierce, protective rage flooded through his chest.
Richard: Who put this uniform on my daughter?
Victoria backed up until her hips pressed against the edge of the table.
Victoria: She needed to learn humility, Richard!
Victoria: You spoil her too much, and she disrespected me yesterday!
Lily: I didn't do anything, Dad!
Lily: She took my phone and locked me in the house four days ago!
Richard raised a long finger and pointed it directly at Victoria's face.
His eyes were wide and glaring with absolute disgust and burning fury.
Richard: How dare you make my daughter do this!
Richard: Get out of my house right now!
Before Victoria could answer, two tall security guards rushed into the kitchen.
They were part of the estate's private security team posted at the gate.
They had heard Richard's roaring voice echoing out toward the driveway.
Richard: Escort this woman off my property immediately.
Victoria: Richard, you can't be serious!
Victoria: I am your wife!
The heavy guards grabbed Victoria firmly by both arms before she could resist.
She dropped her wine glass, sending red liquid and glass shards across the tiles.
They hauled her backward out of the kitchen as she shouted and protested loudly.
Richard pulled Lily into a tight, protective hug against his warm suit jacket.
Lily buried her face in his chest and sobbed uncontrollably.