Mark opened the giant double doors of the house with a quick push.
He carried a heavy black leather briefcase under his left arm.
He had rushed back early from his meeting to surprise his little girl.
He stepped across the threshold and stopped dead in his tracks.
The sharp sound of weeping reached his ears right away.
He saw the ruined cake smeared across the pristine marble floor.
His eyes followed the mess until he spotted his tiny daughter.
Lily sat crumpled in her small chair with tears running down her face.
Mark: What in the world happened in this room?
Victoria: Lily made an accident with her birthday cake, Mark.
Victoria stepped forward with a fake smile painted across her pale face.
She reached toward the child as if trying to comfort her now.
Lily: Daddy, she threw my cake on the floor!
Mark set his heavy briefcase down on the table with a firm thud.
He rushed across the foyer floor to reach his little girl.
He knelt down in front of her chair and opened his arms wide.
Lily threw her small arms around his neck and held on tightly.
Her body trembled as she hid her face inside his dark jacket.
Mark patted her back softly while looking directly at Victoria.
His jaw tightened as he noticed the dark mood in the room.
Mark: You hurt my daughter feelings on her special day!
Victoria: It was only a joke, so do not start shouting at me.
Mark stood up straight while holding his small child securely in his arm.
His face flushed dark red with extreme anger and shock.
He had trusted Victoria to look after his daughter for one hour.
Now he saw the total mess and the pain in his child eyes.
Mark: This was no joke, Victoria, and you know it!
Victoria: You are making a huge deal out of a simple accident.
Victoria crossed her arms over her chest and looked away with annoyance.
She did not offer any apology or try to help clean up.
Mark stepped closer to her while keeping Lily wrapped in his right arm.
The air in the high hall felt thick and cold between them.
He could hear the wind rustling through the outdoor trees.
He had spent months believing Victoria was a kind partner.
Now the mask had fallen completely in a single afternoon.
Mark: Look at what you did to her party hat and plate.
Victoria: We can buy another cake from the store later today.
Mark: Money is not the problem here, and you know that well.
Mark took a deep breath to steady his shaking voice.
He looked down at the paper folder sitting inside his opened briefcase.
The white legal papers were sticking out of the top pocket.
Those documents contained the prenuptial agreement they were supposed to sign.
He reached down with his free hand to grab the white folder.