Mark stood frozen behind the thick green hedge as his hands gripped his heavy briefcase.
He watched his small daughter pedaling her tiny red tricycle down the concrete path.
Lily smiled softly as she looked at the bright colorful flowers along the walk.
Sarah stepped closer to the small child with long and heavy steps.
Her face looked very dark and angry in the bright morning sunlight.
She did not look like the sweet woman Mark had married six months ago.
Mark leaned forward slightly so he could hear what Sarah was saying.
Sarah lowered her head right next to the little girl's tiny ear.
Her voice sounded cold and nasty as she spoke to the innocent toddler.
She told the child that her daddy was not there to protect her now.
Mark felt a cold chill run all the way down his spine.
He could not believe the mean words coming from his wife's mouth.
Before Mark could step out from the bushes Sarah raised her right arm.
She gave the small metal handlebar of the tricycle a firm sharp shove.
The tiny toddler lost her balance instantly on the hard edge of the walk.
Lily tumbled off the small red seat and fell hard onto the ground.
Her tiny knees hit the rough grass with a loud dull thud.
The small child began to cry hysterically as she rolled onto her side.
Her loud crying echoed off the front walls of the large brick house.
Sarah just stood over the small child with her arms crossed tightly.
She did not reach down to help the crying child pick herself up.
A wave of pure white rage rushed through Mark's whole entire body.
He dropped his expensive leather briefcase directly onto the dirt ground.
He sprinted around the edge of the tall green bush onto the open sidewalk.
His fast running shoes made loud slapping noises on the hot pavement.
Sarah turned her head quickly and her eyes went wide with pure horror.
She had no idea that Mark was still standing in the front yard.
Mark dropped straight down to his knees beside his weeping little girl.
He gathered tiny Lily gently into his strong protective arms.
The small child rested her wet teary face against his soft grey shirt.
She cried out that her knees hurt very badly from the sudden fall.
Mark rubbed her small back and held her tightly against his chest.
He looked up at Sarah with fierce anger burning inside his eyes.
Sarah quickly took a big step backward onto the bright green grass.
She put her hands up in the air with a defensive gesture.
She claimed that the little girl had simply lost her balance and fallen.
She lied directly to Mark's face and said she was trying to help.
Mark stood up slowly while holding his precious daughter close to his heart.
His face twisted into absolute fury as he pointed at the mean stepmother.
He shouted loudly that she was a liar because he saw her shove the child.
Sarah gasped sharply and clutched her beige shirt with both her hands.
The quiet neighborhood street went completely silent for several tense seconds.
Mark raised his strong voice so the next door neighbors could hear every word.
He commanded Sarah to get out of his house and off his property immediately.