Glass shattered across the marble floor as the champagne spilled everywhere in sticky pools.
Evelyn clutched her hands together and stared at David with wide eyes full of panic.
David pulled away the heavy broken pieces of stone to reveal wooden planks underneath.
He jammed his fingers into the narrow gap and pulled upward with all his strength.
The old wood groaned loud before snapping completely in half under his desperate pull.
A cold gust of damp air rushed up into the bright room from the darkness below.
David: Ethan! Can you hear me down there, buddy?
Ethan: Daddy! I am down here in the dark room!
David felt tears burn his eyes as he looked down into the hidden concrete shaft.
A small rusty ladder led five feet down into a tiny storage space under the subfloor.
His five-year-old son Ethan was sitting on a cold blanket with tears streaming down his face.
David: Hold on, buddy, I am coming right down to get you!
David turned his head and glared up at Evelyn with pure rage in his eyes.
David: How could you lock my son inside a hole under the floor?
Evelyn: David, let me explain before you make a huge mistake!
David: You put a small child in a dark pit while I was away!
Evelyn: He was misbehaving and I just wanted him to stay quiet!
David stood up quickly and stepped directly into Evelyn's path before she could back away.
David: You are a monster for doing this to my child!
Evelyn stepped backward until her heel caught the edge of the heavy sofa frame.
She stumbled back onto the couch with a loud breath of shock trapped in her throat.
David scooped Lily up into his left arm and held her close against his chest.
David: Stay behind me, Lily, everything is going to be okay now.