David loved his small daughter Lily more than anything else in the entire world.
They lived inside a beautiful sunny house with white walls and soft polished marble floors.
Lily was only four years old and loved playing hide and seek in the hallway.
She had a little smile that could brighten even the darkest rainy afternoon.
Ever since her mother passed away, David worked hard to keep her safe and happy.
He ran a successful real estate business in the heart of the bustling town.
Every evening he came home early just to read bedtime stories to his little girl.
Their home was quiet and calm until a new person stepped into their simple lives.
Her name was Evelyn, and she seemed like a soft and caring woman at first.
Evelyn wore fancy deep gowns and spoke in a very sweet and gentle voice.
David thought she would bring warmth and love back into their large lonely home.
He wanted Lily to have a gentle mother figure who would care for her always.
So after months of quiet dating, David asked Evelyn to move into the estate.
At first, everything seemed perfect and full of sweet laughter every single day.
David: I hope this place truly feels like your real home now, Evelyn.
Evelyn: It is wonderful, but we should secure the family trust fund soon.
David: There is plenty of time to discuss legal documents and business later.
Evelyn smiled softly, but her dark eyes kept scanning the large master office room.
She wanted to know where David kept the official records for the entire house.
Under the old laws, the house belonged entirely to David and his young child.
If anything ever happened to David, the whole estate was set for Lily.
Evelyn knew that very well, and it made her heart feel bitter and cold.
She wanted her name added to the mortgage papers and the main deed immediately.
Every time David left for work, Evelyn searched through drawers and locked wooden cabinets.
She looked behind every painting and under every shelf in the bright study room.
Lily watched her stepmother search the rooms with wide and curious brown eyes.
Lily: Are you playing a fun hiding game, Evelyn?
Evelyn: Go play with your plastic toys and leave me alone, child.
Lily felt a sudden chill in her heart whenever Evelyn spoke like that.
The sweet voice Evelyn used around David vanished the moment he drove away.
One sunny Tuesday morning, David placed a dark mahogany box on his office desk.
Inside the box were the original inheritance papers and the family estate title.
David forgot to lock the heavy desk drawer before leaving for an urgent meeting.
Lily saw the pretty shiny box while chasing her small rubber toy ball inside.
She picked up the light box and carried it into her small playroom corner.
She liked the smooth wood and tucked it neatly inside her toy chest.