The second floor of the mansion featured an open balcony that overlooked the grand foyer below.
A thick decorative marble railing ran along the edge to keep everyone completely safe from falling.
Lily liked to play with her small stuffed bear while looking down at the front door foyer.
Victoria walked up the stairs behind the girl with heavy footsteps clicking on the hard floor.
She wanted to redecorate the upper landing and moved several heavy marble planters near the edge.
She told Lily to help her push a heavy box closer to the open balcony balustrade.
The child struggled with the weight and stepped onto a loose polished area of the floor tile.
Victoria did not reach out to hold the girl's arm as she lost her foot balance suddenly.
Lily lost her balance completely near the low section of the decorative balcony edge.
The small girl let out a terrified cry as her feet slipped out from under her frame.
She tumbled right over the edge of the marble balcony toward the smooth floor below.
At that exact moment, the heavy wooden front doors of the mansion swung wide open.
David had forgotten an important legal document for his meeting and returned home unexpectedly early.
He stepped into the foyer just in time to see his young daughter falling through the air.
His heart dropped into his stomach as pure shock ran through his entire body.
A loud gasp escaped his chest as he dropped his briefcase right onto the rug floor.
Without hesitating for even a fraction of a second, David sprinted forward across the slick marble floor.
He threw his body across the floor in a desperate slide toward the landing spot below.
His knees hit the hard polished surface as he stretched out his long arms completely wide.
Lily screamed in pure terror as she fell downward toward the cold stone floor below her.
David slid underneath her falling body at the absolute final second before impact occurred.
He caught his small daughter securely against his chest as they tumbled together onto the floor.
The heavy impact knocked the wind right out of David's chest on the hard marble.
He held her tight against his heart, refusing to let go for even one quick breath.
Lily wrapped her small arms around his neck and began weeping uncontrollably against his suit collar.
Lily: Daddy, I was so scared!
David held her tight as tears of relief welled up in his own wide dark eyes.
David: I have got you, sweetheart, you are completely safe now.