Mark carried Lily gently down the grand staircase into the bright living room downstairs.
He sat her safely on the soft velvet couch with her favorite blanket.
He wiped the hot tears off her pale cheeks with his soft thumb.
Mark: Stay right here with your stuffed bear while I handle this now.
Lily: Please do not let her come back down here, Daddy.
Mark: She will never get near you ever again, I promise you that.
Mark turned around sharply and marched angrily back toward the grand stairs.
His jaw was clenched tight with a righteous anger he had never felt.
Victoria was standing near the top landing, clutching her expensive leather handbag tightly.
She tried to put on a calm smile as he reached the top step.
Victoria: Mark, darling, the child tripped on her own untied shoes.
Mark: I saw everything with my own eyes from the landing, Victoria!
He stood towering right in front of her with his finger pointed aggressively.
Mark: You snatched her mother's locket and let her fall toward those stairs!
Victoria: You are letting your emotions cloud your logical judgement right now!
Mark: You only cared about my money and this house from the start!
Victoria dropped her sweet facade completely and let out a cold, sharp laugh.
Victoria: You are a fool if you think you can just throw me out!
Mark: Watch me do exactly that starting this very second!
He grabbed her packed suitcase standing near the door and set it down.
He opened the wide front oak door and pointed out into the rain.
Mark: Don't you ever dare touch my child again! Get out of my house!
Victoria recoiled from his booming voice, her face twisted in bitter defeat.
She grabbed her purse and hurried out into the cold falling rain outside.
Mark slammed the heavy oak door shut and locked it with a click.
He leaned against the thick wood, breathing deeply to calm his racing heart.
He knew this terrible ordeal was far from over for his small family.
Victoria was a ruthless woman who would not walk away without a fight.
He pulled out his smartphone to call his legal attorney immediately that afternoon.
Lawyer: Mark, what has happened at the mansion today?
Mark: I need a full restraining order and security team here right now.