Mark sat inside his spacious executive office downtown while signing important corporate estate legal papers.
His phone buzzed softly against the dark polished mahogany desk surface.
He checked the glowing screen and saw a notification from his home security application.
His young daughter Lily was home alone with her new stepmother, Elena.
Mark had married Elena six months ago after a brief and romantic courtship.
She seemed like a gentle woman who cared deeply about his small daughter.
Yet lately, Lily had grown unusually quiet whenever Elena walked into the room.
Mark tapped the security camera stream to view the upper hallway feed.
The screen flickered twice before showing the grand hallway upstairs.
He watched Elena grab small Lily forcefully by her frail arm.
Elena dragged the crying child straight toward the large master bathroom.
Mark felt his heart drop instantly into his stomach with sudden dread.
He enlarged the live camera video to see every terrifying detail clearly.
Elena brought a heavy silver pitcher out from under the counter.
She turned on the faucet and filled the pitcher with ice water.
Lily pleaded softly while tears streamed down her sweet small face.
Mark could not hear the audio clearly through the phone speaker.
He saw Elena raise the heavy silver pitcher high above Lily.
Mark stood up so fast his leather chair tipped over backward.
He grabbed his car keys and rushed straight toward the elevator.
He called his personal attorney and two local police officers immediately.
His hands trembled violently on the steering wheel during his drive.
He prayed he would arrive back at the estate in time.
The highway traffic was thick, but Mark drove as fast as possible.
He watched the tablet screen mounted on his front dashboard screen.
Elena was shouting sharply at the small crying child inside.
Lily pulled her tiny hands back in extreme fear and terror.
Mark pressed his foot firmly down on the vehicle gas pedal.
He sworn he would protect his daughter at any personal cost.