Mark gently untied the sheet securing baby Tommy to Lily's back and pulled the little boy into his arms. The baby was burning hot and his diaper was soaked through, leaking onto his navy blue romper. Mark held Tommy tight against his chest while using his other arm to support Lily against his shoulder. His heart was hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He looked around the vast, beautiful hall, expecting to see a nanny or a paramedic rushing to help them, but the grand house was completely silent except for his children's heavy, ragged breaths.
Mark: Why are you on the floor? Where is your wheelchair?
Lily: It... it locked in the closet, Dad. I couldn't reach the handle.
Mark: Who locked it, Lily? Tell me right now.
Lily pressed her face into Mark's neck, her body trembling so hard that Mark could feel her heart racing against his own chest. She pointed a tiny, shaking finger toward the top of the grand marble staircase. Mark turned his head slowly, his eyes narrowing as he followed her direction. Standing at the landing, wearing an elegant emerald green silk gown and holding a glass of iced water, was his wife Victoria. She didn't look worried, surprised, or upset. She simply looked down at her family with a cold, disgusted expression on her carefully painted face.
Lily: Mommy told us not to tell you...
Mark: Victoria... what did you do to them?
Victoria: Oh, stop making such a dramatic scene, Mark. They were making a mess in the living room.
Mark felt a wave of icy shock wash over him, immediately followed by a wave of white-hot anger. Victoria had been his wife for three years, joining his life after his first business expansion. She always loved the luxury cars, the high-end shopping trips, and the social status his wealth provided. But Mark had never imagined she could look at suffering children with such utter lack of feeling. She took a slow sip from her glass and began walking down the stairs, her high heels clicking loudly against the stone steps with a chilling rhythm that made Lily flinch in Mark's arms.
Mark: She flinched because of you! What did you do while I was gone?!
Victoria: I gave the nanny the week off to save money on staff. And those spoiled brats wouldn't stop crying while I was trying to make an important call to my interior designer. Lily dropped her plate on the carpet, so I put her chair away until she learned how to respect my home.
Mark: Respect your home?! She has a broken leg, Victoria!