Victoria sneered at Mark, raising her chin high in defiance. She thought she was safe because of her status, her legal marriage, and the expensive prenuptial agreement they had signed years ago. She reached out her hand as if to brush Mark aside so she could walk back up the stairs toward her bedroom. But Mark was done listening, done being patient, and done allowing a cruel person to ruin his home and hurt his helpless children.
Victoria: Move out of my way, Mark. I'm going to take a bath.
Mark: You are not going anywhere in this house ever again.
Victoria: Excuse me? You can't command me!
Before Victoria could take another step, Mark raised his open palm and brought it down hard against her cheek. The sound of the sharp slap echoed through the grand high-ceiling hallway like a gunshot. The impact was so sudden and powerful that Victoria gasped loudly, lost her balance on her high heels, and crashed heavily onto the marble floor. Her glass spilled iced water everywhere, splashing over her green gown and the white floor. She lay there on her side, her hair falling wild over her face, holding her bright red cheek in complete, stunned silence.
Victoria: Ah! You... you hit me!
Mark: How dare you touch my children!
Mark stood over her like a towering judge, his chest heaving with massive breaths of air. His voice boomed through the mansion with absolute authority, shaking the fine crystal artwork on the walls. Victoria looked up at him from the ground, her face red and swollen, her eyes wide with real fear for the very first time. She had never seen her husband lose control, and she finally realized that her hold over him was completely shattered beyond repair.
Victoria: Mark... please... I didn't mean it like that...
Mark: Shut your mouth! Do not say another word!
Mark didn't give her a chance to stand up or offer another cheap excuse. He turned his back on her, kneeling down right in front of the sofa where Lily and Tommy were watching with wide eyes. He wrapped his strong arms around both of them at once, pulling them into a tight, secure embrace under the flag. The children buried their faces into his jacket, finally feeling completely safe after hours of pain and fear. Mark kissed the top of Lily's head, his own tears finally spilling over his eyelids and rolling down his cheeks.