The double mahogany doors burst open with a deafening crack that echoed straight up to the chandelier.
Claire: Daddy, help me!
Marcus: Claire! Get away from her!
Marcus dropped his leather briefcase onto the floor and sprinted across the entryway, his navy suit jacket flying open.
Evelyn: Marcus! Darling, wait, let me explain what just happened—
Marcus: Don't you take another step toward my child!
He slid to his knees on the marble, wrapping his thick arms entirely around Claire's shaking shoulders.
Claire: Daddy, she shoved me down! She said you didn't want me!
Marcus: Shh, baby. You are safe now, my daughter. Daddy is right here.
Marcus held her head against his chest, feeling the frantic pounding of her tiny heart.
Marcus: Look at me, Claire. Look at Daddy's eyes. Did she hurt your hands?
Claire: My palms hurt, Daddy... and she took Mommy's locket from my drawer!
Marcus's jaw clenched until the muscle in his cheek twitched with raw fury.
Marcus: Evelyn. What is the meaning of this?
Evelyn: Marcus, sweetie, she had a terrible temper tantrum. She threw herself down!
Claire: I did not! She pushed me!
Evelyn: She was screaming and knocking things over because she refused to let the movers organize her closet!
Marcus: Movers? What movers?
Evelyn: We need extra space for our wedding gifts and the catering crew tomorrow. I was just helping her pack up old toys!
Claire: She packed up my entire room!
Claire pointed her small, trembling finger toward the six large cardboard boxes stacked against the foyer wall.
Marcus: Her entire room?
Claire: My winter coats, my school shoes, my bed sheets... even the picture of Mommy on the beach.
Marcus: You touched Sarah's photos?
Evelyn: It was clutter, Marcus! We are starting a fresh life together as husband and wife!
Marcus: We are not husband and wife yet.
Evelyn: The wedding rehearsal is tonight! The bishop is arriving in three hours!
Marcus: I don't give a damn about the rehearsal.
Evelyn: How can you speak to me like that in front of a child?
Marcus: Stand up, Claire. Walk behind me into the study right now.
Claire: Don't let her take Barnaby bear, Daddy.
Marcus: Nobody is taking anything from you ever again.
Claire scrambled to her feet and took shelter behind the tall mahogany column of the foyer.
Marcus: Now, Evelyn. Turn around and look at those boxes.
Evelyn: Marcus, you are overreacting over house chores. You've been under immense stress at the firm.
Marcus: You packed the wrong person's things.
Evelyn: What is that supposed to mean?
Marcus: Walk over to that stack and read the shipping address printed on the side.
Evelyn's breath hitched, her glossy lips parting as a sudden chill drained the color straight from her face.
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