Mark sat in his quiet office at the local Dallas auto repair shop finishing his weekly paperwork.
He looked at the framed picture of his little two-year-old daughter Lily sitting on his desk.
His heart filled with warmth every time he saw her sweet golden curls and bright blue eyes.
Since his first wife passed away two years ago, Lily had been his entire visual world.
Six months ago, Mark married Vanessa, a sleek and glamorous woman from an upscale neighborhood.
Vanessa promised Mark that she would love Lily as if the little girl were her own biological child.
Mark believed every single word she said because he wanted his daughter to have a loving mother figure.
He bought a spacious home in the suburban Dallas neighborhood to give his family a fresh start.
Mark worked extra hours as a master mechanic to afford the hefty mortgage payments every month.
Vanessa loved spending money on fancy dinner parties and expensive home decor for their luxury house.
She told Mark that hosting important guests would help build their social status in the city.
Mark trusted her completely and worked hard every day to support her expensive social lifestyle.
However, whenever Mark left the house for work, Vanessa changed into a completely different person.
She treated little Lily like an annoying burden that ruined her clean house and ruined her peaceful days.
Vanessa kept the toddler in her bedroom for hours so the house would stay spotless for guests.
On a bright Tuesday afternoon, Vanessa decided to host a lavish lunch for four wealthy male colleagues.
She set the long mahogany dining table with fine white porcelain dishes and glittering crystal glassware.
A giant roasted turkey sat in the middle of the table surrounded by warm artisan bread loaves.
Vanessa wore her sleek black designer top and smiled brightly as her guests laughed at her jokes.
Down the hallway, little Lily woke up from her afternoon nap feeling very hungry and thirsty.
The small two-year-old toddler rubbed her eyes and walked slowly out into the bright wooden hallway.
She wore a simple cream dress and held her tiny tummy as it rumbled with deep hunger.
Lily followed the delicious smell of fresh turkey and bread straight toward the dining room area.
She poked her little head around the white wall and saw the table full of delicious food.
Vanessa stopped smiling the moment she noticed the tiny toddler standing near the dining doorway.
Her eyes turned cold and sharp as she stared at the helpless little girl in the hallway.
Lily took tiny steps toward the big dining table where the adult men were chatting loudly.
She reached up toward the table cloth with her small shaking hands while teary eyes opened wide.
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