Dr. Evans answered the telephone call on the second quick ring.
Mark explained the situation clearly while walking across the carpeted floor.
The doctor advised giving Lily plenty of fresh milk and cold water.
He told Mark to bring her into the clinic if stomach pains worsened.
Mark hung up the phone and walked straight into the bright kitchen.
He poured a large glass of whole milk from the tall refrigerator.
Sarah stood by the granite counter with a look of pure contempt.
Sarah: You always treat her like she is made of fragile glass.
Mark: She is an eight-year-old child who deserves safety and love.
Sarah: I am her stepmother and I should enforce the rules.
Mark: Cruelty is not a rule in my home, Sarah, never.
Mark carried the glass of milk back to the quiet living room.
He handed it to Lily, who drank it in quick small gulps.
Her pale cheeks slowly regained a little bit of their normal color.
Mark sat down beside her and stroked her soft blond hair gently.
Mark: Has she done this kind of thing before, my sweet girl?
Lily: She makes me eat spicy food whenever you go to work.
Mark: Why did you not tell me about this sooner, Lily?
Lily: She said you would be angry and leave us both.
Mark felt a wave of deep shock wash over his whole body.
He realized that Sarah had been threatening his vulnerable daughter regularly.
The sweet house he built was turning into a scary place.
Mark hugged Lily tight and made a silent firm promise inside.
He stood up and walked back into the open kitchen area.
Sarah was busy wiping down the polished granite counter with a cloth.
She acted as if nothing wrong had taken place in the dining room.
Mark stood right in front of her with his hands on his hips.
Mark: You threatened to leave her if she told me the truth?
Sarah: Children make up silly stories when they get into trouble!
Mark: Lily does not lie to me, but you certainly do!
Sarah: I am trying to fix her bad habits for her future!
Mark shook his head in absolute disbelief at her cold response.
He recalled all the times Lily had looked tired and sad lately.
He had thought it was just small school stress or tiredness.
Now he knew the terrible real reason behind her quiet tears.
Sarah threw her dishcloth onto the counter with a loud slap.
Sarah: If you do not support my discipline, this marriage will fail!
Mark: Then maybe this marriage was a huge mistake from the start.
Sarah: You cannot survive raising that child all by yourself again!
Mark: I did it before, and I can certainly do it again.
Sarah stomped out of the kitchen and headed up the stairs.
Mark heard her heavy bedroom door slam shut with a loud boom.
He turned around and walked back to check on his daughter.
Lily was sitting quietly on the couch holding her stomach tightly.
Mark sat down and pulled her small hand into his own.
He knew he had to take strong legal action very quickly.
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