The entire crowd fell completely silent as the little girl's voice echoed loudly.
Mark froze in place and looked down directly into his daughter's round eyes.
Mark: What did you say, Sophie?
Sophie: Grandma unlatched the platform wheel and pushed it hard!
Sophie: I saw her hand pull the red lever before I fell!
Victoria's face turned completely pale as her hands began trembling uncontrollably.
She stepped back slightly while trying to force a gentle laugh for guests.
Victoria: Oh sweetie, you are just confused because you got scared.
Sophie: No I am not confused, you pulled the red lever!
Emily looked at Victoria with utter shock and rising fury in her eyes.
She had suspected her mother in law was cruel, but not this dangerous.
Mark stepped forward and looked down at the wooden platform in the pool.
He walked over to the water's edge and reached down into the mud.
He lifted the heavy metal safety pin that was hanging loose from the axle.
The locking mechanism had clearly been pulled open by hand recently.
Mark turned around slowly to face his mother with a look of horror.
Mark: How could you do something like this to your own granddaughter?
Victoria: Mark, you must listen to me, the child is lying!
Mark: Sophie never lies to me, but you have lied for years!
Victoria looked around at the guests, but everyone was staring at her now.
The wealthy neighbors began shaking their heads in disgust at her cruel trick.
Mark walked over to Emily and wrapped his arms around her and Sophie.
Mark: I am so sorry I doubted you for even one second.
Emily: She wanted to ruin our family so you would leave me.
Mark: That will never happen, Emily.
Mark turned his head back to Victoria with cold determination in his eyes.
Mark: You need to leave this property immediately before I call police.