The bright morning sun shone brightly through the tall arched windows of the grand estate in Oakridge.
Marcus stood quietly near the marble entryway while holding a lukewarm cup of black coffee in his right hand.
He looked at the large framed photo of his late wife hanging near the polished mahogany front door.
Three years had passed since her sudden loss, and those years had been long and very quiet.
His eight-year-old daughter Lily was the absolute center of his life and his whole world.
Marcus wanted nothing more than to see his gentle daughter smile with true happiness again.
That was the main reason he had invited Victoria to move into their home last week.
Victoria was a stylish woman who always wore expensive clothes and worked in high-end real estate.
Marcus believed that Victoria would bring warm maternal care and modern life back into the house.
He placed his coffee cup down on the polished console table near the grand staircase.
Marcus: Lily, sweetie, your breakfast is getting cold on the kitchen table.
Lily walked slowly down the hall while holding a small yellow stuffed bear close to her chest.
She stopped near the base of the stairs and looked up nervously toward the top landing.
Lily: Daddy, do I have to go upstairs to get my school shoes right now?
Marcus frowned slightly and walked over to kneel right beside his small young daughter.
Marcus: Of course, honey, your sneakers are sitting inside the bedroom closet on the top floor.
Lily: Victoria is up there in the hallway, and she looked very angry at me earlier.
Marcus smiled warmly and patted his daughter softly on her tiny shoulder to comfort her.
Marcus: She is just busy organizing her clothes and getting settled into her new home, Lily.
Lily: She told me that this house belongs to her now and not to me.
Marcus felt a small knot form inside his chest when he heard those sharp words.
He brushed off the comment because he thought it was just a simple misunderstanding between them.
Victoria stepped out onto the second-floor balcony while wearing a striking emerald green dress.
She adjusted her gold bracelet and looked down at Marcus with a bright, tight smile.
Victoria: Good morning, darling, I was just telling Lily about our new daily house schedule.
Marcus: We need to talk about that schedule before you start making changes, Victoria.
Victoria: Nonsense, Marcus, I am only trying to bring structure to this quiet household.
Lily stepped closer to her father and pulled softly on his dark jacket sleeve.
Marcus: Run up quickly and grab your shoes, Lily, so we are not late for school.
Lily nodded silently and began walking up the wide marble stairs with slow steps.
Victoria watched the young girl climb the stairs with a cold and steady stare.
Marcus walked toward his home office to grab his briefcase before heading out to work.
He believed everything was completely fine inside his peaceful home on that bright morning.