The heavy front doors clicked shut, leaving the grand foyer in a peaceful, serene silence once again.
Mary walked back into the hall carrying a soft ice pack wrapped in a clean white towel.
Mary: Here is the ice pack for little Miss Lily, Mr. Vance.
David: Thank you, Mary. Please have the cleaning crew gather Lily's toys from the floor and put them back in her playroom.
Mary: Right away, sir. We are all so glad you came home early today.
David: So am I, Mary. So am I.
David sat down on the bottom step of the grand marble staircase, placing Lily gently on his lap.
He held the cool ice pack against her red cheek, kissing the top of her head.
Lily: Is she ever coming back here, Daddy?
David: Never, sweetie. She will never step foot in this house again.
Lily: Are you going to send me to Switzerland?
David: Absolutely not! You are staying right here with me, where you belong.
Lily: Promise?
David: I promise on my life, Lily. Nobody is ever going to separate us.
Lily wrapped her small arms around her father's neck, burying her face into his gray suit jacket.
David pulled his smartphone from his inner pocket and dialed his head corporate attorney, Thomas Cole.
Thomas Cole: David? I thought you were preparing for the evening dinner party?
David: Cancel the dinner party, Thomas. I need you to file emergency divorce papers right now.
Thomas Cole: Emergency divorce? What happened?
David: Evelyn was just arrested at the house for child battery and embezzling from the foundation.
Thomas Cole: Good Lord! Is Lily alright?
David: She has a bruised cheek, but she's safe now. I also need you to issue an immediate suspension for Marcus Sterling at the corporate office.
Thomas Cole: Marcus? Was he involved in this too?
David: He was helping her wire money to offshore accounts in Switzerland. Have corporate security lock down his desk and seize his laptop before he leaves the building.
Thomas Cole: I'm on it right now, David. Police will have a warrant for his arrest within the hour.
David: Thanks, Thomas. Make sure my late wife's trust fund is secured under a double-signature restriction immediately.
Thomas Cole: Consider it done. Take care of your little girl.