Mark: Did you just hit me in my own house, Ellen?
Ellen: This is not your house, Mark. This is my home, paid for by my late husband's trust fund.
Mark: I contribute to the bills every single month!
Maya: You pay three hundred dollars for groceries and spend the rest on your boat, Mark!
Mark: Shut up, Maya! Mind your own business!
Maya: I won't shut up! I have the video right here on my phone!
Mark took a step toward me, but my mother immediately moved her body between us.
Ellen: Take one step closer to my daughter and see what happens next, Mark.
Mark: You've lost your mind! Both of you have completely lost your minds!
Leo whimpered from the corner, hiding his face in his small knees as the broken glass glistened around him.
Maya: Leo, sweetie, come here to sister. Come on, step carefully.
Leo: Glass everywhere... noise everywhere...
Maya: I know, sweetie. I'm going to take you upstairs right now.
I reached down and carefully picked Leo up, cradling his small head against my shoulder so he couldn't see Mark.
Mark: Look at him! Nine years old and you baby him like he's an infant!
Ellen: He is an autistic child who was terrified by a grown man throwing a violent temper tantrum!
Mark: I worked a ten-hour shift today, Ellen! I came home expecting peace, not screaming!
Ellen: Leo was humming softly while drawing a picture, Mark. That was the noise that set you off!
Mark: His high-pitched humming gives me a headache!
Maya: Your screaming gives everyone in this neighborhood a headache!
Mark rubbed his red cheek where my mother's handprint was still glowing under the bright kitchen lights.
Mark: You're going to regret laying your hands on me, Ellen. I can call the police right now for assault.
Ellen: Go ahead. Call them. Let them see the flipped table, the broken glass, and the footage Maya just recorded.
Mark glared at the video playing on my phone screen, his eyes narrowing in anger.
Mark: Delete that video right now, Maya.
Maya: It's already backed up to the cloud server, Mark. You can't touch it.
Mark: You think you're so smart, don't you? You think you can drive me out of this family?
Ellen: You drove yourself out the moment you flipped that table near Leo's head.
Mark: I'm not leaving this house, Ellen! My name is on the secondary deed listing!
Ellen: We'll see about that when my divorce lawyer sees this video tomorrow morning.
Mark laughed bitterly, wiping a drop of sweat from his forehead as he stood straight.
Mark: Divorce lawyer? You can't afford a real divorce lawyer without my income!
Ellen: My late husband's estate trust was released to my sole control last month, Mark. I have plenty of money.
Mark's face paled slightly as he processed her words.
Mark: What did you just say?
Ellen: You heard me. The ten-year probate hold ended three weeks ago. I don't need a single cent from you.
Maya: Mom, let's get Leo upstairs. His hands are trembling really badly.
Ellen: Go ahead, Maya. Take him up to his room and lock the door from the inside.
Mark: Ellen, wait... let's talk about this like adults.
Ellen: We are done talking, Mark. Pack your bags and get out of my kitchen before the police arrive.