Arthur stared at the woman standing in front of him with pure shock.
Her red hair and distinct facial features struck a deep chord inside him.
The small silver locket rested peacefully against her chest.
Arthur remembered seeing that exact same piece of jewelry in old family photographs.
It had belonged to his late mother many decades ago.
The item was supposed to have been lost during a stormy night twenty years back.
Eleanor took another quick step back toward the grand staircase.
Her eyes darted nervously around the white walls of the room.
Eleanor: She is lying to you, Arthur.
Arthur raised his hand to silence his wife immediately.
He kept his steady focus on the young woman named Clara.
Arthur: How did this end up in your hands?
Clara took a slow, calm breath to steady her trembling voice.
She reached up and unclasped the thin chain from around her neck.
Clara: My mother gave it to me before she passed away.
She held out the open silver pendant toward Arthur.
Inside the tiny frame sat a faded portrait of a young woman.
Arthur gasped quietly as he recognized his late mother's warm face.
The truth began to settle heavy in his mind.
Arthur: This was my mother's personal trust item.
Eleanor's breath became quick and shallow as she watched them speak.
She smoothed down her expensive dress with frantic hands.
Eleanor: That girl worked for a cleaning agency in town.
Eleanor: She probably bought that cheap piece at a pawn shop.
Maya walked up to Clara and looked at her pretty red hair.
Maya: You look like the picture in Daddy's office.
The innocent child pointed her finger toward the study doors.
Arthur felt a cold shiver run down his spine at her words.
He looked from his daughter back to Clara's pale face.
The resemblance to his family lineage was unmistakable once seen clearly.
Arthur: Why did you come to work in this house?
Clara: I wanted to see where my roots were.
Clara kept her voice soft and completely respectful.
She had not come to cause a scene or demand money.
She only wanted answers about the past that had been kept from her.
Clara: I was told my real father lived in this town.
Eleanor suddenly walked back into the center of the hall.
Her voice sounded sharp and filled with desperate anger.
Eleanor: I want this stranger removed from our property right now.
Arthur stood up straight and looked firmly at his wife.
Arthur: She is not leaving this house today.
Eleanor crossed her arms tightly across her chest.
Eleanor: The guests will be arriving in thirty minutes!
Arthur: Then they will see the truth about this family.
Arthur took the locket gently from Clara's open palm.
He held the metal under the bright lights of the chandelier.
He pressed a tiny hidden latch on the back of the casing.
A secret compartment popped open with a small metallic click.
Inside lay a folded piece of yellowed paper with tiny handwriting.
Arthur carefully unfolded the paper with extreme patience.
His eyes scanned the ink lines written by his own father long ago.
The document was a official statement regarding an estate inheritance.
It proved that a portion of the family estate belonged to a child born in secret.
Arthur looked at Clara with a completely changed expression.
Arthur: You are my sister.