The golden sun beamed brightly through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the grand mansion hall.
Ethan stood near the white marble columns inside his family home in suburban Virginia.
He checked his watch while waiting for his fiancée Victoria to finish her morning prep.
The quiet room filled with the sound of breaking glass from the adjacent dining parlor.
A young maid named Elena gasped as delicate china shattered across the polished white floor.
Victoria rushed into the room with her face twisted in immediate anger and frustration.
She raised her voice loudly and pointed a sharp finger at the trembling young maid.
Victoria: Look at what you just did to my custom tea set!
Elena: I am so sorry, ma'am, my hands just slipped!
Victoria: You are completely useless and clumsy!
Elena dropped down to her knees immediately to clean up the sharp ceramic pieces.
Victoria snatched a leather strap off the display table in pure anger.
Ethan stepped in quickly and grabbed Victoria's wrist before she stepped any closer.
Ethan: Put it down right now, Victoria.
Victoria: You are defending a careless maid over me?
Ethan: She made a simple mistake with a dish.
Elena: I did not mean any harm, sir!
Ethan forced Victoria to lower her hand and stepped protectively in front of Elena.
Elena reached down into the broken pieces while weeping quietly from the harsh confrontation.
A small silver locket slipped out from inside her maid uniform collar during the chaos.
The silver chain sparkled under the harsh daylight coming through the high window glass.
Ethan lowered his gaze to the shiny metal object resting against her trembling fingers.
His heart stopped instantly when he recognized the distinct engraved saint medallion shape.
Ethan: Where did you get that locket?
Elena: It belonged to my mother, Isabella.
Ethan froze in total silence as the familiar name echoed through the cavernous foyer.
Victoria shifted uncomfortably behind him while her face turned completely pale with panic.
Elena: Sir, your fiancée knows what happened to my mother years ago.
Ethan turned his head sharply and looked at Victoria with deep growing suspicion.
Ethan: What is she talking about, Victoria?
Victoria: She is lying to ruin our upcoming wedding!
Elena held the silver medallion tightly against her chest with both shaking hands.
Ethan realized that his quiet household contained a dark secret waiting to unravel.