Diego stood near the giant glass windows of his family home.
The sunlight poured across the white marble floor of the grand entrance.
He adjusted the cuffs of his dark designer suit coat.
Everything in the grand mansion felt colder than usual today.
His upcoming wedding to Gwen was only three weeks away.
Gwen came from one of the richest real estate families in the city.
Their marriage was meant to join two massive corporate fortunes together.
Diego thought he was making the right decision for his family name.
Suddenly a sharp voice echoed down from the top floor.
Gwen: Get out of this house right now!
Diego turned around quickly to see what was happening above.
Gwen stood at the top of the white marble staircase.
Her face was flushed with anger as she pointed downward.
A young maid named Sarah was standing near the bottom step.
Sarah looked pale and was holding a tiny pink jacket.
Beside Sarah stood a four-year-old girl named Paulina.
Paulina wore a small pink dress and held a tiny purse tightly.
Diego walked down the hallway toward the stairs with slow steps.
Diego: Gwen, what is going on up there?
Gwen: This incompetent woman let her child wander into my dressing room!
Sarah: I am so sorry, Miss Gwen, she was just looking for me.
Gwen: I do not care about your excuses!
Gwen marched down three steps with her arms crossed tight.
Gwen: Pack your things and take your kid out of my sight!
Sarah wiped a fast tear from her cheek and grabbed Paulina's hand.
Paulina started sobbing softly as her mother tried to pull her away.
Diego watched the small child tremble in her mother's grip.
Something about the little girl made Diego pause in his tracks.
As Paulina backed away, her tiny purse brushed against the banister.
A small metallic object slipped out of the purse pocket.
It bounced softly down the white steps with a bright clinking sound.
The small object rolled across the polished floor toward Diego's shoes.
Diego looked down at his feet in curiosity.
He stooped down to pick up the small piece of metal.
It was a custom gold button shaped like a crest.
Diego felt his heart drop into his stomach instantly.
He recognized that crest because it was unique to his family.
It was from a jacket he had lost five years ago in college.
He stared at the antique gold crest sitting in his hand.
Diego: Wait a minute, stop right there.
Sarah stopped in her tracks near the front doors.
She looked back at Diego with deep fear in her eyes.
Diego walked slowly toward the crying child and knelt down.
Paulina wiped her wet eyes with her tiny sleeve.
Diego: Paulina, where did you get this gold button?
Paulina looked at Sarah and then back at Diego's face.
Paulina: My mommy gave it to me from my baby box.
Diego: Why was it in your baby box?
Paulina sniffled and looked directly into Diego's eyes.
Paulina: Daddy...