The Grand estate was filled with noisy chatter as guests gathered for the annual charity banquet.
Evelyn stood near the center of the grand hall wearing her finest burgundy dress.
She watched every guest with careful eyes while clutching her velvet purse tightly.
Seven-year-old Lily walked softly across the polished marble floor near the dessert table.
Lily held a delicate gold heart locket tightly inside her small fist.
She had never seen a house so big or bright in her whole life.
Her mother Sarah was working in the kitchen as a temporary banquet server.
Sarah had told Lily to stay quietly near the hall entrance until work finished.
But the bright lights and towering floral decorations drew the curious child further inside.
Evelyn noticed the unfamiliar little girl in the simple blue dress right away.
She narrowed her eyes as she watched the child wander among wealthy patrons.
Evelyn believed that uninvited people only brought trouble to her estate.
She marched across the ballroom floor with fast and angry heavy footsteps.
Lily turned around quickly when she heard the loud clacking of heels behind her.
The tall woman stood over her with a stern and cold expression.
Lily gasped softly and backed away until her heels touched the marble wall.
Evelyn: What are you doing sneaking around my private banquet like this?
Lily: I was just looking at the pretty lights, ma'am.
Evelyn: You do not belong in this hall with my guests!
Lily: My mom told me to wait right by the front door.
Evelyn: I know your kind coming in here to cause trouble!
Lily squeezed her hands together in deep fear as tears filled her big eyes.
The small gold chain slipped from her shaking fingers and hit the ground.
It made a loud metallic clinking sound against the white marble floor.
The gold locket slid across the slick surface and stopped near Evelyn's shoes.
Evelyn looked down at the shiny golden heart resting on the ground.
Her breath caught in her throat as she recognized the floral engraving on top.
She stooped down low and snatched the locket off the clean floor.
Evelyn: Children like you come here to steal precious things!
Lily: No! That is my locket! Please give it back!
Evelyn: This family heirloom was lost fifteen long years ago!
Lily: Please, ma'am, my mommy gave it to me this morning!
Evelyn: Stop lying to me this instant, child!
Evelyn's face turned bright red as her old anger boiled over instantly.
She held the locket high above the crying child's head with trembling fingers.
Several guests stopped talking and turned around to watch the dramatic commotion.
Lily backed up against the wall and buried her face inside her hands.
She wept softly because she felt scared and completely alone in the huge room.
Evelyn leaned closer and held the locket right before the child's wet face.
Evelyn: Where did you get this locket?!
Lily: My mother gave it to me... I swear it!
Evelyn: You stole it! Who is your mother?!
Lily: Her name is Sarah!
Evelyn: What did you just say to me?
Lily: She said it belonged to my grandmother who lost her long ago...
Evelyn froze completely motionless as if hit by a sudden thunderbolt.
The noisy ballroom noise seemed to fade into total silence around her.