Richard stepped closer to Elena and looked at her face carefully.
The light from the chandelier lit up a distinct silver necklace.
Elena wore a small locket tucked inside her apron pocket area.
Richard’s eyes locked onto the small silver pendant around her neck.
Richard: Where did you get that locket, Elena?
Elena touched the silver pendant gently with her right hand.
Elena: It belonged to my late mother before she passed away.
Victoria scoffed loudly from across the spacious grand living room.
Victoria: Who cares about cheap trinkets worn by household servants?
Richard: Be quiet for once in your life, Victoria!
Richard took a slow step forward and stared at the pendant.
He recognized the unique engraving carved into the silver surface.
It was the symbol of his family’s original estate line.
Richard: What was your mother’s full name, Elena?
Elena: Her name was Margaret Miller, sir.
Richard’s jaw tightened as the memory flooded back into his mind.
Twenty years ago, his late father had spoken of Margaret.
She was the rightful heir to half of the family trust.
Victoria had hidden those legal documents when Margaret went missing years ago.
Richard: Your mother was the rightful co-owner of this entire estate.
Elena’s eyes widened in total shock and disbelief at those words.
Elena: What do you mean... co-owner of this grand mansion?
Victoria’s face went completely red with pure rage and fear.
Victoria: Stop this ridiculous nonsense right now, Richard!
Victoria: She is just a simple maid who cleans our toilets!
Richard: She is the person you have been stealing from for years!
Richard turned around toward the large mahogany desk near the wall.
He pulled out a heavy key from his tuxedo pocket slowly.
Victoria realized what he was about to do and panicked immediately.
Victoria: Do not open that safe, Richard, I forbid you!
Richard: You don't command anyone in this house anymore, Victoria.
He unlocked the hidden drawer behind the large desk frame.
Inside lay the original inheritance papers signed decades ago by his father.