The metallic clinking of the gold medallion echoed softly between them as Carter stared at the palm of his hand.
His fingers trembled as he held the gold chain closer to his eyes, inspecting every tiny scratch on the surface.
Carter: Where... where did you get this necklace?
Lily: It belonged to my real dad. My mom gave it to me before she passed away in the hospital.
Veronica: Oh, give me a break! You probably stole that off some lost and found table, you little thief!
Carter: I said keep your mouth shut!
Carter turned his eyes back to Lily, his chest heaving as tears suddenly filled his vision.
Carter: Your mother... was her name Clara?
Lily: How... how do you know my mom's name?
Carter: Clara Vance?
Lily: Yes! Clara Vance! Who are you?
Without saying a word, Carter slowly pulled up the leather sleeve on his left forearm.
Inked deep into his skin was a dark black tattoo of the exact same family crest, surrounded by the initials C.V. and L.V.
Lily gasped, her eyes going wide as she looked from the gold medallion in his hand to the fresh tattoo on his arm.
Carter: No... Daniel told me you both died in the fire twelve years ago...
Lily: My uncle Daniel told everyone my dad abandoned us!
Carter: Daniel lied to you! I'm your father, Lily!
Veronica: What kind of fake sob story is this?! Get off the floor and stop causing a scene, you bums!
Carter stood up from the marble floor like a lion waking up from a deep sleep, his height towering over the woman in black.
He stepped in front of Lily and the baby, shielding them completely with his dark leather jacket.
Carter: How dare you touch her!
Veronica: Don't you threaten me! My husband owns this entire shopping mall!
Carter: I don't care if your husband owns the entire city! You kicked an injured girl!
Veronica: She was in my way! She's a homeless little brat trying to scam people!
Lily: Dad... my uncle Daniel took everything after Mom died! He locked us out of the house!
Carter: Daniel did what to you?!
Lily: He took Mom's trust fund money, he took the house, and he made me live in a basement with my step-uncle!
Carter: That brother of mine told me you and Clara were burned in the estate accident while I was overseas in the military!
Veronica: Wait... did you say Daniel Vance? Daniel Vance is my fiancé!
Carter turned his glare directly back to Veronica, his teeth gritting so hard his jaw muscles bulged.
Carter: Daniel is your fiancé? Then you are standing on stolen money, lady.