Alexander Ashford sprinted through the gold-lined hallway after hearing the little girl's cries.
When he turned the corner, he saw pearls scattered across the marble floor.
Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees and slid across the polished surface.
His hand stopped beside a single pearl.
He carefully picked it up.
Something engraved into the tiny clasp attached to it caught his attention.
His breathing stopped.
He stared at the pearl in complete disbelief.
His fingers began trembling.
"This..."
His voice barely escaped.
"This is my mother's seal."
He slowly turned toward Lily.
"Where did you get this?"
The little girl wiped away her tears.
She looked at the broken necklace lying across the floor.
Then quietly answered,
"It's the only thing my mother left me."
The hallway fell silent.
Alexander's eyes filled with tears.
Years earlier, his baby sister had disappeared during a tragic accident that tore his family apart.
The only keepsake she had been wearing...
Was a custom-made pearl necklace carrying their mother's tiny family seal.
He looked back at Lily.
Every feature of her face suddenly reminded him of old family photographs.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
In a trembling whisper, he spoke the words neither of them ever expected to hear.
"You're my lost sister."
Lily stared at him in confusion.
Before anyone else could respond, Alexander stood and stepped in front of the frightened child.
His expression became cold as he faced Victoria.
The gentle sadness vanished.
Only anger remained.
He pointed toward the palace entrance.
"You are leaving today!"
The guests watched in stunned silence.
Moments earlier, they believed a necklace had been destroyed.
Instead...
It had reunited a family that had spent years searching for each other.