Mark pulled his car into the long curved driveway of the big white mansion.
The sun was shining brightly on the huge glass windows and manicured green lawn.
He looked over at his girlfriend Clara with a warm reassuring smile on his face.
Clara adjusted her dress and swallowed hard because she felt very nervous inside today.
She reached up and softly touched the beautiful pearl necklace sitting around her neck.
That necklace was a special gift from Mark for their upcoming engagement celebration evening.
Mark: Do not worry about my grandmother Eleanor today.
Clara: She has never liked me coming to visit.
Mark: She will learn to respect you very soon.
Mark stepped out of the car and opened the side door for Clara politely.
They walked up the grand stone steps leading toward the heavy wooden double doors.
Inside the white luxury mansion, the floors were made of polished clean marble stone.
An old woman with grey hair stood near the tall central indoor stairs balcony.
Her name was Eleanor, and she was the strict matriarch of the wealthy family.
Eleanor looked down at Clara with cold eyes that showed no kindness at all.
Eleanor: What is that girl doing inside my house again?
Mark: Clara is my guest and my future wife, Grandmother.
Eleanor: She only wants our family inheritance and our trust fund money.
Clara: That is not true, Mrs. Sterling, I love Mark.
Eleanor slowly walked down the marble staircase while holding a pair of craft scissors.
She had been cutting ribbons for gift boxes before they walked into the lobby.
The old woman pointed her silver scissors directly toward Clara with a harsh look.
Eleanor: You come from nothing and you bring nothing to this estate.
Mark: That is enough, Grandmother, speak to her with proper respect.
Eleanor: Look at her wearing our famous family pearls around her neck.
Clara: Mark bought this necklace for me at a jewelry store.
Eleanor: He used family money to buy it for a common stranger.
Eleanor walked closer until she was standing right in front of the scared girl.
Mark stepped between them to shield Clara from the bitter older woman's anger.
He demanded that his grandmother put down the sharp household scissors immediately today.
The air in the grand hallway was thick with tension and deep long-held resentment.
Clara felt her heart beating fast against her chest as Eleanor stepped back slightly.
The old woman stared at the glittering white pearls with absolute hatred in her eyes.
She believed Clara was taking advantage of Mark's vast inheritance and huge estate.
Mark took Clara's hand and guided her toward the formal sitting room instead.
He hoped a quiet talk would calm everyone down before things got much worse.
However, Eleanor followed them slowly, refusing to let the bitter argument end here.