David froze in absolute shock at the young girl's tender words.
His mind raced as he looked at her familiar brown eyes.
He felt a sharp pain in his chest as memories flooded back into his mind.
Those eyes looked identical to his late wife, Clara, who had passed away years ago.
David: What did you just call me, little one?
The small girl shifted forward onto her hands and knees slowly.
Child: You are my daddy, right?
David reached into the dark compartment and gently lifted the girl out.
She weighed almost nothing in his strong arms as he held her close.
Her clothes were dusty, but her face was clean and carefully washed.
Emily clapped her little hands together happily from the floor.
Emily: My friend is out of the dark now!
David looked up at Sarah, who stood frozen near the hallway entrance.
Her face had turned completely pale under the bright hallway lights.
David: Sarah, who is this child and why was she locked inside my house?
Sarah dropped the laundry basket onto the floor with a dull thud.
Sarah: David, please let me explain before you jump to conclusions.
David: Explain what, Sarah? There is a child living inside our walls!
David noticed a small silver locket hanging around the child's neck.
He unclasped the small pendant with trembling fingers to inspect it.
Inside the silver locket was a picture of himself and Clara on their wedding day.
Tears welled up in David's eyes as he stared at the photograph.
David: Clara... this was Clara's custom silver locket.
He turned back to the little girl held tightly in his arms.
David: What is your name, sweetheart?
Child: My name is Lily, Daddy.
David remembered the terrible night four years ago at the local hospital.
Clara had given birth prematurely during a storm before she passed away.
The doctors had told him his infant daughter did not survive that night.
He had spent years grieving the loss of both his wife and newborn child.
Now a four-year-old girl named Lily was standing right in front of him.
David: How is this possible, Sarah?
Sarah took a slow step backward toward the grand front doorway.
Sarah: Clara's family told me she died that night, David!
David: Then why was she hiding behind a panel in our home?
Sarah: I found her on our doorstep two weeks ago with a written note!
David stood up while holding Lily firmly against his chest.
David: A note from whom, Sarah? Tell me the truth right now!
Sarah: From Clara's brother, Richard!
David felt a surge of anger wash over his entire body instantly.
Richard had been managing Clara's multi-million dollar family inheritance trust fund.
If Clara had a living child, that child would inherit the entire estate fund.
David: Richard lied to me about my baby dying four years ago!
Sarah: He threatened to destroy your company if I told you the truth!
David grabbed his phone from his coat pocket with a steady hand.
David: You should have trusted me, Sarah, instead of hiding my daughter.
He dialed his family attorney, Marcus, on speakerphone immediately.
David: Marcus, get to my estate with the police right now.