Clara stood near the marble entryway of the huge mansion as the tall clock ticked on the wall.
She adjusted the simple white dress she wore for the evening gathering.
Her late father had given her the beautiful pearl necklace sitting around her neck.
It was the last physical memory she had of his quiet kindness.
Suddenly heavy footsteps echoed down the grand hallway of the estate.
Victoria walked toward Clara with a harsh look in her dark eyes.
She was wearing a sleek black gown that looked cold against the white walls.
In her right hand she carried a sharp pair of heavy metal scissors.
Victoria: You do not deserve to wear those pearls in my house.
Clara: Please, Victoria, my father gave these to me before he passed away.
Victoria: This house belongs to me now, and so does everything inside it.
Victoria stepped forward quickly and grabbed the delicate strand of pearls.
Clara gasped and tried to pull back from her stepmother's tight grip.
With one sharp snap of the scissors the string broke completely apart.
The white pearls scattered across the polished floor in every direction.
They made a sharp bouncing noise as they rolled across the cold marble.
Clara: Why are you doing this to me?
Victoria: Because you remind me of things that no longer matter here.
Clara wiped a tear from her cheek as she looked at the broken beads.
She felt completely alone inside the giant house her father had built.
Ever since her father passed away, Victoria had taken over the entire family estate.
She had changed the locks and limited Clara's access to the family accounts.
Clara had no money left of her own to fight back in court.
Her stepmother controlled the whole inheritance with an iron grip.
Victoria stepped closer until she was towering over the crying young woman.
Victoria: You will leave this house before the night is over.
Clara: This is my home too, Victoria.
Victoria: Not anymore, it isn't.
Victoria grabbed Clara by the arm and pointed toward the wide front door.
She shoved the young girl back toward the edge of the hallway balcony.
Clara lost her balance on the slick floor and stumbled backward with a cry.
Her heart pounded wildly as she struggled to keep her feet underneath her.
She reached out for the wooden railing to steady her trembling frame.
Victoria did not reach out a hand to help the frightened girl.
She simply stood there watching with a cold and empty smile on her face.
Clara felt like her world was ending right in front of her eyes.
She wondered how anyone could be so cold to a grieving daughter.
The silence in the grand foyer felt heavier than a mountain of stone.
Clara took a deep breath and tried to find her courage again.
She knew she could not fight Victoria all by herself tonight.
She needed someone who understood the truth about the estate.