Stella slowly made her way to her business-class seat.She felt both anxious and thrilled, as it was her very first flight—and she was already 85 years old.However, the man sitting next to her, Franklin Delaney, frowned. “I don’t want to sit next to that woman!” he nearly shouted at the flight attendant.“Sir, this is her assigned seat. We can’t change that,” the stewardess replied gently.That’s impossible. These seats cost a lot. She couldn’t afford one—just look at her clothes!” Franklin insisted.Stella lowered her gaze, feeling embarrassed. She had put on her best outfit, even if it wasn’t elegant. Some passengers sided with Franklin and suggested she move. Feeling small, Stella said quietly, “Miss, it’s okay. If there’s a seat in economy, I’ll take it. I used all my savings for this seat, but I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”

But the stewardess shook her head. “No, ma’am. You paid for this seat, and you have every right to be here, no matter what others say.”At last, Franklin stopped arguing, and Stella remained in her seat.After takeoff, Stella accidentally dropped her purse in fear. Franklin helped gather her belongings, and a ruby locket slipped out. He let out a whistle. “Wow, that’s impressive.”“What do you mean?” Stella asked.“I’m an antique jeweler. This locket is extremely valuable. Those rubies are real. Am I right?”“I’m not sure. My father gave it to my mother many years ago. She passed it on to me after he never came home,” Stella replied.What happened?” Franklin asked.I’m sorry. My name is Franklin Delaney. I want to apologize for how I behaved earlier. I’ve been dealing with some personal issues, but that’s no excuse. May I ask what happened to your father?”“My father was a fighter pilot in World War II. When America entered the war, he left but gave this locket to my mother, promising he would return. They loved each other deeply. I was only four, but I still remember that day. He never came back.”