Chapter 5: The Secret My Father Buried
I couldn't stop staring at the photograph.
My mother was sitting in a hospital bed, holding me against her chest. Her dark hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and she was smiling down at me.
On the back, Grandma had written:
*Maya's first day. The day everything changed.*
I turned the photograph over again.
There was another folded note tucked behind it.
My father watched my hands.
“Maya, give me that.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because some things don't belong in the middle of a party.””
“Then why did Grandma leave them in the same folder as the ownership papers?””
He glanced toward Vanessa.
She had moved away from the stage and was speaking urgently to one of the event coordinators.
“Your grandmother was very ill,” he said.
“Don't.””
He stopped.
“Don't use Grandma's illness to explain away everything she wrote.””
I unfolded the note.
It contained only a few sentences.
*Your mother discovered that Vanessa had been stealing my designs before she died. She wanted to report it. Richard begged her to wait because he believed Vanessa could destroy the family financially. After your mother's accident, Vanessa took control of the remaining business records.*
My stomach tightened.
I looked at my father.
“Mom knew?””
Richard closed his eyes.
“Maya…”
“She knew Vanessa was stealing Grandma's designs?””
He rubbed his jaw.
“Your mother and Vanessa had disagreements.””
“That's not what the letter says.””
“Your grandmother always blamed Vanessa for everything.””
I lifted the photograph.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
He looked away.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Dad, what happened to Mom?””
His expression changed.
He looked toward the crowd.
“Not here.””
“I'm asking you now.””
Vanessa suddenly appeared beside us.
“Richard, we need to leave.””
I turned toward her.
“Did you know my mother was investigating the stolen designs?””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“Your mother was an emotional woman. She had a habit of making accusations.””
“Did you steal from Grandma?””
“I built a business while your grandmother sat around collecting old fabric.””
“You used her designs.””
“I helped improve them!””
“You put your name on them.””
Vanessa looked at my father.
“Are you going to let her speak to me like this?””
Richard didn't answer.
I pulled the note closer to my chest.
“Did you have anything to do with Mom's accident?””
The question came out before I could stop it.
Vanessa went still.
My father looked at me sharply.
“That's enough.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because you're making accusations you cannot prove.””
“Then tell me what happened.””
Richard's face tightened.
“Your mother died in a car accident. There is nothing more to discuss.””
Vanessa nodded.
“Exactly. Stop dragging the dead into your little revenge fantasy.””
Something inside me snapped.
“Don't talk about my mother.””
She stepped closer.
“Or what?””
I didn't move.
For once, she didn't have the upper hand.
She had no wings to rip from my back. No costume to throw at my feet. No easy way to turn the crowd against me.
People were watching her now.
Not me.
And she hated it.
Mr. Collins approached with his assistant.
“Miss Brooks, I have one request. Please don't leave without securing the original documents.””
“I won't.””
He handed me his business card.
“My legal team will contact your grandmother's attorney tomorrow. Until ownership is verified, the collection will not be licensed.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You can't just walk away from a business deal because of one old recording.””
“I can when the seller's authority is in question.””
He turned to Richard.
“I suggest you find out exactly what has happened to the trust assets.””
My father looked confused.
“What do you mean?””
Mr. Collins opened his portfolio.
“Vanessa's proposal included a valuation of the entire collection, the studio property, and several archived designs. If she had the authority to sell them, I would have been prepared to proceed.””
He paused.
“But the trust documents indicate that she had no such authority.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“The studio was under my management.””
“Management is not ownership.””
He closed the portfolio.
“Good evening.””
Then he left.
The crowd began dispersing.
Some guests approached me quietly.
A woman in a burgundy dress touched my arm.
“I am so sorry about what happened earlier.””
Another guest said, “Those wings were beautiful. You deserved better.””
I nodded, but I barely heard them.
I was looking at my father.
“Tell me about the accident.””
He stared at the floor.
“Your mother was driving home from the studio. It was raining. A truck crossed the center line.””
“Was Vanessa with her?””
“No.””
“Did they argue that night?””
He hesitated.
Vanessa immediately interrupted.
“Richard, we're leaving. Now.””
I turned toward her.
“I'm not finished.””
She stepped closer.
“You have embarrassed this family enough.””
I laughed once.
“Embarrassed the family? You stole Grandma's work, put your name on it, and ripped my costume apart in front of two hundred people.””
“Because you were making everything about yourself!””
“No. Because I finally stopped letting you make everything about yourself.””
Vanessa's hand lifted.
For a moment, I thought she was going to slap me.
But Olivia appeared beside me.
She held her phone in front of her chest.
“Don't even think about it.””
Vanessa stopped.
Olivia looked furious.
“I recorded what happened to Maya earlier. I also recorded you admitting that the collection was being presented under your name.””
Vanessa stared at her.
“You have no right to record me.””
“Then you should stop announcing your crimes in public.””
A few guests nearby laughed.
Vanessa's cheeks flushed.
“Who do you think you are?””
“Someone who knows Maya deserves better.””
Olivia turned toward me.
“Are you ready to go?””
I looked at my father.
He still hadn't answered my question.
I held up the photograph.
“I'm not leaving until you tell me what Mom was trying to expose.””
Richard looked at the picture for a long time.
Then he finally spoke.
“Your mother found evidence that Vanessa had transferred money from Eleanor's business into her personal accounts. She confronted her. I asked her not to report it.””
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa told me the company was in debt. She said if the investigation became public, we could lose the house.””
I stared at him.
“So you knew she was stealing.””
“I knew there were financial problems.””
“That's not the same thing.””
He looked exhausted.
“I thought I could fix it.””
“And Mom?””
“She wanted to go to the police.””
“What happened after that?””
He swallowed.
“She left the house that night. She said she needed to collect some documents from the studio.””
My heart began pounding.
“Was Vanessa there?””
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
He hesitated again.
“I wasn't with her.””
I stepped backward.
“You don't know?””
“I wasn't there, Maya!””
His voice rose.
The nearby guests turned.
He lowered it again.
“Your mother called me before the accident. She said she had found something important. She told me not to trust Vanessa.””
I could barely breathe.
“What exactly did she say?””
Richard rubbed his face.
“She said there was a second set of financial records. She believed Vanessa had been hiding the real amount of money she had taken.””
“Where were the records?””
“I don't know.””
“Did Mom tell the police?””
“No. She died before she could.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She had gone completely silent.
Then I noticed Chloe standing behind her.
My stepsister was crying.
She looked at the wings on her shoulders and slowly began unfastening them.
“Mom,” she whispered.
Vanessa turned.
“What?””
Chloe removed the wings.
The straps fell loose.
She held them in both hands.
“I don't want these.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“Don't be ridiculous.””
“They're Maya's.””
“Chloe, put them back on.””
“No.””
Chloe walked toward me.
She stopped a few feet away and held out the wings.
“I know saying sorry doesn't fix anything.””
I stared at her.
She swallowed.
“I liked wearing them. I liked everyone looking at me. I didn't care that you were crying.””
Her voice cracked.
“But I didn't know about Grandma's designs. I swear.””
I took the wings.
Some of the feathers were bent. One of the silver threads had snapped.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
Chloe nodded.
Then she looked toward the stage.
“Mom, why did you tell everyone those designs were yours?””
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
“Because they were part of my business!””
“But Grandma made them.””
Vanessa's expression turned vicious.
“You ungrateful little girl. Do you have any idea how much I sacrificed to give you this life?””
Chloe pulled away.
“I didn't ask you to steal anything.””
The words hit Vanessa harder than a slap.
For a moment, she looked at her daughter as though she no longer recognized her.
Then she turned toward my father.
“We're going home.””
Richard didn't move.
Vanessa's voice rose.
“Richard!””
He looked at me.
“I'm sorry.””
It was the first time he had said those words all night.
But I wasn't ready to accept them.
“Sorry for what?””
“For not protecting you.””
I held the damaged wings against my chest.
“You watched her do it.””
“I know.””
“You told me not to make a scene.””
His eyes filled.
“I know.””
I shook my head.
“You don't get to apologize now just because everyone found out what she did.””
He lowered his head.
I walked away with Olivia.
At the entrance, my phone vibrated.
A new message from Margaret appeared.
*Margaret:* Maya, I heard about the recording. I need to see you immediately. There is something your grandmother never put in the trust documents.
I stopped walking.
*Me:* What is it?
The reply came seconds later.
*Margaret:* Your mother's original accident report. And a photograph taken outside the studio less than an hour before she died.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Another message appeared.
*Margaret:* Maya, I think Vanessa lied about where she was that night.
Related Stories
