Chapter 7: The Last Words My Mother Left Behind
“Richard, where is she?””
Vanessa's voice came from downstairs.
I stood frozen beside my bedroom door, my phone pressed against my ear.
Margaret was still speaking.
“Maya, listen carefully. The document I found isn't just an accident report. It's a supplemental witness statement that was never included in the public police file.””
“What does it say?””
“Your mother regained consciousness briefly after the collision. A paramedic recorded her final statement before she was transported to the hospital.””
My throat tightened.
“What did she say?””
Margaret hesitated.
“She said Vanessa had followed her from the studio. She also said something about a black folder and a second person.””
“A second person?””
“I don't know who. The recording was never properly transcribed.””
I looked toward the bedroom door.
Vanessa was downstairs.
And judging by the sound of her voice, she wasn't planning to leave quietly.
“Margaret, I'm coming.””
“Don't. Vanessa knows I have the documents. I think she's already contacted someone to remove them.””
I glanced at the velvet folder on my table.
“Where are you?””
“Inside the studio. I managed to get through the side entrance.””
“Stay there. I'll find you.””
“Maya, one more thing.””
“What?””
“Your mother left a personal letter in the same storage compartment as the ledger. It has your name on it.””
My eyes burned.
“I'm coming.””
I ended the call.
When I opened my bedroom door, my father was standing in the hallway.
He looked startled.
“Where are you going?””
“To Grandma's studio.””
He stepped in front of me.
“It's late.””
“Margaret found the original evidence.””
His expression changed.
“What evidence?””
“The accident report. The recording of Mom's final statement. The second ledger.””
Richard gripped the doorframe.
“Vanessa mustn't get those documents.””
I stared at him.
“You knew there was another copy?””
He shook his head.
“No. But if she knows Margaret found it, she'll do anything to get it.””
I tried to pass him.
He caught my hand.
“Maya, let me come with you.””
I looked at his fingers.
For years, those hands had represented safety to me.
Now I wasn't sure what they represented.
“Why?””
“Because I owe your mother the truth.””
I pulled my hand free.
“Then start by telling it.””
He nodded slowly.
“I will.””
We went downstairs together.
Vanessa stood in the entrance hall, still wearing her black evening gown. Her makeup had begun to smudge, and her hair was no longer perfectly arranged.
Chloe stood near the staircase.
When Vanessa saw us, she immediately approached.
“Where are you going?””
Richard answered before I could.
“To the studio.””
Vanessa stopped.
Her expression changed.
“Why?””
“Margaret found some documents.””
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she looked at me.
“What documents?””
“The ones you were hoping nobody would ever find.””
She laughed sharply.
“You're both losing your minds.””
She moved toward the front door.
“I'll come with you.””
“No,” Richard said.
Vanessa turned.
“What did you just say?””
“I said you aren't coming.””
Her face hardened.
“Richard, I have spent years keeping this family together.””
“And I've spent years believing your lies.””
She stared at him.
Then she laughed again.
“You want to play the righteous husband now? After everything I've done for you?””
Richard looked down.
For a second, I thought he might retreat into silence again.
But he lifted his head.
“Not anymore.””
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
She turned toward Chloe.
“Get your coat.””
Chloe didn't move.
“Mom, I don't want to go.””
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
“Excuse me?””
“I don't want to be involved in this.””
“You're my daughter.””
“And Maya is your stepdaughter. You treated her like she wasn't even part of this family.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Don't you dare take her side.””
Chloe looked at the damaged angel wings in my arms.
“I saw what you did to her.””
Vanessa slapped her champagne glass onto the console table.
It shattered.
“Enough!””
Chloe flinched but didn't move.
I opened the front door.
“Let's go, Dad.””
We left.
The drive to the studio took twenty minutes.
Neither of us spoke.
Richard kept both hands on the steering wheel, his knuckles pale.
When we arrived, Margaret was waiting inside the side entrance.
She was sixty-eight, with short silver hair and a navy coat. I remembered her from Grandma's funeral, where she had held my hand and promised to look after the business.
She looked exhausted.
“Maya.””
She embraced me tightly.
“I'm sorry it took so long.””
I held her for a moment.
Then I noticed the large leather box on the worktable.
“Is that it?””
Margaret nodded.
“Everything your grandmother wanted you to have.””
She opened the box.
Inside were several documents, a small digital recorder, and a thick black ledger.
I touched the cover.
My mother's handwriting appeared on the first page.
*Private financial records. Eleanor Brooks Designs.*
Richard stepped closer.
“That's the ledger I gave Vanessa.””
Margaret looked at him.
“No. That's the second copy.””
He stared at her.
“You knew?””
“Eleanor made two copies. She gave one to you and entrusted the other to me. I hid this one before Vanessa could find it.””
I opened the ledger.
Every transaction was recorded.
Names.
Dates.
Account numbers.
Payments.
The evidence was overwhelming.
But something else was tucked into the back pocket.
A sealed envelope.
My name was written across it.
I carefully opened it.
*My dearest Maya,*
*If you are reading this, then I wasn't able to explain everything to you myself. I wish I could have watched you grow up. I wish I could have taught you how to make your first dress, how to choose your own path, and how to stand up when someone tries to make you feel small.*
My tears fell onto the paper.
*I know Vanessa has made you feel unwanted. Please don't believe her. You were never a burden. You were the greatest gift I ever received.*
I pressed the letter against my chest.
Then I continued.
*I discovered that Vanessa was taking money from the business. I also discovered that she had been preparing documents to transfer the studio and collection into a company she controlled. I confronted her. She threatened me.*
I looked at Margaret.
She nodded sadly.
“Keep reading.””
*On the night of the accident, I was supposed to meet your grandmother at the studio. I had the original financial records with me. Vanessa followed my car. I don't know whether she intended to frighten me or stop me, but she refused to leave me alone.*
My hands trembled.
*If anything happens to me, please don't let anyone convince you that my work and your grandmother's work belong to someone else.*
The final paragraph was written in darker ink.
*Your father knows more than he has told you. I love him, but he is afraid of losing everything. Fear can make good people do terrible things. I hope he finds the courage to tell you the truth.*
I looked at Richard.
He was crying.
“Dad?””
He lowered his head.
“I should have told you.””
“What happened that night?””
He sat down heavily.
“Your mother called me at 8:50. She said Vanessa was following her.””
“Why didn't you call the police?””
“I did. But before they arrived, Vanessa called me.””
“What did she say?””
“She told me your mother had threatened to destroy the family. She said she was trying to stop her from making a terrible mistake.””
I stared at him.
“What mistake?””
“Your mother had discovered that Vanessa was preparing to transfer the entire collection into her company. She wanted to take the evidence to an attorney.””
Margaret opened a document.
“This is the original witness statement.””
I read the typed report.
A paramedic had recorded my mother's words.
*Woman in dark SUV followed me. She blocked the road. She wanted the folder.
I refused. She said I would regret it.*
My breathing became shallow.
Then I saw the next line.
Patient identified the driver as Vanessa Hayes.
I looked up.
“Did the police investigate?””
Margaret nodded.
“They questioned Vanessa. She claimed she had left the studio before your mother. She said she was nowhere near the accident.””
“But the photograph proves she was there.””
“Yes.””
Richard covered his face.
“I knew she had followed your mother. Vanessa told me she had only tried to talk to her.””
I stared at him.
“You knew she was involved, and you let me grow up believing it was just an accident.””
“I was afraid.””
I stepped away.
“You keep saying that.””
He looked at me.
“I know.””
Before I could answer, a metallic crash sounded outside.
Margaret rushed toward the window.
A black SUV had stopped beside the entrance.
Vanessa climbed out.
Two men followed her.
One carried a large toolbox.
The other approached the side door.
Margaret's face went white.
“She found us.””
Richard stood.
“Vanessa!””
She entered without knocking.
Her eyes immediately locked onto the open ledger.
“Give it to me.””
I closed the book.
“No.””
Vanessa advanced.
“You have no idea what those documents can do.””
“I know exactly what they can do.””
She pointed at Richard.
“You told me you destroyed the second copy!””
Richard stared at her.
“I never had it.””
Her face twisted.
“Liar!””
Margaret moved between us.
“Vanessa, this building is legally owned by Maya. You have no authority to remove anything.””
Vanessa laughed.
“Move, Margaret.””
“No.””
One of the men behind Vanessa stepped forward.
Richard immediately blocked his path.
“Get out.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“You're choosing her over me?””
Richard's voice was low.
“I'm choosing the truth.””
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Vanessa looked directly at me.
“You think this is over?””
I held the ledger against my chest.
“No.””
She smiled.
“Good. Because you haven't seen what else your grandmother left behind.””
She turned toward the men.
“Take the box.””
One of them stepped forward.
Margaret grabbed her phone.
“I've already called the police.””
Vanessa froze.
Then she looked at the leather box.
A strange expression crossed her face.
“Fine.””
She stepped backward.
“But before you celebrate, Maya, ask your father why your mother was really carrying that folder.””
I turned toward Richard.
He looked horrified.
Vanessa smiled.
“She wasn't just trying to protect Eleanor's designs.””
She leaned closer.
“She was carrying documents that could have sent your father to prison, too.””
Then she walked out.
I turned to my father.
He didn't look at me.
He stared at the floor.
“Dad?””
He swallowed.
And finally, he whispered:
“Your mother had discovered that I signed the original transfer agreement.””
I couldn't move.
May you like
Richard lifted his eyes.
“And Vanessa used my signature to steal everything.””
