Chapter 6: The Secret Inside the Wings
I left the Bellamy estate without saying another word.
Vanessa followed me to the front entrance.
"Camille, give me the phone.""
I turned.
"No.""
"You have no idea who you're speaking to.""
"Actually, I think I do.""
Her expression changed.
"That woman is dangerous.""
I almost laughed.
"You just told me she was dead.""
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Listen to me. Evelyn destroyed this family once. Don't let her do it again.""
I opened the front door.
"Then perhaps you should explain why you're afraid of her.""
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
"You will regret this.""
I looked at her.
"I've regretted believing you for years.""
Then I walked out.
Evelyn remained on the phone.
"Are you somewhere private?"" she asked.
"I'm in my car.""
"Good. Don't go home yet.""
"Why?""
"Because someone has been watching the estate. If Vanessa knows I've contacted you, she may try to recover what your father left behind.""
I glanced at the rearview mirror.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
Its windows were tinted.
"Who is watching me?""
"I don't know. But I recognize the vehicle.""
My stomach tightened.
"Where should I meet you?""
"There's a little café on Madison Avenue. I'll send you the address.""
The call ended.
A message arrived seconds later.
I started the car.
Twenty minutes afterward, I entered a quiet café with dark wooden tables and old photographs covering the walls.
A woman sat near the window.
She had silver hair, sharp blue eyes, and a long charcoal coat.
She stood when she saw me.
"Camille.""
I recognized her immediately from an old photograph in my father's office.
"Evelyn?""
She nodded.
Then she embraced me.
For a moment, I was sixteen again.
I remembered this woman bringing me sketchbooks, taking me to fabric exhibitions, and encouraging me to draw things nobody else understood.
After my father married Vanessa, Evelyn had slowly disappeared from our lives.
I had been told she was selfish, greedy, and disloyal.
Now she was standing in front of me.
Alive.
"I thought you were dead," I whispered.
Evelyn gave a sad smile.
"That was the point.""
We sat down.
She ordered tea and placed a small envelope on the table.
"Your father knew Vanessa was moving money out of Bellamy Holdings.""
I opened the envelope.
Inside were copies of bank transfers, board resolutions, and handwritten notes.
"Why didn't he report her?""
"He was trying to protect you.""
"From Vanessa?""
"From the people she was working with.""
I looked up.
"Who?""
Evelyn leaned closer.
"Richard Lawson.""
My stomach dropped.
Richard was one of the six people with access to my private authorization files.
The same man Elena had said recommended Victor.
"He's working with Vanessa?""
"He's been working with her for years.""
I stared at the documents.
"Why?""
"Because Vanessa promised him control over the company's future.""
Evelyn took a sip of tea.
"Your father discovered that Richard had been selling confidential information to competitors. When he confronted him, Richard threatened to expose several financial transactions that could have damaged Bellamy Holdings.""
"So they made a deal.""
"Exactly.""
I looked at the papers again.
"And the money?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Vanessa transferred company funds into several private accounts. Richard helped conceal the transactions.""
I felt sick.
"How much?""
"Nearly twelve million dollars.""
I looked at her.
"That's impossible.""
"Your father suspected it was more.""
I slowly closed the envelope.
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"He was afraid Vanessa would target you.""
I stared through the window.
Outside, traffic moved steadily along the street.
For years, I had believed my father died leaving behind a complicated family situation and a struggling business.
Now I was learning that his final months had been filled with threats, financial crimes, and secrets.
"What does this have to do with my gown?""
Evelyn reached into her handbag.
She removed a small photograph.
It showed the original butterfly wings under construction.
I recognized them immediately.
But there was something strange about the central frame.
A tiny silver compartment was visible beneath the left wing.
"What is that?""
"Your father designed it.""
I leaned closer.
"Why?""
Evelyn looked directly at me.
"Because he knew Vanessa would eventually try to take control of Asteria Creative Group.""
I felt a chill.
"The gown contains evidence?""
"Not exactly. It contains the key to something.""
She removed another photograph.
This one showed a small silver butterfly-shaped object.
My breath caught.
I had seen something similar in my father's study.
The brass butterfly hidden behind the books.
"This is the matching piece," Evelyn explained.
"Your father split the access mechanism into two parts. One was hidden in his study. The other was incorporated into the costume.""
I stared at her.
"And what does it open?""
"A secure archive containing the original financial records, ownership agreements, and evidence of the transfers.""
I looked down at the photograph.
"Why didn't you retrieve it?""
"Because your father wanted you to decide what to do with it.""
I shook my head.
"This is unbelievable.""
Evelyn reached across the table and touched my hand.
"Camille, there's something else.""
I looked up.
"Your father didn't leave you only the gala.""
She paused.
"He left you control of Bellamy Holdings.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"The company was supposed to transfer to you once you turned twenty-five. Vanessa was only appointed temporary administrator until the succession process was completed.""
I thought about the inheritance documents Vanessa had shown me after my father's funeral.
She had told me the company was deeply indebted and that my father had left me almost nothing.
She had encouraged me to sign several papers without reading them.
My hands began to shake.
"She told me I had no claim.""
Evelyn's expression hardened.
"Then she lied.""
I took a deep breath.
"Can you prove it?""
She opened another folder.
Inside was a notarized succession agreement.
My father's signature appeared on the final page.
And beneath it was a second signature.
Evelyn Cross.
"Your father asked me to keep this safe," she said.
"He believed Vanessa would try to destroy it.""
I stared at the document.
"Why give it to me now?""
"Because I heard she was trying to claim ownership of the Midnight Masquerade.""
Evelyn leaned forward.
"She has become desperate, Camille. Bellamy Holdings is nearly insolvent. Richard has been moving money for months. The gala sponsorship is their last chance to attract investors.""
I thought about Brielle's photograph.
Her smug smile.
Her claim that she had been personally selected.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
They weren't simply trying to attend the gala.
They were trying to use my event to save their failing company.
And they were prepared to steal my identity to do it.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Elena.
*ELENA: We have identified the person who downloaded your authorization template. It's Victor Grant.*
Another message appeared.
*ELENA: Richard just entered the building. He's asking to see you.*
I looked at Evelyn.
"Richard is here.""
She went pale.
"Then he knows.""
"Knows what?""
"That I contacted you.""
I stood.
"We need to leave.""
Evelyn grabbed her handbag.
"There's something you must understand. The archive key cannot be activated without both butterfly pieces. If Vanessa finds out you have the first one, she'll do anything to get it.""
I looked at her.
"I don't have the first one.""
Evelyn froze.
"What?""
"The brass butterfly from my father's study is missing.""
Her face changed.
"Then someone has already found it.""
My phone rang.
Elena.
I answered immediately.
"Elena?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Camille, you need to come back.""
"What happened?""
"Someone entered your private design suite.""
My heart stopped.
"What did they take?""
She swallowed.
"The original wing mechanism. Madame Laurent says the silver compartment is missing.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who was it?""
"We checked the security footage.""
"Elena, tell me.""
A long silence followed.
Then she whispered:
"It was Brielle.""
I stared at Evelyn.
She looked as though she had just seen a ghost.
"Camille," she said quietly.
I turned toward her.
"What's wrong?""
Evelyn gripped my wrist.
"Your father told me something about that archive.""
"What?""
She looked directly into my eyes.
"The documents inside don't just expose Vanessa and Richard.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What else?""
Evelyn's voice dropped to almost nothing.
"They contain evidence that someone deliberately caused your father's final business collapse.""
I couldn't breathe.
She continued.
"And the person who signed the authorization was someone your father trusted more than anyone.""
My phone buzzed again.
A photograph had arrived from an unknown number.
It showed Brielle standing in front of a mirror, holding the silver butterfly compartment.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
*UNKNOWN: WE KNOW WHAT'S INSIDE THE WINGS. IF YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY'S SECRET TO STAY BURIED, CANCEL THE MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE.*
I read it twice.
Then another message appeared.
*UNKNOWN: AND DON'T TRUST THE WOMAN SITTING ACROSS FROM YOU.*
I slowly raised my eyes toward Evelyn.
May you like
She was staring at my phone.
And for the first time since I had met her again, she looked afraid of me.
