Chapter 8: The Last Thing My Father Believed
I didn't go to the Bellamy estate that evening.
Not immediately.
Instead, I sat in Daniel's office with my father's letter in front of me.
I read Evelyn's revelation three times.
My father had died believing I had betrayed him.
The thought hurt in a way I couldn't explain.
I had spent years blaming myself for not being there during his final months.
I remembered his last phone call.
He had asked whether I was happy.
I had told him I was busy.
He had said he wanted to discuss something important when we next met.
We never did.
For years, I had assumed he was simply disappointed that I hadn't visited enough.
Now I wondered whether he had been trying to ask me about the forged documents.
Daniel sat opposite me.
"Camille, you need to understand something. A forged signature doesn't establish guilt.""
"I know.""
"But your father may not have known.""
I stared at the letter.
"He must have been devastated.""
Evelyn sat beside me.
"He was. But he never stopped loving you.""
I looked at her.
"How can you know that?""
"Because he asked me to protect you.""
She reached into her bag and placed another envelope on the table.
"This was written the night before he died.""
I opened it.
The handwriting was shaky.
Camille,
I don't know what to believe anymore.
Someone has shown me documents suggesting that you signed the transfer agreement. I cannot understand why you would do such a thing.
But I remember the little girl who used to sit beside me and draw dresses on the backs of my business papers.
I remember how proud you were when you finished your first collection.
I remember promising you that nobody would ever take your dreams away.
If I have misunderstood something, I hope you will forgive me.
I love you.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
Tears blurred the page.
For three years, I had lived with the belief that my father died before I could make him proud.
Now I knew he had died confused and heartbroken.
And someone had deliberately put that pain between us.
Daniel waited until I had finished reading.
Then he spoke.
"There's another problem.""
I wiped my eyes.
"What?""
"The Bellamy family has scheduled an emergency board meeting for tomorrow morning.""
"Why?""
"They intend to vote on a resolution transferring the company's remaining intellectual property to a new holding entity.""
I looked at him.
"Under whose control?""
"Vanessa's.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"She can't do that.""
"Not without the original shareholder approval," Daniel replied.
"Which she claims to have," he continued.
I stared at the documents.
"She has my forged signature.""
Daniel nodded.
"Exactly.""
I stood.
"Then we stop her.""
He opened another folder.
"I've prepared an injunction. But I need the original archive records to make the case stronger.""
I looked at Evelyn.
"Can we retrieve them?""
She nodded slowly.
"Only if we get the silver butterfly compartment.""
I thought of Brielle.
"She has it.""
"Then we need to take it back.""
I checked the time.
Seven thirty.
The Bellamy estate was hosting a private dinner that evening.
I had received an invitation.
Not because Vanessa wanted to reconcile.
Because she wanted me to surrender.
I looked at Daniel.
"Prepare the injunction.""
"Where are you going?""
"To dinner.""
He stood.
"Camille, don't go alone.""
"I won't.""
I called Elena.
"Have security prepare a private recording team. I want every conversation documented.""
"Understood.""
"And Elena?""
"Yes?""
"Make sure the press knows the gala's creative director will be making an announcement on Halloween night.""
She paused.
"Are you finally ready to reveal yourself?""
I looked at my father's letter.
"Yes.""
The Bellamy estate looked like a palace when I arrived.
Gold lights illuminated the front entrance. A string quartet played in the ballroom, and expensive cars lined the circular driveway.
Vanessa had invited nearly thirty guests.
Investors.
Fashion executives.
Socialites.
And, most importantly, the Harrington family.
Brielle stood near the staircase wearing a silver evening dress.
When she saw me, she smiled.
"Well, look who's finally decided to attend.""
I removed my coat.
"Lovely party.""
She looked me up and down.
"You're underdressed.""
I glanced at her diamonds.
"You're overdressed.""
Her smile vanished.
Vanessa approached.
"Camille. I'm glad you came.""
"Your invitation was rather insistent.""
She leaned closer.
"We need to settle something tonight.""
I smiled.
"So I've heard.""
She gestured toward the ballroom.
"Come. There are people you should meet.""
I followed her.
At the center of the room stood Celeste Harrington, her father, and Richard Lawson.
Richard looked perfectly comfortable.
He held a glass of champagne and laughed with one of the investors.
When he saw me, his expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
Vanessa introduced me.
"This is my stepdaughter, Camille.""
Celeste smiled politely.
"Hello. I've heard quite a lot about you.""
"Hopefully nothing too embarrassing.""
She laughed.
Richard extended his hand.
"Camille. It's been a while.""
I looked at his hand before shaking it.
"Not long enough.""
His smile tightened.
Vanessa gave a nervous laugh.
"Camille has always had a sharp sense of humor.""
I looked directly at Richard.
"Have you found the original authorization files?""
He froze.
Then he smiled.
"I'm not sure what you mean.""
"Of course.""
Before he could answer, Brielle approached carrying a small velvet box.
"Mother, are we doing it now?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
She turned toward the guests.
"Everyone, may I have your attention?""
The conversations gradually stopped.
Vanessa smiled.
"As many of you know, our family has always supported the arts. Tonight, we're celebrating a very special opportunity for Brielle.""
She gestured toward her daughter.
Brielle opened the velvet box.
Inside lay the silver butterfly compartment.
My father's archive key.
A murmur passed through the room.
Brielle lifted it.
"This is a special piece from the original fairy queen costume. Asteria personally selected me to carry it.""
I looked at her.
She was lying again.
Vanessa continued.
"Unfortunately, there has been some confusion about the gala's arrangements. Camille has become rather emotional about the costume, but we're hoping tonight will resolve everything.""
Celeste frowned.
"Isn't this a private matter?""
Vanessa smiled.
"Not anymore.""
She turned toward me.
"Camille, darling, why don't you tell everyone what you've been trying to accomplish?""
The room went silent.
I looked around.
Every face was turned toward me.
I could have denied everything.
Instead, I smiled.
"Certainly.""
I took a step forward.
"First, Brielle is not the selected fairy queen. She has never been authorized to represent the Midnight Masquerade.""
Brielle's face flushed.
Vanessa stepped in.
"That's not true.""
I continued.
"Second, the gown she is wearing was commissioned for the opening performance and belongs to Asteria Creative Group.""
Richard placed his glass down.
"Camille, this is not the appropriate setting.""
I turned toward him.
"Why? Are you worried someone might ask where the sponsorship money went?""
His face changed.
Celeste looked between us.
"What money?""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"That's enough.""
But I wasn't finished.
"And third, the authorization letter claiming I selected Brielle was forged.""
The room erupted in whispers.
Brielle stared at her mother.
Vanessa's voice became icy.
"You have no proof.""
I looked at the velvet box.
"Actually, I do.""
Then I reached into my handbag and removed a printed document.
It was the original authorization template.
The genuine signature.
The silver butterfly mark.
And the digital access record showing Victor Grant's download.
I handed it to Celeste's father.
He studied it.
Then looked at Richard.
"Do you know anything about this?""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"I think we should discuss this privately.""
"Why?"" I asked.
"Didn't you come here to celebrate transparency?""
Brielle suddenly stepped forward.
"You can't do this to me!""
I looked at her.
"You did it to yourself.""
She raised the silver compartment.
"Then take it!""
She threw it toward me.
I caught it.
A sharp click sounded as the compartment opened in my hand.
Inside was a tiny folded piece of paper.
I pulled it out.
It contained a single line.
*THE ORIGINAL ARCHIVE IS NOT IN THE COMPANY. IT IS UNDER THE FOUNDATION.*
I looked at Evelyn, who had entered quietly through the ballroom doors.
She nodded.
Then Richard lunged toward me.
"Give me that!""
Security immediately stepped between us.
Celeste's father stood.
"Richard, sit down.""
But Richard wasn't looking at him.
He was staring at the paper in my hand.
His face had gone pale.
Because he knew exactly what was written on it.
And he knew what it meant.
Vanessa grabbed Brielle's arm.
"We're leaving.""
But before they reached the door, Celeste spoke.
"Mrs. Bellamy, I think we need to discuss your company's sponsorship proposal.""
Vanessa stopped.
Celeste held up her phone.
"I've just received confirmation from the gala foundation. Your sponsorship application has been suspended pending an investigation.""
Vanessa turned toward me.
Her eyes were filled with hatred.
"You planned this.""
I looked at her.
"No. You did.""
Then Richard whispered something to Vanessa.
I couldn't hear every word.
But I heard the last sentence.
"The original archive isn't under the foundation.""
May you like
He looked at me.
"It's under your father's grave.""
