Chapter 5: The Truth Her Father Buried
Nia sat down slowly.
"What do you mean?""
Daniel pulled out the chair opposite her.
He looked toward the staircase to make sure Vanessa wasn't nearby.
Then he spoke.
"Before your mother died, she made me promise never to involve you in what happened with Vanessa.""
Nia's stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"Because she was afraid.""
"Of Vanessa?""
Daniel nodded.
"But not because Vanessa might hurt her physically. Your mother was afraid that the truth would destroy the little stability we had left.""
Nia looked at the documents.
"Tell me everything.""
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
"When Evelyn first met Vanessa, she thought they could become friends. Vanessa was working at Whitmore Atelier, and your mother was preparing the Bluebird Collection.""
"Margaret said that.""
"Vanessa was very charming back then. She was good at talking to people, arranging meetings, and making connections.""
"Was she stealing Mom's designs?""
Daniel hesitated.
"I don't know exactly when it started.""
"Then tell me what you do know.""
He looked down.
"Your mother came home one evening with photographs of her designs appearing in a fashion catalog. The designs had been credited to another company.""
Nia's heart pounded.
"Reed Meridian?""
Daniel nodded.
"At the time, Richard Reed was Vanessa's husband. Evelyn suspected they were working together.""
"Did Mom confront her?""
"Yes. They had a terrible argument.""
"What happened?""
Daniel leaned back.
"Your mother demanded that Vanessa return the original sketches. Vanessa denied having them. Richard threatened to sue Evelyn for defamation.""
Nia stared at him.
"But the designs belonged to Mom.""
"I know.""
"Then why didn't you help her?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Because I made a terrible mistake.""
Nia waited.
"Richard had lawyers. Evelyn didn't. We had just bought this house, and I was working two jobs.
Your mother was pregnant. She was exhausted. We couldn't afford a long legal battle.""
"So you gave up?""
"I asked her to settle.""
Nia felt tears gathering.
"You told her to let them keep the designs?""
"I thought it was the only way to protect our family.""
"Did she agree?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. She wanted to fight. But after Richard sent another legal threat, she stopped talking about the case.""
Nia looked at the old photograph.
Her mother had been twenty-four.
She had been talented, ambitious, and full of dreams.
And everyone around her had allowed those dreams to be taken.
"Why did Vanessa marry you?""
Daniel looked surprised.
"What?""
"She knew Mom. She knew what happened. Why would she marry you?""
He was silent.
"Did she know about the house? About Mom's belongings?""
"She said she wanted a fresh start.""
Nia shook her head.
"That's not an answer.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"When we started dating, Vanessa told me Evelyn had misunderstood the situation. She said Richard had purchased the designs legally and that she had simply helped with the paperwork.""
"And you believed her?""
"I wanted to.""
Nia stood.
"That's worse.""
Daniel looked up.
"I know.""
"Mom spent years trying to make something of herself. She left me all her sewing tools because she wanted me to have what she didn't. And you brought the person who helped destroy her into our home.""
Daniel's face crumpled.
"I never knew she would treat you this way.""
"How long have you known she was involved?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he whispered:
"Since the day I found an old letter in your mother's sewing box.""
Nia froze.
"What letter?""
Daniel went upstairs.
He returned several minutes later holding a small envelope.
It was worn around the edges.
Nia recognized the handwriting immediately.
Her mother's.
Daniel placed it on the table.
"I found this two years ago. I should have told you.""
Nia opened it.
Daniel,
If anything happens to me, please make sure Nia knows the truth about the Bluebird Collection.
Vanessa has been asking questions about my old sketches again. She believes I still have the original ownership documents.
I don't trust her.
There is a reason I never told you everything about Richard.
Please don't let her near the blue sketchbook.
Evelyn.
Nia looked up.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Of losing you.""
Nia stared at him.
"You lost me the moment you decided your fear was more important than Mom's truth.""
Daniel bowed his head.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Nia collected the documents.
"I'm going to Margaret.""
"Wait.""
She stopped.
Daniel reached into his pocket and placed a small key on the table.
"This belongs to your mother.""
Nia recognized it.
It was a tiny brass key.
"Where did you get this?""
"She gave it to me shortly before she died. She said it opened a storage cabinet in her old workshop.""
Nia picked it up.
"Where's the workshop?""
Daniel hesitated.
"There's something else you should know.""
He took out another folded paper.
It was a storage rental receipt.
The location was across town.
The account was still active.
And the name on the receipt was Evelyn Carter.
Nia looked at the date.
The storage unit had been rented continuously for twelve years.
"Why have you been paying for this?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Because I promised your mother I would never let anyone access it.""
Nia's heart began racing.
"Does Vanessa know?""
"I don't think so.""
Nia grabbed her backpack.
"Then I'm going today.""
Daniel stood.
"I'll come with you.""
"No.""
"Nia—"
"You've had years to tell me the truth. I'm going with Zoe.""
Daniel looked wounded.
But he didn't argue.
At 3:40 p.m., Nia and Zoe arrived at the storage facility.
The building was old, with faded yellow walls and a security gate that groaned whenever it opened.
A manager checked the rental information.
"Unit 214," he said.
"It hasn't been accessed in quite some time.""
Nia inserted the brass key.
The lock clicked.
Inside were several cardboard boxes, a wooden mannequin, an old sewing machine, and a large metal cabinet.
Dust covered everything.
Zoe turned on her phone flashlight.
"Wow.""
Nia stepped inside.
The room smelled of old paper and cedar.
She opened the first box.
It contained fabric samples, thread spools, and photographs.
The second contained notebooks.
The third contained several dresses wrapped carefully in protective fabric.
Nia pulled one out.
A blue evening gown.
It was breathtaking.
The embroidery was identical to the sketches.
She touched the fabric.
"Mom made this.""
Zoe moved closer.
"Is it one of the original Bluebird pieces?""
Nia nodded.
She carefully removed the protective cover from another garment.
Then another.
Five dresses.
All five original designs.
They had never been lost.
Her mother had hidden them.
But why?
Nia searched the cabinet.
Inside a locked drawer, she found a thick folder containing contracts, receipts, letters, and photographs.
The first document was a copy of the original design registration.
The second was a handwritten inventory of the Bluebird Collection.
The third was a letter from Richard Reed.
Nia opened it.
Evelyn,
You have made this unnecessarily difficult.
The agreement has already been processed. Continuing to challenge the ownership will only create problems for everyone involved.
You have a family to consider now.
I strongly suggest you accept the arrangement.
Richard.
Nia read the letter twice.
"He's threatening her.""
Zoe photographed it.
Then Nia found a second envelope.
This one contained a series of printed emails.
She opened the oldest.
The sender was Vanessa Reed.
The recipient was Richard.
The date was September 2007.
I have the authorization document ready. Evelyn signed something similar when she hired me, so this should be easy to explain.
The next email was from Richard.
Make sure she doesn't see the final version.
Nia's hands began trembling.
She opened another.
Once the transfer is complete, we can launch the collection under my name. Nobody will be able to connect the original sketches to Evelyn.
Nia covered her mouth.
Zoe looked at the screen.
"Oh, my God.""
But the most important email was the final one.
It was dated three days after the ownership transfer.
Vanessa,
The collection is secured. But there is a problem.
Evelyn has discovered the missing designs. She is asking questions about the original registration.
I need you to make sure she never finds the remaining documents.
Richard.
Nia felt the room spin.
She opened the last envelope.
Inside was a small voice recorder.
A note was attached.
If they ever come looking for the collection, listen to this first.
Nia pressed the play button.
Static crackled.
Then her mother's voice filled the storage unit.
"Margaret, it's Evelyn. If you're hearing this, something has gone terribly wrong.""
Nia's eyes filled.
Her mother continued.
"Vanessa came to the house today. She knows I kept the original dresses. She told me Richard wants them back.""
A pause.
"I told her no.""
Another pause.
"She said if I don't cooperate, they'll make sure I lose everything.""
Nia gripped the recorder.
Her mother's voice became quieter.
"There's one thing I haven't told Daniel. It's about the original registration. I didn't register the Bluebird Collection under my name alone.""
Nia looked at Zoe.
"What does that mean?""
The recording continued.
"Margaret and I created a partnership before the collection was completed. The original ownership is shared between us. Any transfer without both signatures is invalid.""
Nia froze.
That meant Vanessa's transfer agreement had never been legitimate.
The collection still legally belonged to Evelyn's estate and Margaret Whitmore.
Then her mother said something that made Nia stop breathing.
"And there's another person who can prove everything.""
The recording ended.
Nia pressed the button again.
Nothing.
Zoe looked at her.
"Who?""
Nia turned over the recorder.
A small label was stuck to the back.
Witness: Thomas Carter.
Her father's older brother.
Uncle Thomas.
The man who had supposedly moved to California years ago and never contacted the family again.
Nia had barely met him.
But she remembered something.
Her mother used to call him whenever she needed help with legal paperwork.
"Why would Uncle Thomas be involved?""
Zoe picked up the folder.
"Maybe he witnessed the original agreement.""
Nia looked through the documents again.
There was a photograph of three people standing outside Whitmore Atelier.
Evelyn.
Margaret.
And Thomas Carter.
On the back, her mother had written:
The three people who know the truth.
Nia carefully packed the documents and covered the dresses again.
She was finally holding the evidence her mother had spent years protecting.
But as they walked toward the exit, Zoe's phone rang.
It was Daniel.
Zoe answered.
"Hello?""
Her expression changed.
"What?""
Nia stopped.
"What happened?""
Zoe listened for several seconds.
Then she slowly lowered the phone.
"Your dad says Vanessa found out about the storage unit.""
Nia's stomach dropped.
"How?""
Zoe looked at the screen.
"She just called him.""
Nia took the phone.
"Put him on speaker.""
Daniel's voice sounded panicked.
"Nia, listen to me. You need to leave that place immediately.""
"Why?""
"Vanessa is here with Brianna. They've been searching your room.""
Nia's blood ran cold.
"What are they looking for?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said:
"The blue sketchbook.""
Nia looked down at the box in her arms.
Her mother's original sketchbook was inside.
"Why?""
Daniel's voice broke.
"Because Vanessa just admitted something.""
"What?""
"She said the original designs weren't the only things Evelyn left behind.""
A pause.
"She said your mother had hidden proof that Richard Reed had never actually bought the collection.""
Nia stared at the storage unit.
Then she heard a car door slam outside.
A familiar voice called her name.
"Nia!""
May you like
Vanessa.
She had found them.
