Chapter 9: The Night Before the Final
Margaret called the police.
Zoe contacted the studio's security company.
And Nia sat in a small office, staring at the photograph.
The message was unmistakable.
Someone had entered her bedroom.
Someone had searched her belongings.
And someone wanted her to withdraw from the competition.
Margaret placed a cup of tea in front of her.
"You're not going home alone tonight.""
Nia looked up.
"I'm not afraid.""
"I know. But being brave doesn't mean putting yourself in unnecessary danger.""
Zoe sat beside her.
"We'll stay together.""
Nia nodded.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message from Brianna.
I know who took your fabric.
Nia immediately called her.
Brianna answered in a whisper.
"Are you alone?""
"Yes. What's happening?""
"I heard Mom talking to Richard.""
Nia stood.
"What did they say?""
"They planned to take your materials from the studio before the final review.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard wants to make sure you can't finish the dress.""
Nia closed her eyes.
"Did Vanessa know?""
"She arranged it.""
Nia felt anger rising.
"Why are you telling me this?""
Brianna's voice cracked.
"Because I don't want to be like her.""
Nia sat down again.
"Do you know where the fabric is?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"In the storage room at the house. Mom put everything there.""
Nia looked at Zoe.
"Can you send me a photograph?""
A few seconds later, an image arrived.
It showed Nia's sapphire silk, the embroidery samples, and her unfinished bodice.
Everything was there.
But Brianna sent another message.
There's something else.
Nia waited.
Mom has the original Bluebird collection catalog. The one with the designs Richard stole.
Nia's heart began pounding.
"Where?""
"In her bedroom safe.""
"Can you get it?""
"I think so.""
Nia hesitated.
"Brianna, don't do anything dangerous.""
Her sister gave a small, broken laugh.
"Funny. You sound like Mom.""
The call ended.
Margaret had heard enough.
"If Vanessa has the original catalog, that could be important.""
Nia nodded.
"She may have the missing design records.""
Margaret stood.
"Then we need to retrieve your materials and secure the catalog legally.""
But Nia was already thinking about something else.
The competition final was less than twenty-four hours away.
She still had a dress to finish.
And now she knew the people who had stolen her mother's work were willing to threaten her to keep it.
At 7:30 p.m., Nia returned home with Daniel.
Vanessa was in the living room.
She looked up.
"Where have you been?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Nia walked toward the staircase.
Vanessa stood.
"Don't go upstairs.""
Nia stopped.
"Why?""
"Because I said so.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Vanessa, move.""
She looked at him.
"You're really choosing her over your wife?""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"I'm choosing the truth.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"The truth? You don't even know the whole story.""
"Then tell me.""
She looked at Nia.
"Your mother was not innocent.""
Nia turned.
"What did she do?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"She promised me a share of the Bluebird Collection.""
"Why?""
"Because I helped her prepare it. I spent nights working in that studio. I introduced her to investors. I arranged meetings.""
Nia stared.
"Margaret said you were an assistant.""
"An assistant who did everything while Evelyn stood in front of cameras taking credit.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Vanessa, that's not true.""
"You weren't there!""
Nia opened her mother's letter.
"Mom wrote that you stole her designs.""
Vanessa's face twisted.
"Your mother wrote what suited her.""
"Then why did you sign the transfer?""
"Because Richard had a buyer. We were going to make money. I believed Evelyn would eventually agree.""
"She didn't.""
"No!""
Vanessa's voice cracked.
"She refused to share anything. She wanted everything for herself.""
Nia stared at her.
"She created it.""
Vanessa looked away.
Then she whispered:
"I created part of it too.""
The confession hung in the air.
Daniel stepped closer.
"What?""
Vanessa sat down.
For the first time, she looked exhausted.
"I helped develop some of the embroidery patterns. I arranged the fabric suppliers. I worked on the original presentation.""
Nia shook her head.
"Why didn't you just ask for credit?""
Vanessa laughed.
"Because nobody was going to give me any.""
"You could have built your own collection.""
"I wanted the one everyone was talking about.""
Daniel looked disgusted.
"So you forged documents?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
"Did you help Richard steal Evelyn's designs?""
Vanessa covered her face.
"I thought it would be temporary.""
Nia looked at her.
"Twenty years?""
Vanessa began crying.
"I never thought it would go this far.""
Nia stepped closer.
"You watched me grow up wearing my mother's old clothes. You watched me sew every night. You watched me enter the competition. And you still stole my dress.""
Vanessa looked up.
"Because I couldn't let you become another Evelyn.""
Nia frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Your mother was going to expose everything. Richard had already invested money in the collection. If she succeeded, he would lose everything. I would lose everything.""
"So you came into our family.""
Vanessa looked down.
"Yes.""
Daniel stepped backward.
The truth was finally becoming impossible to deny.
Vanessa hadn't simply married Daniel because she loved him.
She had entered the family carrying a secret that could destroy the people inside it.
Brianna came down the stairs.
She was holding a thick black folder.
"Mom.""
Vanessa looked up.
"What are you doing?""
Brianna held out the folder.
"I found it.""
Vanessa stood immediately.
"Give that to me.""
"No.""
"Brianna, don't.""
Brianna opened the folder.
Inside were original sketches, correspondence, licensing agreements, and a series of photographs.
She placed everything on the coffee table.
"I found these in your safe.""
Vanessa stared at her daughter.
"Why would you do this?""
Brianna's eyes filled.
"Because you lied to me.""
"I raised you!""
"You told me my real mother didn't want me!""
Vanessa looked devastated.
"I did everything for you.""
"No. You did everything to keep me.""
Brianna opened another document.
It was an agreement between Richard and Vanessa.
The document outlined a plan to relaunch the Bluebird Collection using Vanessa's name.
But a handwritten clause at the bottom caught Nia's attention.
It stated that if Evelyn Carter's descendants challenged the ownership, the original designer would be required to provide evidence of the alleged transfer.
Nia looked up.
"That's why you wanted the certificate.""
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"Without it, Richard can't prove the transfer was legitimate.""
Brianna handed the folder to Daniel.
"There's something else.""
She removed a small USB drive.
"Mom recorded a conversation with Richard.""
Vanessa went pale.
"Brianna, give me that.""
Brianna stepped away.
"No.""
Nia took the drive.
"What's on it?""
"Everything.""
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
"Is that true?""
Vanessa sank into the chair.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then she whispered:
"Richard told me to destroy the original agreement. He said if I didn't, he'd make sure Brianna lost everything.""
Brianna looked at her.
"Why would he care about me?""
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
"Because he knew the truth about your birth.""
Brianna's face crumpled.
"Did he ever want me?""
Vanessa reached toward her.
"I don't know.""
Brianna turned away.
That answer hurt more than any lie.
Nia looked at the folder.
The documents could prove the theft.
The recording could expose Richard.
And the ownership certificate could restore her mother's legacy.
But there was still the competition.
She needed to finish her dress.
Margaret arrived shortly afterward.
She reviewed the documents, copied the files, and contacted the legal team.
Then she looked at Nia.
"Your materials?""
"Still in the storage room.""
"We'll retrieve them now.""
They found everything exactly where Brianna had said it would be.
The sapphire silk.
The embroidery threads.
The unfinished bodice.
Nothing had been damaged.
Nia carefully packed the materials.
Brianna approached her.
"Can I help?""
Nia looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because I want to.""
Nia studied her sister.
Then she handed her a box of embroidery threads.
"Carry these.""
Brianna nodded.
It wasn't forgiveness.
But it was a beginning.
At the atelier, Nia worked through the night.
Zoe photographed the process.
Margaret helped with the complicated shoulder structure.
Brianna sorted the crystals and prepared the embroidery frames.
Daniel brought food and coffee.
For the first time, the people in the room were working toward something together.
At 2:40 a.m., Nia finished the bodice.
At 4:15, the skirt was attached.
At 5:30, she began the final embroidery.
Her fingers were aching.
Her eyes burned.
But she kept working.
The dress was more beautiful than she had imagined.
The sculpted shoulders resembled unfolding wings.
The sapphire patterns flowed beneath translucent organza.
Three-dimensional butterflies rested across the bodice, their wings moving gently whenever the fabric shifted.
The skirt fell in asymmetrical layers, revealing delicate blue embroidery beneath.
It wasn't simply a dress.
It was a tribute to Evelyn Carter.
At 7:10 a.m., Margaret stepped back.
"Nia.""
Nia looked up.
"Yes?""
Margaret smiled.
"Your mother would recognize this.""
Nia's eyes filled.
"Really?""
"Every line. Every detail. Every decision.""
Brianna stood beside the mannequin.
She looked at the dress for a long time.
Then she whispered:
"It's beautiful.""
Nia nodded.
"Thank you.""
Brianna touched the edge of the skirt.
"Do you think Mom would have liked it?""
Nia looked at her.
"I think she would have loved it.""
Brianna began crying.
Margaret gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Then Nia's phone rang.
It was the competition committee.
"Miss Carter?""
"Yes.""
"We've reviewed the additional evidence submitted by Ms. Whitmore. Your application remains valid.""
Nia exhaled.
"Thank you.""
"However, we have received a request from Mr. Richard Reed to address the judges before the final presentation.""
Nia frowned.
"Why?""
"He's claiming that your design is based on intellectual property that belongs to his company.""
Nia looked at Margaret.
The older woman took the phone.
"That's impossible. We have submitted the original ownership documents.""
The committee representative replied:
"Mr. Reed has provided a separate contract bearing Evelyn Carter's signature.""
Margaret froze.
"What contract?""
"A document dated October 2007. It appears to transfer all rights to the Bluebird Collection to Northbridge Creative Holdings.""
Margaret looked at Nia.
Then she whispered:
"That contract should not exist.""
The call ended.
Nia stood.
"What's happening?""
Margaret looked at the documents.
"Richard has found another version of the transfer agreement.""
"But we have proof my mother never signed it.""
"Yes.""
"Then why are they accepting his claim?""
Margaret slowly opened the folder Brianna had found.
She searched through the documents.
Then she stopped.
One page was missing.
The final page of the original transfer agreement.
The page containing Evelyn's signature.
Nia felt her stomach drop.
"Where is it?""
Margaret looked at Brianna.
Brianna shook her head.
"I didn't take anything.""
Vanessa, who had been sitting quietly near the doorway, suddenly stood.
"I know where it is.""
Everyone turned.
Vanessa looked at Nia.
"Richard has the original.""
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Then the final review will be tomorrow morning.""
Nia looked at the finished dress.
Tomorrow.
She had one chance to present her mother's legacy before the judges.
But Richard had something that could potentially destroy the entire case.
Nia picked up the blue butterfly necklace from the table.
Then she looked at Vanessa.
"Tell me where he is.""
Vanessa swallowed.
"He's holding the original document at his private office.""
"Then we're going there.""
Margaret shook her head.
"No. You are not confronting him alone.""
Nia looked at the clock.
The final presentation was less than twenty-four hours away.
She had spent her entire childhood believing that her talent was the only thing she needed to prove.
Now she understood that sometimes, the hardest part of creating something beautiful was protecting the truth behind it.
She looked at her mother's unfinished sketchbook.
Then she whispered:
"Tomorrow, everyone will know who created the Bluebird Collection.""
But as the others began preparing to leave, Nia noticed a final message on her phone.
An unknown number.
A photograph.
It showed her finished gown hanging in the atelier.
Beneath it was a message.
Beautiful work, Nia.
It would be a shame if the judges never got to see it.
Nia looked toward the studio entrance.
The security camera above the door had been disconnected.
May you like
And the mannequin was empty.
Her finished gown was gone.
