They Stole My Dress the Night Before My Future Was Supposed to Begin

Nobody moved.

My father gripped the edge of the bed, his face drained of color.

“Three weeks ago?”” he whispered.

Brianna nodded.

“I was visiting Mommy at the hospital. She said she was meeting someone about a private medical arrangement. I followed her because I wanted to ask for money.””

Her voice trembled.

“I saw a woman in a wheelchair outside Room 314. She had a blanket over her legs and a scarf around her head.””

I felt as though the room had tilted.

“What did she look like?””

Brianna squeezed her eyes shut.

“I couldn't see her face clearly. But she had a silver ring shaped like a flower.””

My father made a strangled sound.

I turned toward him.

“Dad?””

He reached for the small photograph on the bedside table.

It showed my mother standing beside him in the garden, one hand resting on my shoulder.

On her finger was a silver ring shaped like a flower.

The same ring.

Brianna began to sob.

“Mommy told me not to tell anyone. She said the woman was dangerous and that if I talked about her, she'd send me away.””

Dad sank onto the bed.

“No,” he whispered.

I knelt beside him.

“Dad, what does this mean?””

He stared at the photograph.

“I don't know.””

But his expression told me he had already begun to fear the answer.

Evelyn entered the room carrying a glass of water.

“What happened?””

Brianna repeated her story.

The glass slipped from Evelyn's hand and shattered against the floor.

For the first time since I had met her, she looked completely terrified.

“Where did you say you saw that woman?””

“Outside Room 314.””

Evelyn sat down heavily.

Then she looked at my father.

“Daniel, there's something I never told you.””

He raised his head.

“What?””

“Your wife may not have died when we were told she did.””

The room went silent.

I stared at her.

“What do you mean, may not have?””

Evelyn folded her hands.

“After the funeral, I received a call from a nurse who had worked at St. Vincent's. She said your mother's medical records had been altered. The cause of death had been changed twice, and the body released for burial had been identified using incomplete records.””

Dad shook his head.

“I saw her at the funeral.””

“You saw a closed casket.””

He stopped breathing for a moment.

Evelyn continued.

“I wanted to investigate, but the nurse disappeared before she could give me anything more. I believed Vanessa had arranged the entire thing.””

I stood up.

“Then why didn't you tell me?””

“Because I didn't know if your mother was alive. I didn't want to give you false hope.””

I looked at the photograph.

My mother had been gone for fourteen years.

Fourteen years of birthdays.

Fourteen years of holidays.

Fourteen years of me trying to remember the sound of her voice.

Now I was being told that perhaps she had been alive all along.

“Where is she?”” I whispered.

Evelyn shook her head.

“I don't know.””

I turned toward Brianna.

“Did you see where they took her?””

She nodded slowly.

“Mommy argued with a nurse. She said the woman wasn't supposed to be awake yet. Then two men came and took the wheelchair through a side entrance.””

“Did you hear her speak?””

Brianna hesitated.

“Just one thing.””

“What?””

“She asked for Nia.””

My knees weakened.

Dad covered his face.

For several seconds, the only sound was his uneven breathing.

Then Marcus entered the room.

He had been speaking with a lawyer on the phone.

“What happened?””

Evelyn told him.

Marcus stared at Brianna.

“Are you certain?””

“Yes.””

“Could the woman have been someone else?””

Brianna shook her head.

“She had the same ring. The same hands. And she knew Nia's name.””

Marcus paced toward the window.

“If Vanessa knows she's alive, then the hospital records aren't the only thing we need to recover.””

“What else?”” I asked.

“The original patient transfer logs. The private security reports. Any evidence showing who authorized the transfer.””

Evelyn nodded.

“I know someone who can access the hospital archives.””

Dad looked up.

“Who?””

“A nurse named Patricia Monroe. She worked in the private wing before she left St. Vincent's.””

“Can she help us?””

“If she's willing.””

Marcus took out his phone.

“Then I'll call her.””

He stepped into the hallway.

I sat beside Dad and took his hand.

“Do you think Mom is alive?””

He stared at the photograph.

“I don't know, sweetheart.””

His voice broke.

“But if there's even a chance, I'll find her.””

I rested my head against his shoulder.

For the first time that night, I let myself imagine it.

My mother walking through a doorway.

Her hands reaching for me.

Her voice calling me sweetheart.

Then another thought cut through the hope.

If she had been alive for fourteen years, why had she never come home?

What had Vanessa done to her?

And why had Hargrove kept her hidden?

Before I could ask, Marcus returned.

“Patricia agreed to meet us.””

“When?”” Evelyn asked.

“Tomorrow morning. She says she has something that could change everything.””

He looked at Dad.

“But there's a condition.””

“What condition?””

“She won't speak until she knows we're not being followed.””

Evelyn nodded.

“Fair enough.””

I glanced at the clock.

It was almost four in the morning.

The competition would begin in a few hours.

My dress was gone.

My eyesight was failing.

My father had just escaped two years of imprisonment.

And my mother might still be alive.

I felt as though the entire world had been turned upside down.

Then my phone rang.

Dr. Elaine Foster's name appeared on the screen.

I answered immediately.

“Doctor?””

“Nia, I'm glad you picked up. I've been trying to reach you.””

“Is something wrong?””

She hesitated.

“Someone contacted the clinic asking for your medical records. They claimed to be a legal representative acting on behalf of your family.””

My stomach tightened.

“Who?””

“They identified themselves as an associate of Judge Hargrove.””

I closed my eyes.

“What did you tell them?””

“I refused to release anything without your consent. But I need you to know something else.””

Her voice became gentler.

“Your latest examination showed that the damage is progressing faster than we hoped. I don't want to frighten you, but you shouldn't delay treatment any longer.””

I looked toward the dark window.

“Can I still have the procedure?””

“Yes. But we need to secure funding immediately.””

I glanced at the folder showing the money Vanessa had stolen from my trust.

“I'll find a way.””

“Please do, Nia. Your eyesight is too important to gamble with.””

When the call ended, Dad took my hand.

“You shouldn't have to worry about this.””

I forced a smile.

“It's my life. I have to worry about it.””

“No.”” His voice was firm.

“It's my responsibility to help you. I failed you once, and I won't do it again.””

I looked at him.

“You didn't fail me by getting hurt.””

“I failed you by letting them convince me I had no choice.””

He squeezed my hand.

“Whatever happens, we will get your treatment. I promise.””

For a moment, I believed him.

Then Evelyn's phone rang.

She listened without speaking.

Her face grew pale.

“What do you mean the records are gone?””

She stood up.

“Who authorized the transfer?””

Silence.

Then she whispered, “No. That can't be right.””

She ended the call and looked at us.

“Patricia found the hospital ledger.””

Marcus straightened.

“And?””

Evelyn swallowed.

“According to the records, a woman matching your mother's description was transferred from St. Vincent's to a private facility three weeks ago.””

Dad gripped the bed.

“Where?””

Evelyn hesitated.

“An estate outside Atlanta.””

“What estate?””

She looked at me.

“Carter House.””

I frowned.

“That's impossible. Carter House was sold after my mother's death.””

“Not according to the property records.””

Marcus took the phone from her.

He studied the screen, then cursed.

“The property was never sold. Ownership was transferred to a trust controlled by Richard Vale.””

Dad stood so quickly that his injured leg nearly gave way.

“Richard has been using my wife's estate to hide her?””

Evelyn nodded.

“It appears so.””

I stared at the screen.

Carter House was the place where my parents had lived before my mother died. I remembered the wide porch, the garden, and the blue flowers climbing along the fence.

Vanessa had told me the house had been demolished.

She had said the land was worth more than the building.

She had said there was nothing left of my mother's life.

Now I was learning that the house still existed.

And someone might be keeping my mother there.

I reached for my jacket.

“Then we're going.””

Marcus shook his head.

“Not until we know what we're walking into.””

“I don't care.””

“You should.””

“My mother could be there!””

“And if Hargrove expects us to come, he could be waiting.””

I looked at Dad.

He was already reaching for his coat.

“I'm going,” he said.

Marcus exhaled sharply.

“Daniel, you're barely able to stand.””

“Then help me stand.””

Nobody argued after that.

We left Evelyn's house just before dawn.

The sky was turning pale when we reached the outskirts of Atlanta.

Carter House stood behind a tall iron fence, surrounded by overgrown gardens. The windows were dark, and the porch sagged slightly beneath the weight of years of neglect.

But smoke rose from the chimney.

Someone was inside.

Marcus parked several streets away.

We approached on foot, keeping to the shadows.

At the gate, I noticed a small brass plaque.

*CARTER HOUSE — PRIVATE MEDICAL RESIDENCE.*

My heart pounded.

Dad gripped the fence.

“This is where your mother used to sit and sew.””

I looked through the bars.

A figure moved behind an upstairs curtain.

A woman.