Chapter 5: My Father's Signature Was on Everything
The room went silent.
Vanessa looked from Isabelle to me, then toward Mrs. Miller.
"I misspoke.""
Isabelle didn't move.
"No, Mrs. Carter. You made a rather specific statement.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Your visit is over.""
Mrs. Miller stepped forward.
"We haven't finished reviewing the documents.""
"This is my house.""
"And Nia's room," Evelyn replied.
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"Marcus!""
Dad appeared at the end of the hallway.
He looked confused when he saw the group.
"What is happening?""
Vanessa immediately moved toward him.
"These women have come into our house and started accusing me of stealing things.""
Dad glanced at Isabelle.
"Who are you?""
"Isabelle Laurent. I'm representing the Bellamy Emerging Designers Foundation.""
Dad nodded uncertainly.
"Okay. And what does that have to do with my family?""
Isabelle placed the photographs on my desk.
"Your late wife, Elena Carter, created an extraordinary collection of original designs. Some of those designs disappeared shortly before her death.""
Dad's expression changed.
"I don't know anything about that.""
Vanessa interrupted.
"Marcus, tell them they need to leave.""
But Dad wasn't looking at her.
He was staring at the photograph of my mother.
I watched his face.
For a moment, he looked like the man I remembered from childhood.
The man who used to sit beside Mom while she worked.
The man who carried me to bed when I fell asleep beneath her sewing table.
Then he looked away.
"I don't want to discuss Elena's old business.""
Isabelle spoke calmly.
"Unfortunately, the matter involves intellectual property that may still be generating royalties.""
Dad frowned.
"Royalties?""
Mrs. Miller placed the legal agreement on the desk.
"Elena established a trust for Nia before she died. You were not authorized to manage it.""
Dad picked up the document.
His face went pale.
"Where did you get this?""
"From Elena's sewing box," I answered.
He turned toward me.
"You went through your mother's things?""
I stared at him.
"She left them to me.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Marcus, this is ridiculous. We have no idea whether those documents are even real.""
Evelyn removed another folder from her bag.
"Then perhaps this will help.""
Inside were copies of the original trust agreement, the trustee appointment, and several financial records.
Dad sat down.
He looked as though someone had suddenly removed the floor beneath him.
"Where did you get these?""
"Elena gave them to me before she passed away," Evelyn replied.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"I thought everything had been settled.""
"Settled by whom?"" I asked.
He didn't answer.
I moved closer.
"Dad, you told me Mom's savings were used for household expenses.""
His eyes met mine.
"That was a difficult time.""
"Did you take the money?""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Don't interrogate your father.""
I turned toward her.
"I'm asking him.""
Dad looked down at the papers.
"I borrowed some money.""
My chest tightened.
"How much?""
"I don't remember.""
Evelyn's expression hardened.
"Mr. Carter, the records indicate withdrawals totaling $42,000 over fourteen months.""
I stared at him.
Forty-two thousand dollars.
The amount was more than I could imagine earning in years.
"Where did it go?""
Dad swallowed.
"Household bills. Medical expenses. The mortgage.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Was any of it used for Brianna?""
Vanessa's face reddened.
"How dare you?""
Dad didn't answer.
That was enough.
I stepped backward.
"You let me work after school to pay for fabric while using my mother's money?""
"Nia, it wasn't like that.""
"Then what was it like?""
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Isabelle quietly closed her portfolio.
"I believe we should stop here. This matter requires an independent legal review.""
Vanessa immediately nodded.
"Agreed. Everyone should leave.""
But Evelyn wasn't finished.
"There's another issue.""
She opened a second folder.
"Three years ago, someone attempted to transfer the licensing rights for Elena's original collection to Voss Atelier.""
Dad's face drained of color.
Vanessa stood perfectly still.
Evelyn continued.
"The application included your signature, Marcus.""
I looked at my father.
He closed his eyes.
"That was a mistake.""
"What mistake?"" I asked.
He didn't answer.
Vanessa suddenly raised her voice.
"Marcus, don't say another word.""
Isabelle looked at her.
"Why? What are you afraid he'll say?""
Vanessa grabbed Dad's arm.
"We're done here.""
Then she pulled him out of the room.
Brianna followed, looking confused and angry.
The moment they disappeared, I turned to Evelyn.
"Tell me the truth.""
She sat beside me.
"Your father signed documents transferring the collection's licensing rights to a company connected to Vanessa. But the transfer was never completed because Elena's trust protected the designs.""
"So Vanessa tried to steal them?""
"It appears that way.""
I looked at the dress.
"And Brianna?""
"She may have been told that the collection belonged to her mother.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't explain why she destroyed my dress.""
"No," Evelyn replied.
"It doesn't.""
Isabelle gathered her papers.
"Nia, I need you to understand something. Your work is important, but this situation is bigger than the competition.""
"What should I do?""
"Keep your original designs safe. Don't sign anything. And don't allow anyone to remove the gown from your possession without a documented agreement.""
I nodded.
Then she handed me a business card.
"My office will arrange a formal authentication appointment. We can also connect you with an attorney who specializes in artists' intellectual property.""
I took the card.
"Thank you.""
Isabelle smiled.
"Your mother would be proud of you.""
That sentence nearly broke me.
After they left, I stayed in my room.
I repaired the damaged hem as best I could, but my hands were shaking.
At seven that evening, Dad knocked.
"Nia?""
I didn't answer.
He opened the door slightly.
"Can we talk?""
I kept sewing.
"About what?""
"About your mother.""
My fingers stopped.
He entered and closed the door.
For a while, he simply stood beside the sewing table.
Then he looked at the framed photograph.
"She was the most talented person I've ever known.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did you let Vanessa treat her things like trash?""
He sat down.
"Things were complicated.""
"That's what you always say.""
He rubbed his hands together.
"When Elena died, I couldn't manage everything. I was drowning in bills, work, and grief. Vanessa offered to help.""
"By stealing Mom's designs?""
"She said she could help sell them.""
I looked at him.
"Did you know she was trying to transfer them to Voss Atelier?""
Dad looked away.
"Not at first.""
"And later?""
He remained silent.
I felt something break inside me.
"You knew.""
"Nia, I thought I was protecting you.""
"From what?""
"From losing everything.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You took the one thing Mom left me and gave it to the woman who wanted it.""
Dad lowered his head.
"I made mistakes.""
"How many?""
He looked at me.
"I don't know.""
I stood.
"Then start telling the truth.""
He didn't move.
Finally, he said, "Vanessa told me the designs were worthless. She said no one would ever pay for them. She convinced me that signing the paperwork was just a way to settle some old business debts.""
"Did she pay those debts?""
Dad hesitated.
"Some.""
"With what?""
He looked toward the door.
I followed his gaze.
Vanessa was standing outside.
She had heard everything.
"Marcus," she said quietly.
Dad stood.
"Vanessa, we need to talk.""
She smiled, but her eyes were cold.
"Yes. We do.""
Then she looked at me.
"And Nia, you need to remember something. You may have found a few old papers, but you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.""
She walked away.
Dad followed her.
I waited until their footsteps disappeared.
Then I noticed something on my sewing table.
A small white envelope.
It hadn't been there earlier.
My name was written across the front.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of my mother standing beside a young Vanessa.
They were both smiling.
On the back, someone had written:
The original agreement was never about the dresses.
Beneath the photograph was a second piece of paper.
It was a bank transfer confirmation.
The recipient's name was Vanessa Carter.
The amount was $180,000.
And the date was two weeks after my mother's death.
I stared at the document.
May you like
Then I noticed the sender's name.
*Marcus Carter.*
