Chapter 9: The Final Page
Vanessa walked into the storage corridor as though she owned the building.
Her heels clicked against the concrete floor.
Behind her was my father.
Brianna followed, carrying a designer handbag and wearing a pale pink coat.
Vanessa glanced at the open locker.
Then she smiled.
"I knew you'd come here eventually.""
I stepped in front of the trunk.
"How did you get here?""
She held up the brass key.
"You should be more careful about where you leave things.""
I looked at Brianna.
She lowered her eyes.
I understood immediately.
She had told her mother.
Daniel stepped forward.
"Mrs. Carter, this is a legally protected inspection. You need to remain outside the unit.""
Vanessa laughed.
"That's an interesting choice of words. This storage unit is registered under my name as an authorized contact.""
"Your authorization does not override the preservation order.""
She looked at him.
"Who are you?""
"Daniel Brooks. I'm representing Nia Carter.""
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
"Of course you are.""
Dad moved closer.
"Nia, we need to talk.""
I shook my head.
"Not here.""
"This is important.""
"So was the money you took from Mom.""
He looked wounded.
"I didn't take anything.""
I pointed toward the boxes.
"Then explain those bank statements.""
Vanessa interrupted.
"Those records are incomplete.""
Daniel lifted the folder.
"Then perhaps you can help us complete them.""
She looked at the papers.
For the first time, she appeared uncertain.
Then she noticed the letter in my hand.
Her expression changed.
"Where did you get that?""
"Mom left it for me.""
Vanessa took a step forward.
"Give it to me.""
"No.""
"That letter contains private information.""
"It's addressed to me.""
Vanessa reached for it.
Daniel stepped between us.
"Do not touch the documents.""
She stopped.
Then she laughed.
"You people really believe a few old letters can change anything?""
I looked directly at her.
"Why are you afraid of them?""
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'm not afraid of anything.""
"Then why did you spend years looking for the last page?""
Silence.
Brianna looked at her mother.
"Mom?""
Vanessa turned.
"Stay out of this.""
But Brianna didn't move.
She looked at the dresses, the boxes, and the old photographs.
Then she asked something I hadn't expected.
"Did you really steal all of this?""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Because you told me it belonged to us.""
"It does.""
"But Nia's mother made it.""
Vanessa stepped toward her.
"Get in the car.""
Brianna shook her head.
"No.""
The word seemed to surprise everyone.
Vanessa stared at her daughter.
"What did you say?""
Brianna's voice trembled.
"I said no.""
Dad moved toward her.
"Brianna, this isn't the time.""
She looked at him.
"Did you know?""
Dad didn't answer.
Brianna began crying.
"Mom told me Nia's dress was just a copy of something she had already designed. She said she was giving me the chance to become famous.""
I stared at her.
"Did you believe that?""
Brianna nodded.
"Yes.""
"Even after you destroyed my first dress?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't think you'd be able to fix it.""
I felt a cold anger settle in my chest.
"So you poured paint on it because you wanted to ruin it.""
She lowered her head.
"Yes.""
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
"Enough.""
Brianna pulled away.
"You said it was only an accident when Dad asked!""
Vanessa's face turned red.
"Because you were being stupid!""
The words echoed through the corridor.
Brianna looked at her mother as though she had never seen her before.
Then she stepped backward.
"I don't want to wear the dress anymore.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Because I know it isn't mine.""
It wasn't an apology.
Not yet.
But it was the first honest thing she had said to me in months.
Daniel turned toward Vanessa.
"Mrs. Carter, I strongly advise you not to remove anything from this unit.""
Vanessa ignored him.
Instead, she looked at Dad.
"Marcus, tell them.""
He swallowed.
"Tell them what?""
"Tell them where the final page is.""
My heart stopped.
Dad looked at me.
Then at Vanessa.
Finally, he lowered his head.
"It's in my office.""
I stared at him.
"You have it?""
He nodded.
"Your mother gave it to me before she died.""
"Why didn't you put it with the rest of the documents?""
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
He looked toward Vanessa.
"Of her.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Don't be pathetic.""
Dad continued.
"Elena told me the last page had to remain separate until Nia turned eighteen. She said it contained a condition that couldn't be changed.""
Daniel frowned.
"What condition?""
Dad shook his head.
"I never read it.""
Vanessa stepped closer.
"That's a lie.""
Dad looked at her.
"No. It's the truth.""
She stared at him.
Then she said quietly, "You signed the agreement.""
"I know.""
"And you accepted the money.""
"I know.""
"You promised me the collection.""
Dad's voice cracked.
"I know.""
I watched them.
For years, I had believed my father was simply weak.
Now I understood that he had been involved in something far more deliberate.
He had made promises to Vanessa.
He had hidden money.
And he had allowed me to believe my mother left me nothing.
"Where is the page?"" I asked.
Dad looked at me.
"In the locked drawer of my office.""
"Give me the key.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You can't be serious.""
Dad reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small silver key and handed it to Daniel.
"Take it.""
Vanessa lunged toward him.
"Marcus!""
Daniel stepped back.
"Everyone stay where they are.""
Vanessa's face twisted with anger.
"You ungrateful fool. After everything I did for you?""
Dad looked at her.
"What did you do for me, Vanessa?""
She stared.
"You know exactly what I did.""
"Yes. I do.""
For the first time, my father sounded angry.
"You told me Elena was going to lose everything. You said selling the designs would save us. You said the money would pay off our debts.""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"And it did.""
Dad shook his head.
"No. It paid for your apartment, your business, and your daughter's private school.""
Brianna looked up.
"What?""
Dad continued.
"I found the records last year. You used Elena's money to build your company.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
"Marcus, stop.""
"You never intended to return anything.""
"Stop talking!""
He looked at me.
"I'm sorry, Nia.""
I couldn't answer.
Daniel stepped forward.
"We'll retrieve the document from your office tomorrow morning with the appropriate authorization.""
Vanessa suddenly smiled.
"Tomorrow?""
She checked her watch.
"That's unfortunate.""
I frowned.
"What?""
She reached into her handbag and removed a folded piece of paper.
Then she opened it.
It was the missing fourteenth page.
My mother's handwriting covered the top.
Vanessa held it up.
"You've all been looking for this.""
I stared.
"Where did you get that?""
She smiled.
"Your father gave it to me years ago.""
Dad looked shocked.
"What?""
Vanessa ignored him.
She placed the page on a nearby storage box.
"Here is the truth you wanted so badly.""
Daniel reached for it.
Vanessa put her hand over the paper.
"Not so fast.""
She looked at me.
"Do you know what your mother wrote in this agreement?""
I shook my head.
Vanessa smiled.
"She didn't leave you the entire collection.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Then what did she leave me?""
Vanessa leaned forward.
"Nothing that you can claim until you turn eighteen.""
Daniel interrupted.
"That's not necessarily true.""
Vanessa ignored him.
"Your mother made a terrible mistake. She included a condition that gives the trustee the right to sell the entire collection if you fail to meet certain requirements.""
I stared at Evelyn.
She looked confused.
"That's not what Elena told me.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Then perhaps she didn't tell you everything.""
She lifted the page.
"There's a deadline. Tomorrow night.""
I looked at the clock.
October thirtieth.
Tomorrow was October thirty-first.
"What happens tomorrow?""
Vanessa's smile widened.
"The collection becomes mine permanently.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Let me see the document.""
Vanessa folded it.
"No.""
"Mrs. Carter, withholding evidence in an active ownership dispute is a serious matter.""
She looked directly at me.
"Then let me make this simple.""
She pulled a second document from her handbag.
It was a contract.
A transfer agreement.
At the bottom was a blank signature line.
"Sign over your rights to Brianna and me. In exchange, we'll give you fifty thousand dollars.""
I stared at her.
"Fifty thousand?""
"More money than you've ever had.""
I laughed.
"You're offering me fifty thousand dollars for something worth millions?""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"Don't be greedy.""
I looked at my father.
He was staring at the contract.
Then he whispered:
"Nia, don't sign it.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Marcus!""
He shook his head.
"She's right. You can't own something that was never yours.""
For a moment, Vanessa seemed unable to understand what he had said.
Then her expression changed.
"You think you can betray me now?""
Dad didn't answer.
She picked up the missing page.
"Fine. Then I'll make sure nobody gets anything.""
She tore it in half.
The sound was small.
But it seemed to fill the entire corridor.
Evelyn gasped.
Daniel immediately took out his phone.
Vanessa dropped the torn pieces onto the box.
"Now you can all stop pretending you're going to inherit something.""
I stared at the paper.
Then I noticed something.
The page she had torn was not the original.
The handwriting was too clean.
The paper was too white.
And the ink was completely different from the documents in my mother's blue folder.
I looked at Daniel.
He had noticed it too.
He picked up one of the pieces.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"Mrs. Carter, where did you get this?""
She smiled.
"From the original archive.""
Daniel examined the paper again.
Then he said quietly:
"This isn't Elena Carter's handwriting.""
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
He turned the page over.
At the bottom was a small printed code.
A code I recognized from the auction listing.
*LOT 13 — REPRODUCTION COPY.*
Daniel looked at me.
"Nia, this isn't the original declaration.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"Where is the real one?""
For the first time, she had no answer.
Then Brianna spoke.
"Mom...""
Vanessa looked at her.
Brianna was holding her phone.
"I think I know where it is.""
Everyone turned.
She swallowed.
"You put it in the dress.""
My heart stopped.
"What dress?""
Brianna looked directly at me.
"The original one. The white-and-gold gown from the auction.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Where is that gown now?""
Brianna looked at her mother.
Then whispered:
"In our house.""
May you like
And Vanessa finally lost her composure.
"BRIANNA, DON'T SAY ANOTHER WORD!""
