Chapter 4: The Dress They Tried to Bury
“Mom, you promised nobody would ever find out about the other dress.””
Celeste's whisper was barely audible, but I heard every word.
And judging by the way Vivienne's face suddenly lost its color, she knew I had heard it.
I stopped halfway toward the stage.
“What other dress?””
Celeste grabbed her mother's wrist.
“Nothing.””
I turned toward the competition director.
“Before I present my evidence, I'd like to ask contestant number twelve a question.””
The director looked uncertainly at the judges.
One of them, a silver-haired woman named Eleanor Whitmore, leaned toward her microphone.
“Go ahead, Ms. Bennett.””
I looked directly at Celeste.
“What other dress are you talking about?””
Celeste laughed nervously.
“I have no idea what you're referring to.””
“You just mentioned it.””
“I said nothing.””
Vivienne stepped forward.
“My daughter is under enormous pressure. This entire situation has been emotionally exhausting, and I refuse to let you turn a professional competition into a family argument.””
Eleanor removed her glasses.
“Mrs. Vaughn, this is no longer simply a family matter. We have received a formal intellectual property complaint. Please allow the process to continue.””
Vivienne pressed her lips together.
I walked onto the stage.
The spotlights were so bright that I could barely see the audience. Hundreds of faces blurred into darkness.
I placed my portfolio on the presentation table.
“My name is Aaliyah Bennett. Six months ago, I submitted an original design to this competition. It was accepted under my name. Three nights before the final submission deadline, my stepmother and stepsister removed the gown from my bedroom and submitted it under Celeste's name.””
Celeste shook her head.
“That's a lie.””
I opened my folder.
“Here are my original sketches, dated six months ago. Here are the fabric receipts. Here are photographs taken during construction. And here is the original registration confirmation.””
I handed the documents to Eleanor.
She examined them carefully.
Then I connected my laptop to the large screen behind the judges.
“There's also a recording.””
The auditorium went silent.
I pressed play.
The video showed my bedroom.
Vivienne entered first, carrying a document.
Celeste followed.
The audience watched as they discussed taking my sketches and transferring the design.
Then came the sentence that changed everything.
By the time she understands what happened, your collection will already be accepted.
A murmur spread through the room.
Celeste jumped to her feet.
“That recording is illegal!””
I turned toward her.
“It was recorded inside my own bedroom, using my own security camera.””
“You edited it!””
I played the next section.
Vivienne's voice filled the auditorium.
Daniel will believe whatever I tell him. He always does.
My father, seated near the back, lowered his head.
I looked at the judges.
“I also have the transfer agreement they used to change the ownership of my design.””
Eleanor examined the document.
“Ms. Vaughn, did you submit this agreement?””
Celeste's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Vivienne interrupted.
“The agreement was handled through our family business. There is absolutely nothing improper about it.””
Eleanor looked up.
“Then why does the document contain a signature that appears to have been copied from Ms. Bennett's original application?””
Vivienne's expression hardened.
“You're making a serious accusation.””
“I'm asking a serious question.””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then one of the male judges, Thomas Reed, leaned toward his microphone.
“Ms. Vaughn, did you personally create the gown currently being presented?””
Celeste lifted her chin.
“Yes.””
“Every part of it?””
“Yes.””
“Even the sculpted flowers?””
Celeste glanced at Vivienne.
“Yes.””
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
Because I knew exactly what was coming.
I reached into my portfolio and removed a photograph.
It showed the inside of the gown's corset.
“There's something else.””
The judges leaned forward.
“When I made the dress, I embroidered a small signature beneath the left interior seam. It isn't visible when someone wears the gown. I placed it there because I wanted to mark my first complete couture creation.””
I enlarged the photograph.
A small embroidered inscription appeared on the screen.
*A.B. — Designed and constructed by Aaliyah Bennett.*
The room erupted.
Celeste grabbed the neckline.
“That doesn't prove anything!””
“Then show them the inside.””
She froze.
I looked at her.
“Turn the dress inside out.””
Celeste backed away.
“I'm not doing that.””
“Why not?””
“Because it's my dress!””
I tilted my head.
“Then why are you afraid of what's written inside it?””
Eleanor spoke firmly.
“Ms. Vaughn, please cooperate.””
Celeste looked at Vivienne.
Vivienne shook her head almost imperceptibly.
That was when I realized they had made another mistake.
They had assumed I would never get close enough to examine the gown.
But the judges weren't finished.
A technical assistant approached the stage carrying a small magnifying lamp.
“Would you mind allowing us to inspect the garment?””
Celeste clutched the bodice.
“No.””
Thomas Reed stood.
“Ms. Vaughn, if you refuse to cooperate with the inspection, we will have to consider that refusal during our review.””
Her fingers loosened.
The assistant carefully examined the interior seam.
A moment later, he looked up.
“It's here.””
The embroidered initials were visible.
The auditorium erupted again.
Celeste's face crumpled.
Vivienne looked toward the exit.
But Eleanor raised her hand.
“Please remain where you are, Mrs. Vaughn.””
I thought that was the end.
I was wrong.
Because a man in a dark suit suddenly approached the judges' table and handed Eleanor another document.
She read it.
Her expression changed.
“Ms. Bennett,” she said slowly, “there is another issue we need to address.””
I swallowed.
“What issue?””
She turned the document toward me.
It was a technical examination report.
And according to the report, the pink gown wasn't simply an original design stolen from me.
Someone had secretly altered its internal structure after taking it from my bedroom.
The report listed an additional material that I had never used.
A specialized metallic thread.
And beneath the findings was a note:
*Possible connection to previously disputed collection submitted by Vaughn Atelier Holdings.*
I stared at the words.
“Previously disputed collection?””
Eleanor nodded.
“Ms. Bennett, do you know anything about a second gown associated with your name?””
Before I could answer, Celeste started crying.
Vivienne grabbed her arm.
“Don't say anything.””
But Celeste was already shaking.
“She doesn't know about it,” she whispered.
I turned toward her.
“Know about what?””
Celeste looked at me with genuine fear.
May you like
Then she said:
“The dress Mom made you destroy wasn't the only one.””
