Chapter 2: The Photograph That Changed Everything
I read the email three times.
Then a fourth.
The words didn't change.
Someone had accused me of stealing a design.
Not just any design.
The exact dress Vanessa had spent months telling everyone she was going to wear to prom.
My phone rang again.
“Emma?”” Lily asked.
“Are you still there?””
“Someone filed a complaint.””
“What?””
“They're saying I copied another student's design.””
“That's ridiculous. You made that dress yourself!””
“I know.””
“Then tell them!””
I looked at the email.
There was a link to an online submission portal, along with a deadline of noon.
I had less than six hours.
“I need to find out what they submitted,” I said.
“I'm coming over.””
“Lily—”
“Don't argue with me. I'll be there in fifteen minutes.””
She hung up.
I sat at my sewing table and opened the complaint attachment.
There were three photographs.
The first showed a red-and-blue evening gown.
The second showed a close-up of a sculpted rose.
The third showed a sketch with a handwritten signature.
My stomach dropped.
The gown in the photographs looked almost exactly like mine.
Except the sketch was dated four months earlier.
And the signature belonged to Vanessa.
I zoomed in.
The design showed an off-shoulder neckline, layered fabric, and red roses arranged across the skirt.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
Except there was one problem.
I had never seen that sketch before.
I stood so quickly that my chair fell backward.
“No,” I whispered.
A knock sounded at my door.
Lily rushed inside carrying two coffees and a paper bag.
“Okay. Tell me everything.””
I showed her the photographs.
She stared at them.
“That's Vanessa's?””
“Apparently.””
“Emma, where did she get this?””
“I don't know.””
Lily placed the coffees on my desk.
“Wait. When did she submit this?””
I scrolled down.
“Four months ago.””
Lily looked at me.
“That's before you started making your dress.””
“Exactly.””
For the first time, I felt something colder than anger.
Fear.
Because if Vanessa had submitted a design months before mine, the judges might believe I had copied her.
I opened my sketchbook.
My original designs were dated.
Every page.
Every revision.
I had photographs of the dress at different stages of construction. I had receipts for the fabric. I had messages to Lily discussing the design months before prom.
I had proof.
But I needed something more.
I needed to understand why Vanessa had submitted a dress that looked like mine.
Lily picked up the sketch.
“Look at the bottom.””
I leaned closer.
There was a tiny note beneath Vanessa's signature.
Inspired by the Rose Garden Collection.
I frowned.
“What's that?””
“I don't know.””
Lily searched the phrase on her phone.
Within seconds, she found a website.
It belonged to a small independent designer named Eleanor Brooks.
The page showed an entire collection of evening gowns covered in sculpted roses.
One of the dresses looked remarkably similar to Vanessa's sketch.
But something was strange.
The website showed the collection had been published eight months earlier.
I opened the page.
A photograph of the original gown filled the screen.
The design had the same neckline.
The same rose placement.
Even the same silver embroidery.
Lily looked at me.
“Emma, I think Vanessa copied this designer.””
I swallowed.
“But why accuse me?””
Lily didn't answer.
Because we both knew.
Vanessa didn't just want to ruin my dress.
She wanted to make sure I couldn't win.
A loud knock interrupted us.
“Emma!””
Patricia's voice.
Lily stepped away from the table.
“Don't open it,” she whispered.
But the door swung inward before I could respond.
Patricia stood in the hallway wearing a cream-colored coat and carrying her expensive handbag.
Her eyes moved from Lily to the dress.
Then she frowned.
“What is all this mess?””
“Good morning,” I said.
She looked at the sewing table.
“Why haven't you cleaned up? The carpet is ruined.””
I stared at her.
“Vanessa spilled paint.””
Patricia sighed.
“Emma, please don't start blaming your sister for everything.””
“She threw it at me.””
“I'm sure there was a misunderstanding.””
Lily stepped forward.
“Mrs. Collins, I heard the screaming last night.””
Patricia's expression hardened.
“This is a family matter.””
“Then maybe you should act like family.””
“Excuse me?””
I touched Lily's arm.
I didn't want her dragged into this.
Patricia looked at my gown.
“Whatever that is, you're not wearing it tonight.””
I blinked.
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa is the one who deserves attention. This is her night.””
I almost laughed.
“It's prom. It's everyone's night.””
Patricia's lips tightened.
“Richard and I have spent a great deal of money on Vanessa's evening. Her hair, her makeup, her dress, her transportation. I don't want you creating a scene.””
I looked at the gown.
“I paid for mine myself.””
“Then you should have been more careful with it.””
Lily made a disgusted sound.
Patricia ignored her.
“By the way, Vanessa has already been shortlisted for the fashion scholarship.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“She submitted an original design. The academy is very impressed.””
I slowly turned toward the computer.
The complaint was still open.
“Mrs. Collins, did you know she accused me of stealing her design?””
Patricia didn't even blink.
“She showed me the photographs. It's unfortunate, but if you copied her work, you should accept the consequences.””
“I didn't copy anything.””
“Then you have nothing to worry about.””
She turned to leave.
But Lily spoke again.
“Mrs. Collins, have you actually seen the original designer's website?””
Patricia stopped.
“What are you talking about?””
Lily showed her the page.
For a moment, Patricia's expression changed.
Just slightly.
Then she handed the phone back.
“I don't have time for this.””
She walked out.
A minute later, we heard Vanessa laughing downstairs.
“Mom! Did you see my dress? Isn't it gorgeous?””
Patricia answered warmly.
“Absolutely, darling.””
Lily closed my bedroom door.
“She's protecting her.””
I nodded.
Then I noticed something on the computer.
The academy's complaint form included the name of the person who had submitted it.
I scrolled down.
*Submitted by: Patricia Collins.*
My stepmother hadn't simply believed Vanessa.
She had personally filed the complaint.
And beneath her name was a sentence that made my stomach twist.
I can confirm that Emma had access to my daughter's original sketches before producing her own dress.
I stared at the screen.
That was a lie.
A deliberate one.
Lily read it over my shoulder.
“Emma, we need to tell the judges.””
I opened the submission portal.
There was a section titled Supporting Evidence.
I began uploading my sketches, receipts, and photographs.
Then I reached for my phone to photograph the dress.
A new message appeared.
Unknown number.
Stop trying to prove yourself. Your stepsister has already won.
A second message followed.
And if you show up tonight, you'll regret it.
I looked at Lily.
She read the message.
Neither of us spoke.
Then my phone rang.
It was Richard.
My stepfather.
May you like
And the first words out of his mouth were:
“Emma, I need you to take down that scholarship submission before you embarrass this family.””
