Chapter 8: The Man Who Knew My Mother's Secret
I couldn't stop staring at the photograph.
The man beside my mother had dark hair, a sharp jaw, and a serious expression.
He looked familiar.
Not because I remembered him.
Because he had my father's eyes.
“Why would my mother hide this from me?”” I asked.
Eleanor sat beside me.
“Your mother wanted you to have a peaceful childhood.””
“Who is he?””
“His name is Daniel Carter.””
I swallowed.
“My father's brother?””
“Yes.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“My father never mentioned him.””
“Your father and Daniel had a complicated relationship. They were both involved in the family business before your father left.””
“What business?””
Eleanor folded her hands.
“The Carter family owned a textile company. It supplied fabric to several fashion houses, including mine.””
I frowned.
“Then why didn't we have money?””
“Your father walked away from the business after discovering financial irregularities. He wanted nothing to do with it.””
I stared at her.
“And my mother?””
“She was working with me at the time. Daniel became interested in the Rose Garden collection and wanted to invest in it.””
“Was he involved in the theft?””
“No. In fact, he helped your mother discover what Patricia had done.””
I leaned back.
Everything was becoming more complicated.
“Then why did Mom hide him?””
Eleanor looked toward the windows.
“Because Daniel wanted to take legal action against Patricia. Your mother worried that a public dispute would expose you to unwanted attention. She had already lost your father. She didn't want you dragged into another battle.””
I thought about the letter.
My mother had spent her final months trying to protect me.
And I had spent three years believing I was alone.
“Where is Daniel now?””
Eleanor took out her phone.
“He's coming here.””
My heart jumped.
“Today?””
“He asked to meet you.””
Before I could answer, someone knocked at the studio door.
Eleanor stood.
“That will be him.””
A tall man entered.
He wore a charcoal suit and carried a leather briefcase.
His eyes moved around the room before settling on me.
Then he stopped.
For a long moment, he simply stared.
“Emma?””
I nodded.
He approached slowly.
“You look so much like your father.””
I didn't know what to say.
He extended his hand, then seemed to think better of it.
Instead, he gave me a gentle smile.
“I'm Daniel. Your uncle.””
I shook his hand.
“Why didn't you contact me?””
His expression changed.
“Your mother asked me to wait.””
“Why?””
“Because Patricia had threatened to make your life difficult if I continued investigating the stolen collection.””
I stared at him.
“She threatened my mother?””
Daniel nodded.
“She had information about your father's business records. She claimed she could use them to damage his reputation after his death.””
“But my father wasn't involved in anything illegal.””
“I know. That's why I kept investigating.””
He opened his briefcase.
Inside were several documents.
Bank transfers.
Contracts.
Company records.
And a photograph of Patricia standing outside a business office.
I recognized the building.
It belonged to the company where Richard worked.
I looked at Daniel.
“What is this?””
“Evidence that Patricia used money from the stolen collection to purchase shares in a textile company.””
My stomach tightened.
“Richard's company?””
“Yes.””
I thought about Richard's reaction when I showed him the photograph.
His recognition.
His hesitation.
His refusal to defend me.
“Does Richard know?””
Daniel nodded.
“He became involved in the company after marrying Patricia.””
I felt cold.
“So he knew about the stolen designs?””
“I'm still investigating how much he knew.””
I stood.
“This is insane.””
Daniel closed the folder.
“I understand.””
“No, you don't. I thought my mother had died, and then everyone moved on. I thought Patricia hated me because I reminded her of someone she didn't like.””
I looked at the documents.
“But this has been happening for years?””
Daniel nodded.
“Your mother fought to protect her work. She never stopped.””
I sat down.
For a while, nobody spoke.
Then Daniel placed another document in front of me.
It was a legal notice.
“What is this?””
“Your mother's estate.””
I frowned.
“I thought she left nothing.””
Daniel looked at me.
“She left more than you realize.””
He explained that my mother had retained ownership of a portion of the original Rose Garden designs.
The rights had been placed in a trust.
I was the beneficiary.
My name appeared on the paperwork.
I read it twice.
“Does that mean I own the designs?””
“Part of them, yes.””
I stared at the page.
“And Patricia?””
“She has been using designs that were never legally hers.””
Eleanor nodded.
“Which means the academy's plagiarism investigation may be only the beginning.””
I looked at the Phoenix Rose.
My mother's unfinished gown stood quietly in the corner.
I thought about Vanessa wearing a dress built from stolen work.
I thought about Patricia accusing me of copying a design that belonged to my own family.
And I thought about Richard telling me to withdraw my complaint.
Suddenly, his words made more sense.
He wasn't just protecting Vanessa.
He was protecting the entire arrangement.
My phone buzzed.
A notification from the academy.
*Final Scholarship Exhibition — Tonight at 7:00 p.m.*
Below it was a message from Director Whitmore.
Emma, following our preliminary review, we would like you to present your reconstructed gown at tonight's exhibition. Please bring all supporting documentation.
Lily, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly smiled.
“Emma, this is your moment.””
I looked at Eleanor.
“Should I go?””
She studied me.
“Your mother would have wanted you to.””
Daniel closed his briefcase.
“And I'll be there.””
I smiled faintly.
For the first time, I felt I had people standing beside me.
Then another notification appeared.
A message from Vanessa.
Vanessa: I heard you're planning to show up tonight.
I ignored it.
A second message followed.
Vanessa: You should know Mom has already spoken to the academy.
Then a third.
Vanessa: If you show that dress, everyone will find out what your mother really did.
I stared at the screen.
“What does she mean?”” Lily asked.
I didn't know.
But the next message arrived before I could answer.
It contained a photograph of a document.
A contract.
At the bottom was my mother's signature.
And above it, a paragraph claiming that she had voluntarily transferred all rights to the Rose Garden collection to Patricia Collins.
I zoomed in.
The signature looked genuine.
My throat tightened.
“Eleanor,” I whispered, “did my mother sign this?””
Eleanor took the phone.
She studied the document.
Then her expression changed.
“No.””
“What?””
“That's not the original contract.””
She enlarged the photograph.
Then pointed to the date.
“Emma, this document was created six months after your mother died.””
The room went silent.
Daniel stepped closer.
He examined the photograph.
Then he looked at Eleanor.
“That's forgery.””
I stared at the screen.
Patricia hadn't just stolen my mother's work.
May you like
She had apparently forged her signature after her death.
And tonight, she intended to use that document to destroy my mother's reputation one final time.
