Chapter 1: The Dress That Was Never Hers
“My mother is dead, Brianna. At least have the decency not to steal the one thing she left me.””
My voice trembled across the ballroom.
For a moment, the orchestra stopped playing.
Hundreds of guests turnedanna. At least have the decency not to steal the one thing she left me.””
My voice trembled across the ballroom.
For a moment, the orchestra stopped playing.
Hundreds of guests turned toward me. Some held champagne glasses halfway to their lips. Others lowered their phones, sensing that the glamorous scholarship ceremony they had come to witness toward me.
Some held champagne glasses halfway to their lips. Others lowered their phones, sensing that the glamorous scholarship ceremony they had come to witness was about to become something far less comfortable.
And there, beneath the golden chandeliers, stood my stepsister.
B was about to become something far less comfortable.
And there, beneath the golden chandeliers, stood my stepsister.
Brianna Cole.
She was wearing my midnight-blue gown.
The gown I had spent four months creating by hand. The gown made withrianna Cole.
She was wearing my midnight-blue gown.
The gown I had spent four months creating by hand. The gown made with the delicate French lace from my mother's wedding dress. The gown I had named The Last Promise.
She was also holding a crystal trophy engraved the delicate French lace from my mother's wedding dress. The gown I had named The Last Promise.
She was also holding a crystal trophy engraved with her name.
*HALSTON YOUNG DESIGNERS SCHOLARSHIP — GRAND PRIZE WINNER.*
Brianna looked with her name.
*HALSTON YOUNG DESIGNERS SCHOLARSHIP — GRAND PRIZE WINNER.*
Brianna looked at me, smiled, and slowly lifted the microphone.
“Actually, Eleanor,” she said, her voice sweet enough to fool everyone in the room, “this dress is at me, smiled, and slowly lifted the microphone.
“Actually, Eleanor,” she said, her voice sweet enough to fool everyone in the room, “this dress is mine.””
The audience applauded.
I couldn't move.
My stepmother, Vanessa, sat in the front row wearing a diamond necklace I mine.””
The audience applauded.
I couldn't move.
My stepmother, Vanessa, sat in the front row wearing a diamond necklace I recognized from my mother's jewelry box.
She didn't look surprised.
She looked pleased.
That was when I realized recognized from my mother's jewelry box.
She didn't look surprised.
She looked pleased.
That was when I realized something.
This wasn't just about a stolen dress.
They had planned every second of it.
Three months earlier, I something.
This wasn't just about a stolen dress.
They had planned every second of it.
Three months earlier, I still believed my family was capable of loving me.
I was twenty-two years old, living in a modest house outside Boston, and trying still believed my family was capable of loving me.
I was twenty-two years old, living in a modest house outside Boston, and trying to turn the only thing my mother had ever taught me into a future.
Her name was Claire Bennett.
She wasn't a famous designer. She had never attended fashion to turn the only thing my mother had ever taught me into a future.
Her name was Claire Bennett.
She wasn't a famous designer. She had never attended fashion school or shown her work on a runway. She worked as a seamstress for a small bridal shop and made school or shown her work on a runway. She worked as a seamstress for a small bridal shop and made beautiful things in the evenings.
When I was eight, she taught me how to thread a needle.
When I was twelve, she showed me how to beautiful things in the evenings.
When I was eight, she taught me how to thread a needle.
When I was twelve, she showed me how to recognize expensive fabric by touch.
When I was seventeen, cancer took away her strength, her hair, recognize expensive fabric by touch.
When I was seventeen, cancer took away her strength, her hair, and eventually her life.
But it never took away her imagination.
I still remembered the afternoon she gave me her wedding dress.
She was lying in a hospital bed, her fingers and eventually her life.
But it never took away her imagination.
I still remembered the afternoon she gave me her wedding dress.
She was lying in a hospital bed, her fingers thin beneath the white blanket. The garment bag rested against the wall.
“Come closer, sweetheart.””
I pulled a thin beneath the white blanket. The garment bag rested against the wall.
“Come closer, sweetheart.””
I pulled a chair beside her.
She opened the bag and revealed the ivory gown she had worn when she married my father.
The French lace along the sleeves had tiny chair beside her.
She opened the bag and revealed the ivory gown she had worn when she married my father.
The French lace along the sleeves had tiny embroidered flowers. Some were slightly faded, but the craftsmanship was extraordinary.
“It's beautiful,” I whispered.
“It's old,” she corrected with a weak embroidered flowers. Some were slightly faded, but the craftsmanship was extraordinary.
“It's beautiful,” I whispered.
“It's old,” she corrected with a weak smile.
“There's a difference.””
I laughed through my tears.
She touched the lace.
“Keep this part, Eleanor. Fabric can smile.
“There's a difference.””
I laughed through my tears.
She touched the lace.
“Keep this part, Eleanor. Fabric can be replaced. Money can be earned. But some things carry memories you can't buy again.””
“I'll keep everything.””
“No, sweetheart. Promise me you'll be replaced. Money can be earned. But some things carry memories you can't buy again.””
“I'll keep everything.””
“No, sweetheart. Promise me you'll use it. Don't let my things become a reason you stop living.””
I held her hand use it. Don't let my things become a reason you stop living.””
I held her hand.
“Mom, I'm going to become a designer.””
Her eyes brightened.
“Then promise me something else.””
“Anything.””
.
“Mom, I'm going to become a designer.””
Her eyes brightened.
“Then promise me something else.””
“Anything.””
“Never let someone else tell you that your work belongs to them.””
Those were the last words she ever said to me“Never let someone else tell you that your work belongs to them.””
Those were the last words she ever said to me.
After the funeral, I kept her wedding dress in a protective garment bag.
For almost a year, I couldn't bring myself to touch it.
Then the Halston Young Designers Scholarship was announced.
The grand prize included $150,000 and.
After the funeral, I kept her wedding dress in a protective garment bag.
For almost a year, I couldn't bring myself to touch it.
Then the Halston Young Designers Scholarship was announced.
The grand prize included $150,000 and a year-long placement with a major New York fashion house.
It was the kind of opportunity that could change my entire life.
I decided to transform my mother's lace into a midnight-blue evening gown a year-long placement with a major New York fashion house.
It was the kind of opportunity that could change my entire life.
I decided to transform my mother's lace into a midnight-blue evening gown.
I designed a sculpted waist, a flowing skirt, and an elegant open back. The lace would travel from the left shoulder across the bod.
I designed a sculpted waist, a flowing skirt, and an elegant open back. The lace would travel from the left shoulder across the bodice, creating the illusion that delicate flowers were growing across the dark fabric.
I named it The Last Promise.
For four months, my bedroom became a workshop.
I slept besideice, creating the illusion that delicate flowers were growing across the dark fabric.
I named it The Last Promise.
For four months, my bedroom became a workshop.
I slept beside fabric rolls. Thread spools filled old coffee mugs. My sewing machine ran until two or three in the morning.
My fabric rolls. Thread spools filled old coffee mugs. My sewing machine ran until two or three in the morning.
My stepmother, Vanessa, hated it.
“Eleanor, this house isn't a factory,” she complained one evening, stepping over stepmother, Vanessa, hated it.
“Eleanor, this house isn't a factory,” she complained one evening, stepping over a box of fabric.
“I'm almost finished.””
“You said that last week.””
“There's a deadline.””
Vanessa placed her expensive a box of fabric.
“I'm almost finished.””
“You said that last week.””
“There's a deadline.””
Vanessa placed her expensive handbag on my cutting table.
“Then perhaps you should learn to manage your time.””
I moved the handbag before it could crush my handbag on my cutting table.
“Then perhaps you should learn to manage your time.””
I moved the handbag before it could crush my sketches.
“Please don't put that there.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Excuse me?””
“I'm working.””
She gave sketches.
“Please don't put that there.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Excuse me?””
“I'm working.””
She gave me a thin smile.
“Your mother spoiled you. She made you believe every little hobby deserved everyone's attention.””
I lowered my eyes and me a thin smile.
“Your mother spoiled you. She made you believe every little hobby deserved everyone's attention.””
I lowered my eyes and continued stitching.
Vanessa had married my father two years after Mom died. She brought her daughter, Brianna, into our home.
Bri continued stitching.
Vanessa had married my father two years after Mom died. She brought her daughter, Brianna, into our home.
Brianna was twenty-three, beautiful, and popular online. Her social media accounts were filled with designer handbags, expensive restaurants, and photographs of herself atanna was twenty-three, beautiful, and popular online. Her social media accounts were filled with designer handbags, expensive restaurants, and photographs of herself at fashion events.
She had never sewn anything more complicated than a loose button.
But she loved telling people she had an fashion events.
She had never sewn anything more complicated than a loose button.
But she loved telling people she had an eye for fashion.
One evening, she walked into my bedroom without knocking.
“What's that?””
I instinctively covered the dress.
“Nothing.””
She laughed.
“Relax. I'm not eye for fashion.
One evening, she walked into my bedroom without knocking.
“What's that?””
I instinctively covered the dress.
“Nothing.””
She laughed.
“Relax. I'm not interested in your little sewing project.””
“It's for the Halston scholarship.””
Her expression changed.
“Wait. You're actually entering?””
“Yes.””
She picked up a piece of interested in your little sewing project.””
“It's for the Halston scholarship.””
Her expression changed.
“Wait. You're actually entering?””
“Yes.””
She picked up a piece of leftover lace.
“That's pretty. Is it expensive?””
“Put it down.””
“God, Eleanor. You act leftover lace.
“That's pretty. Is it expensive?””
“Put it down.””
“God, Eleanor. You act like everything in this room is made of diamonds.””
“It's from my mother's wedding dress.””
Brianna looked at the lace again.
Then like everything in this room is made of diamonds.””
“It's from my mother's wedding dress.””
Brianna looked at the lace again.
Then she dropped it onto the desk.
“Whatever. Good luck beating people who actually went to design school.””
She left she dropped it onto the desk.
“Whatever. Good luck beating people who actually went to design school.””
She left.
I should have recognized the warning.
Two weeks before the deadline, I submitted my application. I uploaded photographs, sketches, fabric details, and a video.
I should have recognized the warning.
Two weeks before the deadline, I submitted my application. I uploaded photographs, sketches, fabric details, and a video showing me completing the final stitches.
I even included a close-up of my mother's lace and explained its history.
The showing me completing the final stitches.
I even included a close-up of my mother's lace and explained its history.
The confirmation email arrived at 9:42 p.m.
I remember the exact time because I was sitting on the confirmation email arrived at 9:42 p.m.
I remember the exact time because I was sitting on the floor eating cold pizza when I received it.
For the first time since Mom died, I felt hopeful.
Then floor eating cold pizza when I received it.
For the first time since Mom died, I felt hopeful.
Then came Thursday.
I returned home from buying additional lining fabric and found my bedroom door wide open.
The garment bag was missing.
My shopping bag fell from my hand.
The drawers were open. My came Thursday.
I returned home from buying additional lining fabric and found my bedroom door wide open.
The garment bag was missing.
My shopping bag fell from my hand.
The drawers were open. My sketchbook lay on the floor. The small wooden box containing the remaining pieces of my mother's lace had been overturned.
I ran downstairs.
“ sketchbook lay on the floor. The small wooden box containing the remaining pieces of my mother's lace had been overturned.
I ran downstairs.
“Vanessa!””
She appeared from the kitchen holding a glass of red wine.
“What?””
“Where's my dress?””
She took a slow sip.
“What dressVanessa!””
She appeared from the kitchen holding a glass of red wine.
“What?””
“Where's my dress?””
She took a slow sip.
“What dress?””
“The blue gown. The one hanging in my closet.””
“Oh. Brianna borrowed it.””
My stomach tightened.
“Borrowed it?””
“She needed something for a?””
“The blue gown. The one hanging in my closet.””
“Oh. Brianna borrowed it.””
My stomach tightened.
“Borrowed it?””
“She needed something for a fashion event.””
“She had no permission to touch it!””
Vanessa sighed.
“Don't start making a scene.””
I pulled out my phone and called Brianna.
fashion event.””
“She had no permission to touch it!””
Vanessa sighed.
“Don't start making a scene.””
I pulled out my phone and called Brianna.
She answered after several rings.
“What?””
“Where's my dress?””
A pause.
Then she laughed.
“Your dress?””
“Bring it home. Now.””
“Eleanor, you needShe answered after several rings.
“What?””
“Where's my dress?””
A pause.
Then she laughed.
“Your dress?””
“Bring it home. Now.””
“Eleanor, you need to calm down.””
“I spent four months making it!””
“Well, maybe you should have made something better.””
I gripped the phone.
“What does that mean?””
Brianna lowered her voice.
to calm down.””
“I spent four months making it!””
“Well, maybe you should have made something better.””
I gripped the phone.
“What does that mean?””
Brianna lowered her voice.
“There's something you should know. I submitted the gown to Halston.””
My knees weakened.
“You did what?””
“I entered the competition. My design is“There's something you should know. I submitted the gown to Halston.””
My knees weakened.
“You did what?””
“I entered the competition. My design is called Midnight Promise.””
“That's my dress.””
“No. It's my design.””
“You stole it!””
“Prove it.””
The call ended.
I turned called Midnight Promise.””
“That's my dress.””
“No. It's my design.””
“You stole it!””
“Prove it.””
The call ended.
I turned toward Vanessa.
“Did you know?””
She placed her wineglass on the counter.
“Brianna has a future, Eleanor. She needs this opportunity.””
“So do I!””
Van toward Vanessa.
“Did you know?””
She placed her wineglass on the counter.
“Brianna has a future, Eleanor. She needs this opportunity.””
“So do I!””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Your mother left you nothing but a box of old fabric and unrealistic dreams. Brianna knows how to turn an opportunity into a career.””
“That lace belonged to myessa stepped closer.
“Your mother left you nothing but a box of old fabric and unrealistic dreams. Brianna knows how to turn an opportunity into a career.””
“That lace belonged to my mother.””
“And now it's part of a dress that might actually be worth something.””
I stared at her.
Then I ran upstairs and opened my laptop.
mother.””
“And now it's part of a dress that might actually be worth something.””
I stared at her.
Then I ran upstairs and opened my laptop.
My application was still there.
But a red notification appeared beneath my submission.
*APPLICATION STATUS: WITHDRAWN.*
I clicked it.
A withdrawal request had been submitted thatMy application was still there.
But a red notification appeared beneath my submission.
*APPLICATION STATUS: WITHDRAWN.*
I clicked it.
A withdrawal request had been submitted that afternoon.
The electronic authorization carried my full name.
Eleanor Claire Bennett.
And underneath it was a digital signature that looked exactly like mine.
Except I hadn't signed anything.
My afternoon.
The electronic authorization carried my full name.
Eleanor Claire Bennett.
And underneath it was a digital signature that looked exactly like mine.
Except I hadn't signed anything.
My phone buzzed.
An email from the Halston committee.
FORMAL NOTICE: DISPUTED DESIGN OWNERSHIP AND WITHDRAWAL AUTHORIZATION.
I opened it.
The committee phone buzzed.
An email from the Halston committee.
FORMAL NOTICE: DISPUTED DESIGN OWNERSHIP AND WITHDRAWAL AUTHORIZATION.
I opened it.
The committee had received documentation indicating that I had voluntarily transferred all design rights to Brianna Cole.
My hands began to shake.
Then another message appeared.
had received documentation indicating that I had voluntarily transferred all design rights to Brianna Cole.
My hands began to shake.
Then another message appeared.
It was a photograph from Brianna.
She was standing in front of a mirror wearing my mother's lace.
Her caption read:
*Some dreams are meant for the people braveIt was a photograph from Brianna.
She was standing in front of a mirror wearing my mother's lace.
Her caption read:
Some dreams are meant for the people brave enough to claim them.
I zoomed in.
The lace along the left shoulder had been cut and repositioned.
My mother's original pattern had been altered.
Brianna hadn't simply stolen my dress.
She had enough to claim them.*
I zoomed in.
The lace along the left shoulder had been cut and repositioned.
My mother's original pattern had been altered.
Brianna hadn't simply stolen my dress.
She had destroyed part of my mother's wedding gown to make it look like her own creation.
I was still staring at the photograph when my father entered the room.
“Eleanor, we need to talk.””
He destroyed part of my mother's wedding gown to make it look like her own creation.
I was still staring at the photograph when my father entered the room.
“Eleanor, we need to talk.””
He looked pale.
I turned my laptop toward him.
“Did you sign something?””
His eyes moved across the screen.
For looked pale.
I turned my laptop toward him.
“Did you sign something?””
His eyes moved across the screen.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he closed my bedroom door.
“Your stepmother told me Brianna several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he closed my bedroom door.
“Your stepmother told me Brianna was borrowing your design.””
“Borrowing?””
“She said you agreed to help her.””
“Dad, look at the signature!””
He rubbed his forehead.
“I thought was borrowing your design.””
“Borrowing?””
“She said you agreed to help her.””
“Dad, look at the signature!””
He rubbed his forehead.
“I thought it was just a family arrangement.””
“Did you give them my application password?””
He didn't answer.
I stood up.
“Dad it was just a family arrangement.””
“Did you give them my application password?””
He didn't answer.
I stood up.
“Dad?””
He finally looked at me.
And the words that came out of his mouth made my blood run cold.
“Eleanor, I think?””
He finally looked at me.
And the words that came out of his mouth made my blood run cold.
“Eleanor, I think you should withdraw your complaint before this gets worse.””
“Why?””
He looked toward the closed door.
“Because Vanessa has already told the you should withdraw your complaint before this gets worse.””
“Why?””
He looked toward the closed door.
“Because Vanessa has already told the committee that your mother wasn't the person who designed that lace.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
My father swallowed.
“She says the dress committee that your mother wasn't the person who designed that lace.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
My father swallowed.
May you like
“She says the dress belonged to her family before your mother ever married me.””
belonged to her family before your mother ever married me.””
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