Chapter 7: The Uncle Who Wanted My Mother's Legacy
I didn't tell Evelyn about the photograph immediately.
I wanted to understand why someone who had threatened my mother was suddenly contacting me.
The next morning, I showed the message to Professor Margaret Collins, the faculty adviser assigned to my scholarship.
She examined the photograph carefully.
“Do you recognize this room?””
“No.””
“Have you replied?””
“No.””
“Good. Don't.””
She handed my phone back.
“Nia, this isn't just a family disagreement anymore. Someone is contacting you about documents connected to a possible financial dispute. Keep every message.””
I nodded.
That afternoon, Evelyn called.
“I found him.””
“Daniel?””
“Yes. He's living in Connecticut. He owns a small consulting company.””
“Can we contact him?””
“We can, but I don't recommend meeting him alone.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“What if he has the original contract?””
“Then we need to establish why he has it.””
Evelyn paused.
“There's something else. Daniel recently contacted Richard Hale.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
“He wants to reopen negotiations concerning the Silver Moon trademark.””
I almost laughed.
“After twenty years?””
“He believes the original ownership agreement gives him a financial interest.””
“But Mom created the designs.””
“Yes. And that's precisely why we need the original paperwork.””
We arranged a meeting for Saturday.
Evelyn insisted on coming with me.
We drove to a small office building outside Hartford.
The waiting room smelled of old coffee and furniture polish.
A receptionist asked us to wait.
Ten minutes later, a man in his sixties entered.
He was tall, with gray hair and a narrow face.
His eyes settled on me.
“Nia.””
I stood.
“Daniel.””
He smiled.
“You look like your mother.””
I didn't smile back.
“You knew she was my mother?””
His expression shifted.
“Of course I did.””
“You threatened to take me away from her.””
Daniel glanced at Evelyn.
“Is that what she told you?””
“No. My father did.””
He sighed.
“Your father always misunderstood everything.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Let's not waste time.””
Daniel gestured toward his office.
“Please.””
Inside, he opened a cabinet and removed a thick leather folder.
“I assume you're here because of the old collection.””
“I'm here because my mother left me a letter,” I said.
He looked at me.
“What did it say?””
“That someone altered the original contract.””
His smile disappeared.
“Your mother was very suspicious.””
“Was she wrong?””
Daniel sat down.
“Lily was brilliant, but she was also stubborn. She refused to understand that a fashion business required more than creativity.””
Evelyn laughed sharply.
“You mean it required someone to steal her work?””
Daniel ignored her.
He opened the folder.
Inside were financial statements, partnership agreements, and copies of old design registrations.
I spotted my mother's name.
Then I saw something else.
A signature.
Daniel Carter.
Beside it was a percentage allocation.
Forty percent.
My mother had owned sixty percent of Silver Moon.
Daniel owned forty.
But the document contained an additional clause.
If one partner abandoned the business, the remaining partner could acquire their shares after a period of twelve months.
I looked up.
“Did Mom abandon the business?””
“She left.””
“She was forced out.””
Daniel shrugged.
“That's a matter of interpretation.””
Evelyn leaned over the desk.
“You know perfectly well she left because you sold her work.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Can you prove that?””
Evelyn removed a copy of the old studio records.
“We can prove you received payments from the competing fashion house.””
Daniel glanced at the papers.
Then he looked at me.
“You don't understand what you're getting into, Nia.””
“Then explain it.””
He closed the folder.
“Your mother was going to lose the business anyway. I made a decision to protect the investment.””
“You sold her designs.””
“I sold access to unfinished concepts.””
“Without her permission.””
“Business isn't a fairy tale.””
I felt my hands curl into fists.
“My mother trusted you.””
“And she was wrong to do so.””
The words landed like a slap.
Evelyn stood.
“We're finished here.””
But I remained seated.
“What do you want from me?””
Daniel studied me.
“Your mother left you something valuable.””
“The sewing machine?””
“No.””
“The pattern book?””
He shook his head.
“Her remaining intellectual property rights.””
I stared at him.
He continued.
“Your mother transferred several original designs into a family trust before she died. If the trust is still valid, you may have inherited the rights.””
I leaned forward.
“And?””
“And I have been trying to locate the trust documents.””
I almost laughed.
“So you contacted me because you think I have them.””
“I'm offering to help.””
“Why?””
“Because I am your family.””
I looked directly at him.
“Family doesn't threaten an eight-year-old.””
His expression hardened.
“You have no idea what your mother put me through.””
“And you have no idea what she went through because of you.””
I stood.
Evelyn gathered her papers.
Daniel called after us.
“Wait.””
I turned.
He opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
“Your mother left this with me shortly before she died.””
My breath caught.
“Why?””
“She asked me to deliver it when you turned eighteen.””
I stared at the envelope.
It was sealed.
My mother's handwriting covered the front.
For Nia, when she is old enough to understand.
I reached for it.
Daniel held it back.
“There's one condition.””
Evelyn's voice sharpened.
“What condition?””
Daniel looked at me.
“You must agree not to pursue the old business dispute.””
I withdrew my hand.
“No.””
“Then I keep the letter.””
“It's addressed to me.””
“It's in my possession.””
Evelyn took out her phone.
“Daniel, if you withhold personal correspondence belonging to your sister's estate, I will have my attorney contact you.””
He hesitated.
Then he pushed the envelope across the desk.
I grabbed it.
We left without another word.
In the car, I opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
My mother was sitting at a sewing table.
A little girl sat beside her.
Me.
I was probably five years old.
On the back, she had written:
The most important thing I ever created wasn't a dress.
I smiled through my tears.
Then I unfolded the accompanying letter.
My darling Nia,
I hope by the time you read this, you've discovered that the world is much larger than the walls of our home.
I hope you have made friends who love you without conditions.
And I hope you have found something worth fighting for.
There is a trust in your name. Your father knows where the original papers are.
I stopped reading.
My father?
The letter continued.
I gave Marcus the key because I trusted him to protect you. If he has forgotten, remind him about the red book.
I looked at Evelyn.
“What's the red book?””
She frowned.
“I don't know.””
I immediately called Dad.
He didn't answer.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Then my phone rang.
It was Brianna.
I almost ignored it.
But something made me answer.
“Nia?””
Her voice sounded frightened.
“What's wrong?””
“Mom is gone.””
I sat upright.
“What?””
“She left the house last night. Dad found a note.””
“What does it say?””
Brianna started crying.
“She says she's going to New York to settle something with Richard Hale.””
My stomach tightened.
“Brianna, listen to me. Did she take anything?””
“Yes.””
“What?””
“The old red book.””
I closed my eyes.
May you like
Vanessa had found it.
And she knew exactly what it contained.
