Chapter 3: The Secret Beneath the Lining
My hands went cold.
The silver envelope.
For six months, I had kept it hidden beneath the inner lining of the gown.
It wasn't jewelry.
It wasn't money.
It was a collection of documents, photographs, and a tiny encrypted storage device containing something my father had entrusted to me before he died.
And Brianna had just found it.
Maya leaned over my shoulder.
"Who sent that?""
"I don't know.""
Daniel took the phone.
"Don't respond.""
He enlarged the photograph.
"Can you identify the room?""
I studied the mirror, the cream-colored curtains, and the antique dresser.
"That's my mother's upstairs guest room.""
Daniel nodded.
"Then we know where the gown is.""
Maya stood.
"We're going there.""
Daniel raised a hand.
"Not without a plan.""
I looked at him.
"That envelope contains something important.""
"Then tell me what it is.""
I hesitated.
My father, Michael Carter, had died eleven months earlier.
He had been a quiet man, a brilliant engineer, and the only person in our family who had ever treated my dreams as something worth protecting.
Before he died, he had given me a small silver pendant.
Inside it was a miniature key.
He told me it belonged to a safe-deposit box.
He also gave me an envelope containing a letter and a storage device.
"Your grandmother left something for you," he had said.
I remembered sitting beside his hospital bed.
"What did she leave?""
He had smiled weakly.
"Something your mother doesn't know about.""
I had assumed it was money.
But he had shaken his head.
"Your grandmother believed in your talent. She wanted you to have the opportunity she never had.""
He had asked me to keep the documents safe until I was ready.
The gown's concealed compartment was the safest place I could think of.
Nobody ever touched the inner lining.
Until Brianna.
I explained everything to Daniel.
He listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he looked at the pendant.
"Have you opened the box?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because Dad told me to wait until I understood why he had kept it secret.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Then perhaps it's time.""
Maya looked at the photograph again.
"First, we get the envelope back.""
We drove to my mother's house.
This time, Daniel came with us.
My mother opened the door wearing a cream-colored dress and a pearl necklace.
Her smile disappeared when she saw the three of us.
"What is this?""
Daniel introduced himself and explained that he represented my company.
My mother looked offended.
"You're bringing a lawyer to your mother's house?""
"I brought him because you stole my property.""
She stepped aside.
"Come in, then.""
Brianna was sitting in the living room.
The gown was draped across the sofa.
Beside it sat an open silver envelope.
I rushed forward.
"Where is the storage device?""
Brianna looked up.
"Oh, hello.""
"Where is it?""
She raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?""
"The small black device inside the envelope.""
She shrugged.
"I don't know.""
My mother frowned.
"Brianna found some papers inside the dress. We thought they were old receipts.""
"They weren't.""
Brianna picked up the envelope.
"Well, they're not here now.""
I stared at her.
"Where did you put them?""
She smiled.
"Why would I tell you?""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Miss Carter, those materials belong to my client. I advise you to return them immediately.""
Brianna laughed.
"Is this how you spend your time? Defending your sister's little sewing project?""
Daniel remained calm.
"Those documents may contain confidential property information.""
My mother looked between us.
"Confidential?""
I reached for the envelope.
Brianna snatched it away.
"Don't touch my things!""
I stared at her.
"Your things?""
"Mom gave me the dress.""
"That doesn't mean you own everything inside it.""
My mother stepped forward.
"Can everyone stop shouting?""
Daniel placed a document on the coffee table.
"This is a formal demand for the return of the gown and all items removed from it.""
My mother barely glanced at the paper.
"You cannot threaten us in our own home.""
"I'm not threatening anyone," Daniel replied.
"I'm explaining the legal position.""
Brianna stood.
"Fine. Take the stupid dress.""
She grabbed the skirt and shoved it toward me.
I caught it before it fell.
But something was wrong.
The fabric felt lighter.
I turned the gown over and examined the concealed compartment.
The lining had been cut.
Not unstitched.
Cut.
Someone had used scissors.
A jagged opening ran through the delicate embroidery.
I looked at Brianna.
"What did you do?""
She shrugged.
"I wanted to see what was inside.""
"You destroyed the lining.""
"It's just fabric.""
I looked at my mother.
She was examining her nails.
"Mom, did you let her cut it?""
My mother sighed.
"I told her to be careful.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"You told her to be careful?""
"She was curious.""
Daniel photographed the damage.
Then he examined the opening.
"Was anything else removed?""
I checked the compartment.
The letter was gone.
The photographs were gone.
The storage device was gone.
Only the empty silver envelope remained.
I looked at Brianna.
"Give them back.""
She crossed her arms.
"I don't have them.""
"You're lying.""
"Prove it.""
My mother stepped between us.
"Enough. Brianna has a fitting in an hour. You're ruining her entire day.""
I stared at her.
"Your daughter just destroyed something my father gave me.""
For the first time, my mother looked uncomfortable.
Then she said, "Your father gave you too much attention. Perhaps that's why you think everything belongs to you.""
The room went silent.
I felt as though someone had slapped me.
Daniel slowly closed his briefcase.
"Mrs. Carter, I strongly recommend you stop speaking.""
My mother glared at him.
"Don't tell me what to do.""
Maya took my arm.
"Nia, let's go.""
I picked up the gown.
As I walked toward the door, Brianna called after me.
"By the way, I found your father's letter.""
I stopped.
She smiled.
"Interesting reading.""
My heart hammered.
"What did it say?""
She lifted her coffee cup.
"Something about a company.""
I turned around.
"Give it to me.""
She laughed.
"Why? Is there money involved?""
My mother looked at her.
"Brianna.""
"What? I'm just asking.""
I took one step toward her.
Daniel gently blocked me.
"Not here.""
I left with the damaged gown.
In the car, Maya drove while I held the dress in my lap.
I couldn't stop looking at the torn lining.
Then my phone rang.
It was an unfamiliar number.
A woman introduced herself as Eleanor Bellamy, director of the foundation.
"Nia Carter?""
"Yes.""
"I've reviewed your original registration.""
I swallowed.
"Thank you.""
"I'm calling because we have a serious concern.""
I looked at Maya.
"What concern?""
"Another applicant has submitted what appears to be an identical design.""
"I know. It's my sister.""
There was a pause.
"Your sister?""
"Yes. Brianna Carter.""
Eleanor continued carefully.
"She has also contacted our office claiming that you stole the design from her private collection.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course she had.
"That's impossible. I have the original sketches.""
"Then I suggest you bring them to our office tomorrow morning.""
"I will.""
Eleanor hesitated.
"There's one more thing.""
"What?""
"Your sister has requested that the foundation disqualify you.""
My mouth went dry.
"On what grounds?""
"She claims your design contains stolen intellectual property.""
I looked down at the gown.
The red flowers seemed darker than before.
"What intellectual property?""
Eleanor's voice lowered.
"She says the original concept belonged to your late grandmother.""
I stopped breathing.
May you like
Because my grandmother's designs had been missing for twenty years.
And Brianna had just claimed ownership of them.
