Chapter 5: The Secret My Mother Buried
I didn't tell my mother where I was going.
I didn't tell Brianna.
And I certainly didn't tell them what I had found inside my father's cabinet.
The next morning, Maya and I drove to Boston.
Margaret Hayes lived in a modest white house with blue shutters and a garden full of roses.
She was eighty-one, with silver hair and a small frame, but her eyes were sharp.
When I introduced myself, she gripped my hands.
"Oh, Evelyn's granddaughter.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
She studied my face.
"You look just like your father.""
My throat tightened.
"Did you know him well?""
"Better than your mother would have liked.""
She invited us inside.
The living room smelled of coffee and old books.
Photographs covered the walls.
There were pictures of my grandmother at fashion exhibitions, standing beside models, and working at a large cutting table.
I noticed one photograph immediately.
It showed my grandmother holding a little girl.
The child had dark curls and a pink ribbon in her hair.
I recognized her.
Brianna.
Margaret followed my gaze.
"Ah. That photograph.""
"Why is Brianna in your house?""
Margaret slowly sat down.
"Because Evelyn loved her.""
I frowned.
"But she barely spent time with Brianna. My grandmother died when I was young.""
Margaret shook her head.
"No, sweetheart. There's much more to that story.""
She poured coffee into three cups.
Then she looked directly at me.
"Your grandmother had two daughters. Denise and Claire.""
I stared at her.
"Claire?""
Margaret nodded.
"Your mother had a younger sister.""
I had never heard that name.
Not once.
My mother had always said she was an only child.
"What happened to her?""
Margaret took a deep breath.
"Claire disappeared from the family when you were very young.""
"Why?""
"Because she discovered that Denise had been using your grandmother's designs without permission.""
I looked at Maya.
Margaret continued.
"Evelyn built a small fashion studio with Claire. They designed wedding dresses, evening gowns, and custom pieces for wealthy clients. Denise was supposed to handle the business side.""
"What went wrong?""
"Your mother wanted the entire company.""
Margaret reached for a photograph.
It showed my grandmother standing beside two young women.
One was Denise.
The other had the same eyes as Brianna.
I looked closer.
"That's Claire?""
"Yes.""
"Why does she look so much like Brianna?""
Margaret nodded slowly.
"Because Brianna is Claire's daughter.""
The room went silent.
I felt my stomach drop.
"What?""
Margaret placed the photograph on the table.
"Your mother raised Brianna as her own daughter after Claire left.""
I stared at her.
"That's not possible.""
"Your father knew.""
I shook my head.
"No. My father never told me.""
"He wanted to. Evelyn asked him not to until you were old enough to understand.""
I struggled to breathe.
"Why did my mother hide this?""
Margaret looked toward the window.
"Because Claire had legal ownership of part of the original design company. When she disappeared, Denise took control of the business and its remaining assets.""
I leaned forward.
"Does Brianna know?""
Margaret shook her head.
"I don't believe she does.""
I thought about the letter.
The photograph.
My mother's desperate phone call.
Then I understood something.
My mother wasn't simply protecting Brianna because she was her favorite daughter.
She was protecting a secret that could destroy the family story she had spent decades constructing.
"Where is Claire now?"" I asked.
Margaret looked at me.
"She's alive.""
My heart began racing.
"Where?""
"London.""
I sat back.
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Margaret reached into a drawer and removed a small envelope.
"Evelyn left this with me before she died.""
She handed it to me.
My name was written across the front.
Nia Carter.
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a letter.
My dearest Nia,
If Margaret has given you this letter, then your father has finally found a way to help you uncover the truth.
I am sorry I could not tell you everything myself.
Your mother believes that love is something she can distribute according to usefulness. She has always mistaken obedience for loyalty.
But you must understand something.
The original collection was never Denise's. It was never Brianna's. It belonged to Claire and me.
And the most valuable part of our work was not the dresses.
I stopped reading.
My eyes moved to the next paragraph.
It was the company.
Margaret nodded.
"Your grandmother created a trust before she died.""
I looked up.
"What trust?""
"She transferred her shares to a family trust. Claire received one portion. The remaining portion was reserved for the granddaughter who inherited her creative talent.""
I stared at her.
"Me?""
Margaret nodded.
"Yes.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"How much?""
"Forty percent.""
My mouth fell open.
Margaret continued.
"The company was sold years ago. Its current value is considerably higher than anyone expected.""
I looked at the letter.
My grandmother had left me a business interest.
A real one.
Not a sentimental keepsake.
Something that could change my entire future.
But why had nobody told me?
Margaret answered before I could ask.
"Because Denise challenged the trust.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"She claimed that you weren't entitled to inherit anything because your grandmother had promised the shares to Brianna.""
I shook my head.
"That's ridiculous.""
"Indeed. The court rejected her claim.""
I stared at the table.
"Then why doesn't everyone know?""
"Because the settlement required confidentiality.""
Margaret leaned forward.
"Your father was the trustee. He was supposed to explain everything to you when you turned twenty-six.""
My birthday had been four months earlier.
I looked at the silver pendant around my neck.
The key.
The safe-deposit box.
Everything suddenly made sense.
"Where is the trust document?""
Margaret pointed toward the envelope.
"Your father kept the original. The bank has the remaining records.""
I looked at Maya.
She was already reaching for her phone.
"We need to call Daniel.""
I nodded.
Then Margaret touched my arm.
"There's one more thing.""
I looked at her.
"Your mother knows about the trust.""
"Of course she does.""
"No, Nia. You don't understand. She has been trying to sell the company shares.""
My blood ran cold.
"Whose shares?""
"Yours.""
I stared at her.
"She can't.""
"She tried. The transfer was rejected because your father's signature was required.""
I thought about Brianna taking the gown.
The hidden documents.
The missing storage device.
Then I looked at Margaret.
"Does Brianna know about the trust?""
Margaret shook her head.
"Not yet.""
My phone began ringing.
My mother's name appeared.
I answered.
"Hello?""
"Where are you?""
"Boston.""
A sharp breath came through the speaker.
"Have you spoken to Margaret?""
I didn't answer.
My mother lowered her voice.
"Listen carefully. You need to come home immediately.""
"Why?""
"Because your sister has found the documents.""
I stood up.
"What documents?""
"The trust papers.""
I looked at Maya.
She had stopped moving.
My mother continued.
"Brianna thinks she has inherited the company.""
"She hasn't.""
"That's not the point.""
"What is the point, Mom?""
Silence.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"She's already signed the sale agreement.""
I gripped the phone.
"She can't sell something she doesn't own.""
My mother began crying.
For the first time in my life, I heard genuine fear in her voice.
"Nia, please. You have to help me.""
I closed my eyes.
"What did you do?""
She whispered, "I told Brianna that Claire was dead.""
I froze.
"Why?""
"Because she found the old photographs. She started asking questions. And now she knows the truth.""
I looked at Margaret.
Her expression had turned grave.
My mother continued.
"She's flying to London tonight.""
I swallowed.
"To find Claire?""
"No.""
My mother began sobbing.
"To make sure Claire never comes back.""
Then the call ended.
I stood motionless, holding the phone.
Maya stepped toward me.
"Nia?""
I looked at the letter in my hand.
At the photograph of my grandmother.
At the woman who had spent decades protecting a lie.
And suddenly, the ruined gown wasn't the biggest problem anymore.
Brianna had stolen my work.
My mother had stolen my grandmother's legacy.
And now my sister was heading overseas to destroy the one person who could prove everything.
I opened the airline notification Maya had just received.
Brianna's flight was confirmed.
Departure: 8:45 p.m.
Destination: London Heathrow.
But there was something else.
The passenger list showed two names.
Brianna Carter.
And Denise Carter.
May you like
My mother wasn't trying to stop her.
She was going with her.
