Chapter 9: The Mother Who Came Back
Brianna didn't move.
She stood beneath the stage lights, staring at Claire as though the woman had stepped out of a photograph.
My mother rushed toward her.
"Claire, you have no right to be here.""
Claire didn't look at Denise.
She looked only at Brianna.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Brianna shook her head.
"Don't call me that.""
Claire stopped.
The words seemed to hurt her.
"I understand.""
"No, you don't.""
Brianna's voice cracked.
"My whole life, I've been told you abandoned me.""
Claire swallowed.
"I know.""
"My mother said you didn't want me.""
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
"That was never true.""
Brianna turned toward Denise.
"Tell me she's lying.""
My mother reached for her.
"Sweetheart, please.""
"Tell me!""
Denise lowered her hands.
For the first time, she looked small.
Claire opened her folder.
"I have the original adoption agreement, the court records, and letters documenting every attempt I made to contact you.""
Brianna stared at the documents.
"Why didn't you come back?""
Claire looked at Denise.
"Because your mother threatened to take you away permanently.""
Denise shook her head.
"That's not what happened.""
Claire's voice grew stronger.
"You told me that if I ever returned, you would make sure Brianna believed I had abandoned her willingly.""
My mother stepped backward.
"You're twisting everything.""
Claire removed another document.
"This is a letter you sent me twenty-two years ago.""
She read aloud.
If you want your daughter to have a stable life, stay away. She has a home, a family, and a mother. Do not come back and confuse her.
Brianna covered her mouth.
Claire continued.
"You sent similar letters every year. You even told me that Brianna was happy and didn't ask about me.""
My mother began crying.
"I gave her everything.""
Claire nodded.
"You gave her expensive clothes. Private schools. Holidays.
Cars. But you never gave her the truth.""
Brianna turned toward Denise.
"Why?""
My mother looked at her.
"Because I loved you.""
Brianna shook her head.
"Then why did you lie?""
Denise opened her mouth.
No words came.
I stood near the stage, holding my grandmother's letter.
For years, I had wanted my mother to look at me the way she looked at Brianna.
Now I was watching Brianna discover that the woman she believed had chosen her had built their relationship on a lie.
And strangely, I didn't feel satisfied.
I felt exhausted.
Claire approached Brianna slowly.
"I didn't come here to take anything from you.""
Brianna laughed bitterly.
"Then why are you here?""
"Because I want you to know that you were loved before you ever met Denise.""
Brianna's face crumpled.
Claire continued.
"Your grandmother loved you. Your father figure, Michael, cared about you. And I never stopped thinking about you.""
Brianna looked at me.
"Did you know?""
I nodded.
"Only yesterday.""
She shook her head.
"You knew before me.""
"I found out in Boston.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
I stared at her.
"You were flying to London to confront Claire and take the company documents.""
Brianna looked away.
For a moment, she seemed unable to speak.
Then Denise stepped forward.
"Enough. This family matter is getting out of control.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Mrs. Carter, there is still the matter of the forged authorization.""
My mother stiffened.
"What authorization?""
Daniel placed a copy on the table.
"The document submitted to the trust administrator bearing Michael Carter's signature.""
Denise stared at it.
"I don't know anything about that.""
Daniel opened his briefcase.
"We also have the audio recording of your conversation with Michael shortly before his death.""
My mother went pale.
Brianna turned.
"What conversation?""
Daniel played the recording.
My father's voice filled the auditorium.
"Denise, I know what you did.""
Then my mother's voice.
"Michael, you don't understand.""
The entire room listened.
When the recording ended, nobody spoke.
My mother looked at me.
Her eyes were full of panic.
"Nia, please.""
I didn't answer.
Daniel handed another document to Eleanor.
"This is the trust agreement. It establishes Nia as the beneficiary of forty percent of the company shares. It also confirms that Claire Hayes retains the remaining ownership interest originally assigned to her.""
Eleanor studied the document.
Then she looked toward Brianna.
"Miss Carter, your application contains designs and supporting materials belonging to another designer. The committee has decided to suspend your entry.""
Brianna looked as if the floor had disappeared beneath her.
"You're disqualifying me?""
"We are suspending your application pending the investigation.""
She turned toward me.
"You're happy now?""
I looked at her.
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because I wanted to win with my own work. I never wanted to destroy you.""
She laughed.
"That's easy to say when you've got everything.""
I stared at her.
"Everything?""
I gestured toward the gown.
"That dress took three months of my life. You ruined it, stole it, and told people you made it. You had my father's documents removed from it. You used his name to support a lie.""
Brianna's eyes filled.
"I didn't know about the trust.""
"But you knew about the dress.""
She looked down.
For the first time, she had no answer.
My mother suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Please. We can fix this.""
I pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
She lowered her voice.
"Think about your reputation. Think about the family.""
I looked at her.
"You only remember family when you're afraid of losing something.""
She began crying harder.
"Nia, I'm still your mother.""
I looked at the woman who had spent years making me feel like an unwanted guest in my own family.
"Then you should have acted like one.""
I walked off the stage.
Maya followed.
But as we reached the hallway, Brianna called after me.
"Nia!""
I turned.
She was standing beside Claire.
Her makeup was ruined.
Her hands were shaking.
"Did Grandma really leave you the company?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
Brianna looked toward Denise.
Then she asked something unexpected.
"Did Mom know all along?""
Claire answered quietly.
"Yes.""
Brianna closed her eyes.
Then she removed a small object from her handbag.
A black USB device.
My breath caught.
It was the original device taken from the gown.
Brianna held it out.
"I found this in Mom's suitcase.""
I walked toward her.
"Why are you giving it to me?""
She looked at me.
"Because there's something on it you need to see.""
I took it.
Brianna lowered her voice.
"Your father recorded something else. Something Mom said the night before he died.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
Brianna looked at Denise.
Then she whispered:
"She admitted she knew he was going to the hospital.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
May you like
Brianna's eyes filled with tears.
"Because she had given him something.""
