Chapter 9: The Daughter Who Confessed
By midnight, the situation had become a legal emergency.
Richard had contacted the company's board, the school's governing trustees, and the authorities investigating the forged documents.
Evelyn's team had frozen the suspicious digital transfers.
But the false ownership announcement had already Daughter Who Confessed
By midnight, the situation had become a legal emergency.
Richard had contacted the company's board, the school's governing trustees, and the authorities investigating the forged documents.
Evelyn's team had frozen the suspicious digital transfers.
But the false ownership announcement had already been distributed to several industry contacts.
My phone wouldn't stop vibrating.
Messages arrived from classmates.
Some asked what was happening.
Others wanted to know whether I had really sold Carter Atelier.
One message came from a fashion journalist.
Can you confirm that Brianna Whitmore has acquired controlling interest in your company?
I stared at been distributed to several industry contacts.
My phone wouldn't stop vibrating.
Messages arrived from classmates.
Some asked what was happening.
Others wanted to know whether I had really sold Carter Atelier.
One message came from a fashion journalist.
Can you confirm that Brianna Whitmore has acquired controlling interest in your company?
I stared at the question.
Then I typed one sentence.
No. I have not sold anything.
Richard took the phone from my hand.
“Don't respond to anyone else tonight.””
“But they're spreading lies.””
“We'll issue a formal statement once the evidence is secured.””
I sat on a bench outside the administrative office.
My body the question.
Then I typed one sentence.
No. I have not sold anything.
Richard took the phone from my hand.
“Don't respond to anyone else tonight.””
“But they're spreading lies.””
“We'll issue a formal statement once the evidence is secured.””
I sat on a bench outside the administrative office.
My body felt exhausted.
My cheek still hurt.
My eyes burned.
And somewhere beneath all of that was an anger I couldn't quite put into words.
I had spent years believing that if I worked hard enough, I could felt exhausted.
My cheek still hurt.
My eyes burned.
And somewhere beneath all of that was an anger I couldn't quite put into words.
I had spent years believing that if I worked hard enough, I could earn a place in the fashion industry.
Now I was learning that some people didn't care how hard you worked.
They cared whether they could take what you built.
Evelyn approached.
“Nia?””
I looked up.
“We found Brianna.””
“Where?””
“She returned to the school.””
Richard stood.
“Is she with her mother?””
“No. She's earn a place in the fashion industry.
Now I was learning that some people didn't care how hard you worked.
They cared whether they could take what you built.
Evelyn approached.
“Nia?””
I looked up.
“We found Brianna.””
“Where?””
“She returned to the school.””
Richard stood.
“Is she with her mother?””
“No. She's in the west corridor.””
I looked toward the hallway.
“Alone?””
Evelyn nodded.
I stood.
“I want to speak to her.””
Richard hesitated.
“We should be careful.””
“I won't be alone. You'll be there.””
He considered it.
Then nodded.
We walked down the in the west corridor.””
I looked toward the hallway.
“Alone?””
Evelyn nodded.
I stood.
“I want to speak to her.””
Richard hesitated.
“We should be careful.””
“I won't be alone. You'll be there.””
He considered it.
Then nodded.
We walked down the corridor together.
Brianna was sitting on a bench near the old photography studio.
Her makeup was gone.
Her hair had fallen loose.
She was still wearing my gown.
The pale-gold fabric was wrinkled now, and one side of the skirt had a visible tear.
She looked up when she heard us approaching corridor together.
Brianna was sitting on a bench near the old photography studio.
Her makeup was gone.
Her hair had fallen loose.
She was still wearing my gown.
The pale-gold fabric was wrinkled now, and one side of the skirt had a visible tear.
She looked up when she heard us approaching.
“Happy now?”” she asked.
I stopped several feet away.
“No.””
She laughed bitterly.
“Of course not. You got everything you wanted.””
“What exactly do you think I wanted?””
“Attention. Recognition. My family's downfall.””
I stared at.
“Happy now?”” she asked.
I stopped several feet away.
“No.””
She laughed bitterly.
“Of course not. You got everything you wanted.””
“What exactly do you think I wanted?””
“Attention. Recognition. My family's downfall.””
I stared at her.
“You took my work.””
“You were always so proud of being the poor girl who made everything herself.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“You walked around this school like everybody should admire you because you worked two jobs.””
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“That's what bothered her.
“You took my work.””
“You were always so proud of being the poor girl who made everything herself.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“You walked around this school like everybody should admire you because you worked two jobs.””
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“That's what bothered you?””
Brianna stood.
“You always had people feeling sorry for you. Teachers praised your designs. Students talked about your grandmother. Even when you couldn't afford the materials, people admired you.””
I looked at you?””
Brianna stood.
“You always had people feeling sorry for you. Teachers praised your designs. Students talked about your grandmother. Even when you couldn't afford the materials, people admired you.””
I looked at her.
“So you decided to steal from me?””
Her jaw tightened.
“I deserved the showcase.””
“You could have created your own collection.””
“I did!””
“No, Brianna. You wore mine.””
She looked down at the gown.
For the first time, I her.
“So you decided to steal from me?””
Her jaw tightened.
“I deserved the showcase.””
“You could have created your own collection.””
“I did!””
“No, Brianna. You wore mine.””
She looked down at the gown.
For the first time, I noticed that her hands were trembling.
“My mother said the school would protect me.””
I remained silent.
“She said nobody would question the transfer because your father had already signed everything.””
“Did you know he was paid?””
She looked away.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“Two hundred and fifty thousand.””
I stared at her noticed that her hands were trembling.
“My mother said the school would protect me.””
I remained silent.
“She said nobody would question the transfer because your father had already signed everything.””
“Did you know he was paid?””
She looked away.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“Two hundred and fifty thousand.””
I stared at her.
“Your father received one hundred and twenty-five thousand. Where did the rest go?””
She swallowed.
“My mother kept it in the company account.””
“Why?””
“To fund the new fashion house.””
I felt sick.
“So this was planned?””
Brianna didn't answer.
Richard stepped forward.
“Your father received one hundred and twenty-five thousand. Where did the rest go?””
She swallowed.
“My mother kept it in the company account.””
“Why?””
“To fund the new fashion house.””
I felt sick.
“So this was planned?””
Brianna didn't answer.
Richard stepped forward.
“Miss Whitmore, did you knowingly submit a false ownership declaration?””
She looked at him.
“My mother told me it was legitimate.””
“Did you read it?””
Silence.
“Did you sign it?””
She nodded.
“And did you know the design belonged to Nia?””
Brianna looked at me.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
The answer hurt more than I expected.
Not.
“Miss Whitmore, did you knowingly submit a false ownership declaration?””
She looked at him.
“My mother told me it was legitimate.””
“Did you read it?””
Silence.
“Did you sign it?””
She nodded.
“And did you know the design belonged to Nia?””
Brianna looked at me.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
The answer hurt more than I expected.
Not because I was surprised.
Because she had finally stopped pretending.
I took a breath.
“Why did you slap me? No, wait. Why did you let your mother slap me?””
Brianna's face changed.
“I didn't.””
“You stood there.””
“I was scared of her.””
“So was I.””
She looked down.
For because I was surprised.
Because she had finally stopped pretending.
I took a breath.
“Why did you slap me? No, wait. Why did you let your mother slap me?””
Brianna's face changed.
“I didn't.””
“You stood there.””
“I was scared of her.””
“So was I.””
She looked down.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she reached toward the bodice.
“I'm sorry.””
I stepped back.
“Don't.””
Her hand dropped.
“I mean it.””
“You're sorry because people found out.””
“No.””
“You were happy when you thought nobody would.””
Her eyes filled.
I continued.
a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she reached toward the bodice.
“I'm sorry.””
I stepped back.
“Don't.””
Her hand dropped.
“I mean it.””
“You're sorry because people found out.””
“No.””
“You were happy when you thought nobody would.””
Her eyes filled.
I continued.
“You watched me spend eleven months making that gown. You knew exactly what it meant to me. And you still took it.””
She began crying.
“My mother said it was the only way.””
“The only way to what?””
“To make me important.””
I stared at her.
“You were already important, Brianna. You just didn't know how to be proud“You watched me spend eleven months making that gown. You knew exactly what it meant to me. And you still took it.””
She began crying.
“My mother said it was the only way.””
“The only way to what?””
“To make me important.””
I stared at her.
“You were already important, Brianna. You just didn't know how to be proud of something you actually earned.””
She covered her face.
Richard waited a moment.
Then he spoke.
“Miss Whitmore, we need to discuss the archive transfer.””
Brianna lowered her hands.
“I didn't take everything.””
“What did you take?””
She looked at me.
“The original Sunlight of something you actually earned.””
She covered her face.
Richard waited a moment.
Then he spoke.
“Miss Whitmore, we need to discuss the archive transfer.””
Brianna lowered her hands.
“I didn't take everything.””
“What did you take?””
She looked at me.
“The original Sunlight Collection sketches.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Where are they?””
“My mother has them.””
“Where?””
“In a storage facility outside the city.””
Richard exchanged a glance with Evelyn.
“Which facility?””
Brianna hesitated.
Then she gave us the address.
Evelyn immediately sent it to the legal team.
I looked at Brianna.
“What about the Collection sketches.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Where are they?””
“My mother has them.””
“Where?””
“In a storage facility outside the city.””
Richard exchanged a glance with Evelyn.
“Which facility?””
Brianna hesitated.
Then she gave us the address.
Evelyn immediately sent it to the legal team.
I looked at Brianna.
“What about the false ownership announcement?””
She swallowed.
“My mother created it.””
“And the signature?””
“She copied it from your graduation registration form.””
I closed my eyes.
Richard asked another question.
“Who instructed you to use Nia's access credentials?””
Brianna stared at the floor.
“My mother.””
I felt the room false ownership announcement?””
She swallowed.
“My mother created it.””
“And the signature?””
“She copied it from your graduation registration form.””
I closed my eyes.
Richard asked another question.
“Who instructed you to use Nia's access credentials?””
Brianna stared at the floor.
“My mother.””
I felt the room become very quiet.
“She told me to make it look like Nia had copied the archive herself. She said if the files disappeared, the company would suspend the investigation and the school would be able to claim the designs were already transferred.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Did you understand the consequences?””
“No.””
“Did you understand that you were potentially framing another person for become very quiet.
“She told me to make it look like Nia had copied the archive herself. She said if the files disappeared, the company would suspend the investigation and the school would be able to claim the designs were already transferred.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Did you understand the consequences?””
“No.””
“Did you understand that you were potentially framing another person for theft?””
Brianna nodded.
I looked at her.
“Why did you send me that message?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“Because I wanted you to be scared.””
“Why?””
She gave a small, broken laugh.
“Because I was scared.””
I didn't know what to say.
Then Brianna looked toward the hallway.
“There's something else.””
Richard stepped closer.
“What?””
“My theft?””
Brianna nodded.
I looked at her.
“Why did you send me that message?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“Because I wanted you to be scared.””
“Why?””
She gave a small, broken laugh.
“Because I was scared.””
I didn't know what to say.
Then Brianna looked toward the hallway.
“There's something else.””
Richard stepped closer.
“What?””
“My mother isn't going to the storage facility.””
“Where is she going?””
Brianna hesitated.
“She has a private presentation tomorrow morning.””
I frowned.
“What presentation?””
“A meeting with investors.””
Richard's face changed.
“Where?””
“At the Whitmore International showroom.””
Evelyn checked her tablet.
“That's the building where the new company is registered.””
Brianna mother isn't going to the storage facility.””
“Where is she going?””
Brianna hesitated.
“She has a private presentation tomorrow morning.””
I frowned.
“What presentation?””
“A meeting with investors.””
Richard's face changed.
“Where?””
“At the Whitmore International showroom.””
Evelyn checked her tablet.
“That's the building where the new company is registered.””
Brianna nodded.
“She plans to announce the Sunlight Collection as her daughter's first independent couture line.””
I stared at her.
“Using my grandmother's designs?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Tomorrow at ten.””
Richard checked his watch.
It was already past midnight.
“Then we have less than ten hours.””
Brianna looked at me.
“You can't nodded.
“She plans to announce the Sunlight Collection as her daughter's first independent couture line.””
I stared at her.
“Using my grandmother's designs?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Tomorrow at ten.””
Richard checked his watch.
It was already past midnight.
“Then we have less than ten hours.””
Brianna looked at me.
“You can't stop her.””
I stared back.
“Why?””
“Because she has already invited the investors. The press. The buyers. Everybody important.””
I glanced at the gold gown.
“Then everybody important can hear the truth.””
Brianna shook her head.
“You don't understand. My mother has been planning stop her.””
I stared back.
“Why?””
“Because she has already invited the investors. The press. The buyers. Everybody important.””
I glanced at the gold gown.
“Then everybody important can hear the truth.””
Brianna shook her head.
“You don't understand. My mother has been planning this for years.””
I took a step closer.
“Then she should have spent those years learning how to create something herself.””
Brianna looked away.
Richard turned to Evelyn.
“Contact the legal team. We need an emergency injunction before the presentation.””
Evelyn nodded.
Then Brianna suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Wait.””
I this for years.””
I took a step closer.
“Then she should have spent those years learning how to create something herself.””
Brianna looked away.
Richard turned to Evelyn.
“Contact the legal team. We need an emergency injunction before the presentation.””
Evelyn nodded.
Then Brianna suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Wait.””
I looked down.
She was holding something small.
A silver key.
“What is that?””
“The archive room key.””
Richard looked at it.
“Where did you get this?””
“My mother gave it to me.””
Brianna pressed it into my palm.
“There's a second cabinet in the storage facility. She keeps the original papers there looked down.
She was holding something small.
A silver key.
“What is that?””
“The archive room key.””
Richard looked at it.
“Where did you get this?””
“My mother gave it to me.””
Brianna pressed it into my palm.
“There's a second cabinet in the storage facility. She keeps the original papers there. The ones she doesn't want anyone to find.””
“What papers?””
Brianna's voice dropped.
“The original contract between my mother and your father.””
I looked at Richard.
He nodded.
“That's important.””
Brianna released my wrist.
Then she whispered:
“There's something in that contract you should know.””
“What?””
She looked directly into my eyes.
“Your. The ones she doesn't want anyone to find.””
“What papers?””
Brianna's voice dropped.
“The original contract between my mother and your father.””
I looked at Richard.
He nodded.
“That's important.””
Brianna released my wrist.
Then she whispered:
“There's something in that contract you should know.””
“What?””
She looked directly into my eyes.
“Your father wasn't paid just to transfer the designs.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“What else?””
May you like
Brianna swallowed.
“He was paid to make sure you never became the owner of Carter Atelier.””
