MY MOTHER STOLE THE PINK GOWN I SPENT SIX MONTHS MAKING FOR MY SISTER—BUT SHE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HIDDEN INSIDE THE LINING

I read my father's agreement at least twenty times that night.

Every time I reached the final paragraph, my eyes returned to the same sentence.

The concealed original document shall establish the transfer of all rights, assets, and proceeds associated with the Walker Design Trust.

I didn't understand everything it meant.

But I understood enough to know that my mother had been hiding something.

At 8:30 the next morning, Daniel Reed called.

“Emily, have you read the attachment?””

“Yes. I don't understand why my father put something inside my dress.””

“Your father created the Walker Design Trust several months before he passed away. It was intended to protect his children's future interests.””

“Children?””

There was a pause.

“Your father originally intended to divide certain assets between you and Brianna. But the arrangement changed after he discovered some financial irregularities.””

I sat upright.

“What irregularities?””

“That's what we're trying to establish.””

“Why didn't he tell me?””

“Because you were fourteen, Emily. He wanted you to have a normal childhood.””

I looked toward the empty mannequin in my bedroom.

“And my mother?””

“Your mother was appointed temporary administrator. She was supposed to preserve the trust until you reached seventeen.””

“Did she?””

Daniel exhaled.

“According to the records I have, several transfers were made that require explanation.””

My stomach tightened.

“How much money?””

“I'd rather not speculate until I review the original documents.””

“Can you tell me whether my sister knows?””

“I believe Brianna knows more than she's admitting.””

The call ended shortly afterward.

I went downstairs and found my mother sorting through a stack of mail.

“Mom, we need to talk about Dad's trust.””

Her hands stopped moving.

Only for a moment.

Then she continued sorting.

“What trust?””

“The Walker Design Trust.””

She placed an envelope on the table.

“Where did you hear that name?””

“Daniel Reed.””

Her face hardened.

“I told that man to stay out of our family business.””

“Why?””

“Because he doesn't understand what happened after your father died.””

“Then explain it.””

Mom pushed the mail aside.

“Your father made a lot of promises when he was sick. Some of them weren't realistic.””

“What promises?””

“He wanted to leave everything equally divided. He didn't understand the expenses I was facing.””

I frowned.

“What expenses?””

“Your sister's education. The mortgage. Medical bills. Household costs.””

“So you used the trust money?””

“I kept this family alive!””

Her voice cracked through the kitchen.

I stared at her.

“Did Dad leave money for me?””

Mom looked away.

“Emily, you're too young to understand complicated financial arrangements.””

“I'm seventeen. You don't get to hide everything from me anymore.””

She stepped closer.

“Listen carefully. Whatever Daniel has told you, don't sign anything. Don't give him documents. And don't let him convince you that your father wanted to take care of you more than he wanted to take care of this family.””

I swallowed.

“Why are you so afraid of the dress?””

Her expression went completely still.

“What?””

“The lining. Why did you ask Mrs. Collins about removing it?””

Mom's eyes flickered.

“That's none of your business.””

“It has my name inside.””

She grabbed my wrist.

“Did you open it?””

I pulled away.

“Why?””

For several seconds, she looked almost frightened.

Then she lowered her voice.

“Emily, if you care about this family, you will leave that dress alone.””

I stepped backward.

“You gave it to Brianna.””

“And I can ask her to destroy it if I have to.””

My blood ran cold.

Before I could respond, she snatched her phone from the counter and walked into the living room.

I heard her whisper.

“Don't let the seamstress finish until I get there.””

I immediately called Mrs. Collins.

“She's going to destroy the lining.””

“Then we need to move quickly,” Mrs. Collins replied.

“Can you stop her?””

“Not without the garment. But I have an idea.””

She asked me to meet her at the shop.

When I arrived, she had already printed photographs of the dress's construction.

She placed them across the counter.

“Look at this seam.””

I leaned closer.

It was a photograph from the day I finished the bodice.

“That's the concealed pocket,” I said.

“Exactly. But look at the embroidery beneath it.””

I examined the image.

A tiny cluster of five flowers was stitched into the inside seam.

I'd put them there myself, but I had never thought they were important.

“What's wrong with it?””

Mrs. Collins pointed to the center flower.

“Your father asked me about this design before he died.””

I turned toward her.

“What?””

“He visited the shop one afternoon while you were at school. He asked whether you had completed the pink gown. Then he asked whether the inside embroidery could be used to identify the original garment.””

I felt my heartbeat quicken.

“Why didn't you tell me?””

“I didn't know what he was planning. He only said that one day, someone might try to replace the original lining.””

I stared at her.

“Replace it?””

Mrs. Collins nodded.

“He specifically told me to photograph the inside construction before the gown left this shop.””

She opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.

Inside was a photograph of the completed lining.

On the back, my father's handwriting read:

If anyone claims this dress belongs to someone else, preserve the original lining.

I looked up.