Chapter 13: The Night They Tried to Burn My Mother's Legacy
I read Brittany's message three times.
*Mom is at the warehouse. She has the original recordings. And she's planning to burn them tonight.*
I immediately called her.
She answered on the first ring.
"Emily?""
"Where are you?""
"At the warehouse. I came here with Mom.""
"Why?""
Brittany started crying.
"She told me we were moving the collection somewhere safe. But when we arrived, she started taking boxes outside. There's a metal barrel behind the building.""
My stomach dropped.
"Is she burning them?""
"Not yet. But she has gasoline.""
I looked at Rebecca.
"She's destroying the evidence.""
Rebecca grabbed her briefcase.
"Give me the address.""
I read it aloud.
She immediately called the authorities and explained that original intellectual property records and potentially stolen property were at risk of destruction.
Daniel grabbed his car keys.
"I'm coming with you.""
My father stood.
"So am I.""
I turned toward him.
"No.""
"Emily, please.""
"You've spent years choosing Vanessa over Mom. I'm not letting you make another decision for me.""
He looked devastated.
Then he reached into his jacket and removed a small envelope.
"Your mother gave me this shortly before she died. I never had the courage to open it.""
I stared at the envelope.
My name was written across the front.
"Why are you giving it to me now?""
"Because I don't deserve to keep anything she left behind.""
I took it.
Then I walked out with Daniel and Rebecca.
The warehouse stood outside the city, surrounded by a chain-link fence and a row of abandoned industrial buildings.
When we arrived, Brittany was standing near the entrance.
Her makeup had run down her cheeks.
"Emily!""
She hurried toward me.
"She's inside.""
Daniel looked through the fence.
A large truck was parked beside the loading dock.
Several cardboard boxes had already been loaded into its rear compartment.
"Where's Vanessa?""
Brittany pointed toward the back.
"Behind the building.""
We hurried around the corner.
Vanessa stood beside a metal barrel.
A red gasoline container rested near her feet.
She was holding a thick notebook.
My mother's notebook.
"PUT THAT DOWN!"" I shouted.
Vanessa turned.
For a second, she looked genuinely surprised.
Then she smiled.
"Well, look who's here.""
I stepped toward her.
"Those belong to my mother.""
"Your mother is dead, Emily. These are business assets.""
"Not anymore.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You still don't understand. Without me, none of this would exist.""
Brittany stepped forward.
"Mom, stop. Please.""
Vanessa turned on her.
"Stay out of this!""
"You said we were only moving the boxes!""
"Because I knew you would panic.""
Brittany's voice shook.
"You told me Emily was lying about everything.""
Vanessa tossed the notebook into a plastic container.
"Emily has always been a problem. Your father made her think she was special, and Claire made her think she was entitled to everything.""
I felt my hands trembling.
"Mom left me the studio. She left me the designs. She left me the truth.""
Vanessa picked up the gasoline container.
"Your mother left behind a collection of debts and unfinished projects. I turned those things into an opportunity.""
"You stole her work.""
"I made it valuable!""
"You stole my dress!""
Vanessa's face hardened.
"Because Brittany deserved something better than you.""
Brittany began sobbing.
"Mom, please. You promised me we'd build something together.""
Vanessa looked at her daughter with disgust.
"I did build something. And you were supposed to be grateful.""
She lifted the gasoline container.
Daniel stepped between us.
"Put it down, Vanessa.""
She ignored him.
Then Rebecca approached with her phone held up.
"Mrs. Miller, the police are on their way. We have a court application pending to preserve these materials. Do not touch another box.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You're too late.""
She poured gasoline over the notebook.
I screamed.
"NO!""
Brittany suddenly rushed forward and grabbed the container.
Gasoline splashed across the concrete.
Vanessa slapped her daughter.
"You stupid girl!""
Brittany stumbled backward.
I ran toward the notebook and pulled it out of the plastic container.
Its edges were wet, but the pages remained intact.
Vanessa lunged toward me.
Daniel caught her arm.
"That's enough!""
She struggled.
"Let go of me!""
Rebecca shouted for Daniel to step back as two police officers entered through the loading entrance.
"Ma'am, put your hands where we can see them.""
Vanessa froze.
The gasoline container slipped from her fingers.
One officer approached.
"Mrs. Miller, we need to speak with you about the reported theft and attempted destruction of property.""
Vanessa looked around desperately.
Then her eyes settled on Brittany.
"Tell them what happened!""
Brittany wiped her face.
"I will.""
Vanessa stared.
"What?""
Brittany looked at the officers.
"I saw her take the recordings. I heard her tell Mr. Harrison that they needed to destroy the originals before Emily could prove who designed everything.""
Vanessa's mouth fell open.
"You little traitor!""
Brittany flinched but continued.
"She also told me she had forged Emily's signature. I have messages proving it.""
She pulled out her phone.
Vanessa lunged toward her.
The officers immediately restrained her.
I stood holding my mother's notebook.
For the first time in years, Vanessa couldn't control what happened next.
As the officers searched the warehouse, one of them called out.
"Ma'am, you need to see this.""
Rebecca approached.
Inside a locked cabinet were several recording devices, old photographs, and dozens of original design sketches.
At the bottom sat a small wooden box.
My name was engraved across its lid.
I opened it.
Inside were miniature audio tapes, handwritten notes, and a sealed envelope.
The envelope contained a single sentence:
*Emily, if you've found this, then the person who tried to steal my work has finally been exposed. But there's one last truth you deserve to know.*
I looked toward Margaret, who had just arrived.
She read the sentence over my shoulder.
Then she whispered:
"Emily, I think your mother knew exactly who would come after the collection.""
She pointed toward the back of the wooden box.
There was another name engraved beneath mine.
*THE SECOND BLOOM — CREATED BY CLAIRE CARTER AND MARGARET COLLINS.*
I looked at her.
"Margaret?""
She nodded slowly.
"There's something your mother never told you about me.""
And before she could explain, my phone rang.
It was my father.
"Emily," he said, his voice breaking.
"I need you to come home. I've found the original document that proves who actually owns the company.""
May you like
Then he added:
"And it isn't Vanessa. It isn't me. It's someone neither of us expected.""
