My Stepsister Destroyed My Scholarship Gown—But My Father’s Betrayal Was Worse

For several seconds, nobody moved.

I looked at Vanessa.

"What house?""

She pressed her lips together.

My father stared at the table as if the wood grain contained an escape route.

Elise pulled another page from the folder.

"The trust statements show multiple withdrawals over four years. Some were described as educational expenses. Others were transferred directly into accounts belonging to Vanessa Carter.""

Vanessa straightened.

"I was managing household finances.""

"You weren't appointed trustee," Elise replied.

"Marcus authorized me.""

"That doesn't give you the legal authority to spend money belonging to Nia.""

Vanessa let out a sharp laugh.

"You have no idea what it costs to maintain a family. Marcus was working constantly. I handled the bills. I made sure everyone had what they needed.""

I stared at her.

"Everyone except me, apparently.""

She frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean?""

"Every time I asked for money to buy fabric, you told me I was wasting my future. Every time I asked about design school, you said my father couldn't afford it. But you were taking money from an account Mom left for me?""

Vanessa grabbed her handbag from the chair.

"Your mother left that money to you because she knew Marcus would have to raise you alone. The money helped the entire household.""

"That wasn't her decision to make?""

Vanessa's eyes narrowed.

"Watch how you speak to me.""

I laughed, but there were tears burning behind my eyes.

"You stole from a child.""

My father finally stood.

"Enough! Vanessa didn't steal anything. I made the decisions.""

Elise folded her arms.

"Then explain the transfers.""

He paced across the room.

"The house was in trouble. We had medical bills. Brianna needed tuition. There were payments we couldn't avoid.""

I looked at him.

"Brianna's tuition?""

He stopped.

"She needed a good education.""

"So did I.""

"Your situation was different.""

"Because I'm not your biological daughter?""

His face twisted.

"Don't put words in my mouth.""

I stepped toward him.

"Then tell me why I spent my weekends selling bread while my own education fund paid for Brianna's school.""

Brianna stood abruptly.

"I didn't know where the money came from!""

I turned toward her.

"You didn't know?""

"No!""

"Did you know I was working at the bakery?""

She didn't answer.

"Did you know I skipped school activities because I couldn't afford the materials for my projects?""

Her expression hardened.

"That wasn't my fault.""

"No. But you still wore my dress.""

She looked away.

Maya reached for my hand.

I squeezed it.

Elise opened another document.

"Nia, your mother left detailed instructions regarding the trust. The account was supposed to become fully available to you when you turned eighteen.""

I looked at the date.

"That was six months ago.""

"Correct. The money should have been transferred into your control.""

I stared at the withdrawal records.

"Then why hasn't anyone contacted me?""

Elise looked at my father.

"Because the account was reported as having a change in beneficiary status.""

"What does that mean?""

"It means someone submitted documents claiming you were no longer legally entitled to receive the funds.""

My father took a step forward.

"Elise, that's enough.""

She ignored him.

"Who submitted that request?""

The director turned another page.

"According to the bank's records, the request came from Marcus Carter. It was accompanied by a notarized statement and a separate supporting document.""

My mouth went dry.

"What supporting document?""

The director glanced at Brianna's application.

"That's what concerns us. The same document appears in the packet she submitted for this competition.""

Brianna looked at her mother.

Vanessa shook her head once.

A small movement.

But I saw it.

And so did Maya.

"Why are you looking at her like that?"" Maya asked Brianna.

"Mind your business.""

"You're standing in a room full of people discussing stolen money and stolen designs. I think it's everyone's business now.""

My father grabbed the edge of the table.

"Listen to me, Nia. I did what I had to do.""

"What did you have to do?""

He looked exhausted.

"After your mother died, I was left with responsibilities you couldn't understand. Vanessa helped me. She kept the household together.""

"I was your daughter. You were supposed to protect me.""

"I did protect you!""

"From what? My own future?""

He lowered his voice.

"Things were falling apart. The house was going to be taken. There were debts. I thought I could replace the money.""

Elise stared at him.

"You had six years to replace it.""

"I was going to!""

"With what?""

He said nothing.

Vanessa suddenly walked over and grabbed the folder.

"That's enough. This is a private family matter.""

The director immediately pulled it away.

"These are official competition records. You cannot take them.""

Vanessa's face reddened.

"You have no right to keep them from me.""

Elise stood between her and the table.

"Mrs. Carter, sit down.""

For once, Vanessa obeyed.

Brianna was trembling now.

I looked at her.

"How much did you know?""

"Nothing.""

"Then why did you submit my dress?""

She wiped her palms against her skirt.

"Mom said it was okay.""

"Did Dad say that too?""

She looked at Marcus.

He didn't meet her eyes.

Something shifted in my chest.

Brianna hadn't just taken a dress. She had entered a competition using a design that carried my mother's legacy, while the people who raised me had apparently spent years preparing to take everything else.

Elise tapped the application.

"There's one more issue. Brianna's entry claims she legally inherited the designs from Nia Carter.""

I blinked.

"Inherited?""

The director nodded.

"The application says the original designer is deceased and that Brianna is the authorized heir to her creative property.""

Maya stepped forward.

"That's insane. Nia is standing right here.""

Elise slowly turned another page.

"Which is why we need to examine the certificate attached to this application.""

My father suddenly moved toward the door.

Elise raised her voice.