Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew the Truth
My grandmother answered on the second ring.
"Nia?""
Her voice was soft, but I could hear the worry immediately.
"Grandma, I need to ask you something about Uncle Daniel.""
There was a pause.
"What happened?""
I looked at Maya.
Then at Elise.
"Did Uncle Daniel leave behind any fashion designs?""
Another pause.
A longer one.
"Why are you asking?""
I explained everything.
The stolen gown.
The forged application.
The old photograph.
The letter.
And finally, the mysterious message I'd received.
When I finished, my grandmother didn't speak for several seconds.
Then she said something I wasn't prepared for.
"Your father has been looking for Daniel's original collection for years.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why?""
"Because he believes it belongs to him.""
"Does it?""
"No, sweetheart.""
Her voice trembled.
"Daniel left everything to me.""
I sat down.
"What everything?""
"The designs, his notebooks, his sketches, and the rights to his unfinished collection. He wanted me to preserve them until someone in the family was ready to continue his work.""
I looked at Elise.
She was listening carefully.
"Grandma, where are they?""
"At my house.""
"All of them?""
"Almost.""
"What do you mean?""
My grandmother sighed.
"Your father came here last winter. He said he wanted to organize Daniel's belongings. I trusted him because he was my son.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did he take?""
"Two boxes of sketches. A leather portfolio. And a small wooden case.""
I remembered the photograph of Daniel's butterfly design.
"Was there a butterfly pattern?""
My grandmother went quiet.
Then she whispered:
"Yes.""
"What did it look like?""
"Four wings, each built around a different stage of a butterfly's life. Daniel called it the Transformation Collection.""
I looked at my own gown.
Four wings.
Four layers.
Four months of work.
My breath caught.
"Grandma, I think I recreated part of it.""
She began crying.
"Oh, Nia.""
"What?""
"Your uncle used to draw those butterflies when he was young. He said one day he wanted to make a dress that looked like it was becoming something else.""
I couldn't speak.
My design wasn't a copy.
It was something I'd created from instinct, without knowing the history behind it.
But someone had taken the original pattern and used it to build Brianna's gown.
"Grandma, did Dad steal the original?""
"I don't know, sweetheart. But I know he has been asking questions about Daniel's work.""
I glanced at the unknown message.
"Someone just sent me a photograph of my sketch. They said Dad isn't the only person who knows where Daniel hid the original pattern.""
My grandmother gasped.
"Don't answer that number.""
"Why?""
"Because I think I know who sent it.""
Before I could ask, the line went dead.
I called back.
No answer.
Maya looked at me.
"What happened?""
"I think Grandma knows more than she's telling me.""
Elise stood.
"Nia, I need you to understand something. The competition is still happening. The ownership dispute won't disappear simply because we've uncovered a family history.""
"I understand.""
"Can you prove your gown was independently created?""
I nodded.
"I have photographs from every stage. Maya helped me build it. Mr. Collins provided the materials.""
"Good. We'll need statements from both of them.""
Maya sat up.
"I'll testify to everything.""
Elise smiled faintly.
"Excellent.""
Just then, the conference room door opened.
A competition assistant entered.
"Ms. Monroe, the judges are ready. There's a problem downstairs.""
Elise frowned.
"What kind of problem?""
"Brianna Carter is refusing to leave the backstage area. Her mother says the gown is registered and cannot be removed.""
Elise closed her folder.
"Tell security not to touch the garment. I'll be there shortly.""
I stood.
"I'm coming.""
Elise studied me.
"Are you sure?""
I picked up my portfolio.
"Yes.""
We walked down the stairs together.
The backstage area was crowded with designers, models, assistants, and photographers.
Brianna stood near a clothing rack.
Vanessa was speaking loudly to a staff member.
"You cannot just take my daughter's dress! We have paid for the repairs, and the registration is complete.""
The staff member looked exhausted.
"Ma'am, the judges have requested an inspection.""
"On what grounds?""
"An ownership dispute.""
Vanessa pointed toward me.
"Because that girl is jealous!""
I stepped forward.
"Stop calling me jealous. You know exactly what you did.""
Brianna turned.
"Nobody stole anything.""
Elise approached.
"Then you won't object to answering a few questions.""
She held up the old photograph of Daniel's butterfly pattern.
"Can you explain why your dress contains this exact construction?""
Brianna glanced at Vanessa.
"Because it's my design.""
Elise placed the photograph beside the gown.
"Then show me how you built the wing supports.""
Brianna stared at the dress.
"I don't remember.""
"You don't remember?""
"I used a seamstress.""
Elise nodded slowly.
"Who designed the original structure?""
"My mother arranged everything.""
Vanessa interrupted.
"We hired someone to repair the dress. That's perfectly normal.""
Elise turned toward her.
"Repairing a dress is not the same as creating its design.""
Vanessa's cheeks flushed.
"You're humiliating my daughter.""
"No. I'm asking her to demonstrate the work she claims to have created.""
Brianna's hands began trembling.
I watched her carefully.
For the first time, she didn't look smug.
She looked frightened.
Then the backstage doors opened.
A woman in her late fifties walked inside carrying a large leather portfolio.
Her hair was silver, her coat was immaculate, and she walked with the confidence of someone who had no intention of asking permission.
My father appeared behind her.
His face turned white.
"Mother," he said.
My grandmother looked at him.
"Richard.""
Then she placed the leather portfolio on the judges' table.
"I believe it's time everyone stopped pretending.""
Vanessa took a step backward.
My father whispered, "You shouldn't have brought that here.""
Grandma ignored him.
She opened the portfolio.
Inside were dozens of original sketches, handwritten construction notes, and photographs of Daniel's unfinished collection.
Then she removed one final document.
It was a legal certificate signed by Daniel himself.
Elise read it.
Her expression changed dramatically.
"Richard," she said quietly, "did you know this document existed?""
My father didn't answer.
Grandma turned toward me.
"Sweetheart, there's something your father never told you.""
I stepped closer.
"What?""
She touched the old butterfly sketch.
"Your uncle didn't just leave his designs to me.""
She paused.
"He left the entire Transformation Collection to you, Nia.""
The room fell silent.
Then she added:
"And your father has been trying to sell it for the past three months.""
My father lunged toward the document.
"Mother, don't!""
But Elise had already picked it up.
And when she read the final paragraph, she looked at me with an expression I would never forget.
Because the document didn't just prove who owned the original designs.
It contained a condition that could change the entire competition.
A condition naming the person who was supposed to receive the first $100,000 scholarship Daniel had established in his own name.
May you like
And that person wasn't Brianna.
It was me.
