Chapter 8: The Secret in Evelyn's Last Letter
The following morning, Daniel received an unexpected delivery.
A small brown package had been left at his office reception desk.
There was no return address.
Only his name and the words:
*FOR THE CARTER FAMILY.*
Inside was a leather-bound notebook, a photograph, and a sealed envelope bearing Evelyn Carter's handwriting.
Daniel immediately called Maya.
"Can you come to my office?""
"Did you find the archive?""
"Not yet. But I believe we've found something your grandmother wanted us to discover.""
Maya arrived twenty minutes later with her father.
Michael looked surprised when Daniel showed them the package.
"Where did this come from?""
"We're checking the security footage.""
Daniel opened the notebook.
Its pages were filled with financial records, handwritten notes, and dates.
Maya recognized her grandmother's handwriting immediately.
"That's Grandma's journal.""
Daniel turned to the last several pages.
"Your grandmother kept records of the company's finances. But these entries concern something that happened shortly before she died.""
Michael leaned closer.
"What is it?""
Daniel read aloud.
October 14.
Vanessa visited me again today. She insists that I should give her control of the company. She says she has sacrificed everything for this family.
But I have seen the account statements.
Money is disappearing.
I cannot allow the business I built to become a source of destruction.
Maya looked at Michael.
"Grandma knew Mom was taking money?""
Michael nodded slowly.
Daniel continued reading.
October 22.
I spoke with Michael. He believes Vanessa can still change. I am not so certain.
He told me something I had suspected for years.
Vanessa has been telling the girls that their father abandoned them. That is not the truth.
Michael's face tightened.
Maya turned toward him.
"What does that mean?""
Her father looked down.
Daniel continued.
Michael did not leave because he stopped loving his children. He left because Vanessa threatened to destroy his relationship with them if he challenged her control of the family finances.
Maya felt tears sting her eyes.
"Mom told me Dad didn't want us.""
Michael reached for her hand.
"I wanted you every single day.""
She looked at him.
"Why didn't you fight harder?""
He swallowed.
"Because I thought staying away would protect you from the arguments. I was wrong.""
Daniel turned the page.
There was another entry.
November 3.
I have made my final decision.
The company belongs to the future, not to the person who believes she can control everyone around her.
I have chosen Maya because she creates without demanding that others disappear.
Brianna has been taught that love means getting whatever she wants. I hope one day she learns differently.
Vanessa may never forgive me.
But I will not allow my life's work to become another weapon.
Daniel closed the journal.
Maya looked at the sealed envelope.
"What's inside?""
He carefully opened it.
A single letter was addressed to Michael.
Michael took it with trembling fingers.
He read silently for several moments.
Then he covered his mouth.
"What does it say?"" Maya whispered.
He handed it to Daniel.
Daniel read the opening lines.
Michael,
If you are reading this, then I am gone, and Vanessa has probably convinced everyone that you abandoned your daughters.
I need you to understand that I know what happened.
I know she threatened you. I know she used your fear of losing the girls to keep you away.
But there is something else you must know.
Vanessa's actions were not simply about money.
Daniel stopped reading.
Michael looked up.
"Keep going.""
Daniel continued.
Years ago, before Maya was born, Vanessa and I made an agreement concerning the company.
She was offered the opportunity to become its director. She refused because she wanted the company to fund a different lifestyle.
When I refused, she began taking money without permission.
I confronted her.
She told me she would rather see the business destroyed than allow me to control her.
Maya looked at the table.
Daniel turned the page.
The final paragraph was underlined.
There is a reason I placed the original archive under special protection. It contains designs and agreements that prove Evelyn Carter Designs owns the rights to several collections Vanessa has been secretly licensing to outside buyers.
Michael stared at the letter.
"She was selling Grandma's designs?""
Daniel nodded.
"That would explain the missing archive.""
Maya looked confused.
"Why would someone buy Grandma's drawings?""
"Because some of those designs were never publicly released," Daniel explained.
"They could be extremely valuable.""
He placed the photograph from the package on the table.
It showed Vanessa standing beside a man Maya didn't recognize.
They were outside a modern office building.
On the back, Evelyn had written:
The person who knows where the archive is.
Daniel examined the photograph.
"His name is Richard Hale. He runs a private fashion licensing company.""
Michael frowned.
"I know that name.""
Maya looked at him.
"How?""
"His company once approached me about a construction contract. Vanessa was involved in the negotiations.""
Daniel picked up his phone.
"I'll contact him.""
Meanwhile, Brianna sat alone in her apartment.
The turquoise dress lay across the sofa.
She had removed it from the garment bag the night before, intending to return it to Maya.
But now she was afraid.
Her phone rang.
Vanessa.
"Have you destroyed the documents?"" her mother asked.
Brianna closed her eyes.
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because I want to know what's happening.""
"You're not qualified to understand the business side of this.""
"Then explain it to me!""
Vanessa sighed.
"The company was struggling. I made arrangements to protect our family.""
"You forged Dad's signature.""
"I used paperwork that was available to me.""
"That's not an answer.""
Vanessa's voice turned cold.
"Listen carefully. The archive is in a storage facility outside the city. I need you to go there tonight and retrieve the remaining boxes.""
Brianna frowned.
"Why me?""
"Because the storage agreement is under your company.""
"What if Daniel finds out?""
"Then don't tell him.""
Brianna looked at the turquoise dress.
For the first time, she felt ashamed.
"Mom, I can't keep doing this.""
Vanessa's response was immediate.
"After everything I've done for you?""
"That's exactly the problem. You keep saying everything is for me, but you've made me lie, steal, and pretend.""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"You have no idea what I sacrificed.""
"Maybe Maya isn't the problem, Mom.""
The line went silent.
Then Vanessa spoke with frightening calm.
"If you turn against me, don't expect me to protect you.""
The call ended.
Brianna sat motionless.
Then she opened her laptop.
She searched for Daniel Brooks's office number.
And finally, she made a decision.
At 9:46 that night, Daniel received a message.
It contained a photograph of a storage facility, a unit number, and a short sentence.
I know where Grandma's archive is. Please help me before Mom gets there.
The message came from Brianna.
Daniel immediately called Michael.
"We have a location.""
But before he could explain further, another notification appeared.
A second message.
This one contained a photograph of the storage unit door.
May you like
It was open.
And the archive boxes were gone.
