Chapter 4: The Secret Vanessa Buried
“Nia, open this door. I know you're in there.””
Vanessa's voice sounded different now. It wasn't the familiar irritation Nia had heard for years. It was sharper, almost frightened.
Nia quickly minimized the document on her laptop.
“I'm changing,” she called.
“Don't lie to me. I saw the email notification on the computer when I walked past.””
Nia froze.
Vanessa had been watching her.
“Who have you been talking to?”” Vanessa demanded.
“Someone from the fashion industry.””
“Give me that phone.””
“No.””
The doorknob rattled again.
“I'm not asking twice!””
Nia looked at her mother's note.
Tell her the truth about the woman who inspired it.
“What happened between you and my mother?”” Nia asked through the door.
Silence.
Then Vanessa laughed nervously.
“What nonsense are you talking about?””
“Why is your name on the Phoenix Collection?””
The silence lasted several seconds.
When Vanessa finally spoke, her voice was quieter.
“Your mother was sick. She wrote all sorts of things near the end.””
“Is that why you don't want me reading her documents?””
“Open the door, Nia.””
“No. Tell me what happened.””
Vanessa struck the door with her palm.
“You have no idea what you're getting yourself into!””
Nia stepped backward.
For the first time, she understood that her stepmother wasn't simply angry about the dress.
She was afraid of something.
Eventually, Vanessa walked away.
Nia waited until she heard the front door close before calling Isabelle again.
“I need to know everything.””
Isabelle sighed.
“Come to the atelier tomorrow. There are things I should have explained years ago.””
“Why didn't you tell me before?””
“Because Elaine made me promise not to reveal the truth until you were old enough to understand it.””
Nia swallowed.
“Was Vanessa involved in her fashion business?””
“She was more involved than you realize.””
The call ended.
Nia sat at her sewing table until midnight.
She had planned to spend the evening constructing the gown's bodice, but her mind kept returning to the name on the document.
Vanessa Carter.
She remembered the few times her mother had mentioned her stepmother before dying.
There had been no bitterness.
No warnings.
Only a strange sadness.
The following morning, Nia arrived at Monroe Atelier with Maya.
Isabelle was waiting in the archive room.
Unlike the elegant office upstairs, the room was filled with old sewing machines, fabric rolls, sketches, and photographs.
On one wall hung a framed photograph of two young women standing together in front of a runway.
Nia recognized her mother immediately.
The other woman was Vanessa.
They were laughing, their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders.
Nia stared.
“They were friends?””
Isabelle nodded.
“Best friends. They met at a fashion institute when they were nineteen.””
She placed an old portfolio on the table.
“Elaine was brilliant with fabric construction. Vanessa had an extraordinary eye for styling, presentation, and business. Together, they created a small fashion label.””
“What happened?””
“Success happened. And then jealousy.””
Isabelle opened the portfolio.
Inside were sketches signed by both women.
Their original company was called Carter & Vale Atelier. Vanessa's maiden name had been Vale.
Nia turned the pages.
Some of the designs were breathtaking.
“This is my mother's handwriting.””
“Most of the technical designs were Elaine's. Vanessa handled the business side.””
“Why did they separate?””
Isabelle hesitated.
“Your mother discovered that Vanessa had been presenting several of Elaine's designs as her own.””
Nia looked up.
“Why?””
“Vanessa wanted recognition. She believed that because she managed the business, she deserved equal credit for every creation.””
“Did my mother confront her?””
“Yes. Elaine gave her a choice: correct the records or dissolve the partnership.””
“And Vanessa chose to leave?””
Isabelle shook her head.
“She tried to take the entire collection.””
Nia looked at the photographs again.
“Did she steal my mother's work?””
“Some of it. But Elaine had already registered the original designs.””
Isabelle removed another document.
“After the partnership ended, Vanessa disappeared from the fashion industry. She married your father shortly afterward.””
Nia felt a chill.
“My father?””
“Yes. Your father was already acquainted with Vanessa through business connections.””
Nia sat down.
“So she married him because of my mother?””
“I can't tell you what motivated their relationship. But I can tell you that Vanessa returned to Elaine's life when your father became seriously ill.””
Nia looked at her.
“What happened to him?””
“He died before Elaine did.””
Nia remembered the years after her father's death.
Vanessa had become increasingly controlling. She had taken over the household, decided which belongings Nia could keep, and eventually discarded most of her mother's business papers.
Nia had always believed Vanessa simply disliked her.
Now she wondered whether something much deeper was happening.
Isabelle placed a final photograph on the table.
It showed Elaine holding a baby.
Nia recognized herself.
Vanessa stood beside her mother, looking directly into the camera.
On the back, Elaine had written:
My two greatest creations: the daughter I love and the friendship I thought I had lost.
Nia's eyes filled.
“Why would Mom write that?””
“Because despite everything, Elaine forgave Vanessa.””
Nia looked at the photograph.
“Did Vanessa forgive her?””
Isabelle didn't answer.
Instead, she opened a locked cabinet and removed a thick file.
“This is the part that concerns me most.””
The file contained financial statements from the Elaine Carter Legacy Design Trust.
Nia leaned forward.
Several withdrawals had been made over the previous three years.
The amounts were enormous.
Nearly $180,000.
Every transaction was marked as an educational or estate-related expense.
But the recipient accounts were unfamiliar.
“Where did the money go?”” Nia whispered.
“We're investigating.””
“Who authorized the withdrawals?””
Isabelle turned the page.
The signature appeared at the bottom.
Vanessa Vale Carter.
Nia felt as though the floor had shifted beneath her.
“She used my mother's money?””
“Possibly. We need the bank records and original authorization documents before making accusations.””
Nia stared at the signature.
Her mother had saved that money for her education.
Meanwhile, Vanessa had told her for years that fashion school was an impossible dream.
Nia's hands curled into fists.
“Why didn't you stop her?””
Isabelle looked genuinely pained.
“I tried. But the trust's administrator claimed that the funds were being used to support your living expenses. I had no legal authority to intervene without evidence.””
Nia stood.
“Then let's get the evidence.””
Isabelle nodded.
“That's exactly what we're going to do.””
That afternoon, Nia returned home with a folder of copied documents.
Brianna was sitting on the living room sofa, surrounded by shopping bags.
She held up a pair of silver heels.
“What do you think?””
Nia walked past.
“Congratulations.””
Brianna frowned.
“What's your problem?””
“Nothing.””
“Mom says you're spending time with some rich fashion lady.””
Nia stopped.
“How do you know that?””
“Vanessa told me.””
Brianna tossed the shoes onto the sofa.
“She says you're trying to manipulate someone into giving you money.””
Nia turned.
“That's interesting. Did she also tell you about the money she took from my mother's trust?””
Brianna's face changed.
“What money?””
“Ask her.””
Vanessa appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Nia.””
Her voice was icy.
“Come into my office.””
Nia remained where she was.
“I'd rather talk here.””
Vanessa descended slowly.
“You've been making accusations about me.””
“I'm asking questions.””
“You have no idea what those documents mean.””
“Then explain them.””
Vanessa glanced at Brianna.
“Go upstairs.””
“But Mom—”
“Now!””
Brianna grabbed her shopping bags and disappeared.
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“Your mother was not the innocent person you imagine.””
Nia's jaw tightened.
“She left money for my education.””
“She left a complicated estate.””
“And you withdrew nearly $180,000.””
Vanessa's face turned pale.
“Who showed you those records?””
“Does it matter?””
“Yes. Because some people enjoy stirring up trouble.””
“Did you use my education fund to pay for this house?””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You were a child. You needed somewhere to live.””
“That doesn't answer my question.””
Vanessa stared at her.
Then she said something Nia would never forget.
“Your mother owed me more than you could ever understand.””
Nia's heart pounded.
“Owed you what?””
Vanessa looked away.
For a moment, the mask slipped.
“Everything.””
Before Nia could ask another question, Vanessa snatched the folder from her hands.
She flipped through the pages.
Then she stopped at a particular photograph.
It showed Elaine, Vanessa, and Isabelle standing beside an unfinished Phoenix gown.
Vanessa's fingers began to tremble.
“Where did you get this?””
“From Isabelle.””
Vanessa looked up.
“You need to stay away from her.””
“Why?””
“Because she destroyed your mother's life.””
Nia shook her head.
“No. I think you did.””
Vanessa raised her hand.
But this time, Nia stepped back and lifted her phone.
“I've already photographed every document. If you touch me again, the school counselor, Isabelle, and the police will all receive the pictures.””
Vanessa froze.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Vanessa slowly lowered her hand.
“You think you're clever.””
“No. I think I'm finally paying attention.””
Nia walked upstairs.
May you like
Behind her, Vanessa whispered something that made her blood run cold.
“If you finish that Phoenix gown, you'll destroy everything I've spent twenty years protecting.””
