The Dress They Destroyed Before I Became Their Worst Nightmare

For nineteen years, I had believed my mother's family was gone.

My father had told me Evelyn Carter was an only child. He said her parents had died before I was born, and there were no relatives left to contact.

But the silver-haired man standing in the hallway of Carter Fashion House looked at me as if he had spent every birthday wondering what I looked like.

He took one step toward me.

Then another.

"Nia," he said softly.

"You have Evelyn's eyes.""

I couldn't move.

My father stepped between us.

"Edward, this is neither the time nor the place.""

The old man glanced at him.

"Richard, you've had nineteen years to find the right time. I think you've wasted enough of it.""

Vanessa tightened her grip on her tablet.

"Who authorized you to enter this building?""

Edward ignored her.

He kept looking at me.

"My name is Edward Whitmore. Your mother's father.""

I swallowed.

"Why didn't you come looking for me?""

His expression changed.

It was a small change, but I saw the pain behind it.

"I tried.""

"Then why didn't you find me?""

He looked at Richard.

"Ask your father.""

Richard's jaw tightened.

"Don't you dare.""

Edward raised his silver cane and tapped it against the marble.

"Your father told me Evelyn wanted nothing to do with me. He sent letters claiming she had cut contact with her family. Later, he informed me that she had died and that you had been placed under his care.""

I stared at my father.

"Is that true?""

Richard adjusted his cufflinks.

"Your grandfather abandoned your mother long before you were born.""

Edward shook his head.

"That's a lie.""

He opened his leather briefcase and removed a thick envelope.

"These are copies of every letter I sent Evelyn. Every birthday card I sent you. Every request I made to see my granddaughter.""

He handed them to me.

My name appeared on the envelopes.

Some were addressed to me when I was three.

Others when I was five, seven, and ten.

I opened one.

Inside was a photograph of a tiny pink dress.

The letter was dated eight years earlier.

Dear Nia,

Your mother tells me you love sewing. I wish I could see what you create. Perhaps one day we can sit together and make something beautiful.

My throat tightened.

I looked at Edward.

"Mom never showed me these.""

"I know.""

He glanced at Richard.

"Because someone made certain you never received them.""

My father stepped forward.

"Edward, stop this performance.""

Edward turned.

"Would you like me to continue? Shall I explain the bank transfers, too?""

For the first time, Richard looked genuinely alarmed.

Vanessa noticed.

"Richard?""

Edward removed another folder.

"Your father didn't simply take control of Evelyn's company. He also diverted money from the original family trust.""

I looked down at the papers.

There were transaction records, company registrations, and documents bearing my father's signature.

"How much?"" I asked.

Edward answered without hesitation.

"Approximately forty-two million dollars over several years, based on the records we've recovered so far.""

Vanessa stepped forward.

"That's an outrageous accusation!""

Edward looked at her.

"Then perhaps you can explain why your personal holding company received three transfers from the same account.""

Vanessa went silent.

I turned toward her.

"What?""

She clutched her tablet.

"He's manipulating you.""

Edward placed another document on the desk.

"Vanessa Carter Holdings. Three transfers. The last one was made six months after Evelyn's death.""

My father slammed his hand against the desk.

"Enough!""

Everyone stopped.

He pointed toward the door.

"Get out of my building. All of you.""

Edward smiled sadly.

"That's the problem, Richard. You still believe it's yours.""

He turned toward me.

"Nia, may I speak with you privately?""

I nodded.

Richard grabbed my wrist.

"You're not going anywhere with him.""

I looked down at his hand.

Then at his face.

"Let go.""

He didn't.

Edward stepped closer.

"Richard. Release my granddaughter.""

My father slowly let go.

I followed Edward into the hallway.

Behind us, I heard Vanessa whisper urgently to Brielle.

"What are we going to do?""

Brielle answered in a frightened voice.

"I don't know, Mom. What if she really owns the company?""

Edward led me into a private conference room.

There was a long table, several leather chairs, and a large window overlooking Manhattan.

He placed his briefcase on the table.

"Your mother wanted you to have this.""

Inside was a small wooden box.

I opened it.

A gold necklace lay on a velvet cushion.

The pendant was shaped like a rose.

I recognized it immediately.

It matched the ring Brielle was wearing.

"My mother had this?""

Edward nodded.

"She designed the rose herself. It was the symbol of our family.""

He took out an old photograph.

It showed my mother standing between Edward and a younger woman.

"Your grandmother died when Evelyn was seventeen. After that, I raised her alone.""

He paused.

"She was stubborn. Brilliant. She could turn a discarded piece of fabric into something a princess would wear.""

I smiled faintly.

"That sounds like her.""

Edward looked at me.

"She used to tell me you were the most important thing she had ever created.""

My eyes filled.

"Why didn't you fight harder to see me?""

He lowered his head.

"Because I trusted the wrong people. I thought Richard was a good man. When Evelyn became ill, I believed he was taking care of her. By the time I understood what was happening, every door had been closed.""

I sat down.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Edward placed a document before me.

"There's something else. Roseline International.""

I looked at the name.

"What is it?""

"Your mother's private design company. She established it before marrying Richard. It owns the rights to her original collections, several international patents, and a number of licensing agreements.""

"How much is it worth?""

Edward looked directly at me.

"Depending on the current valuation, potentially several hundred million dollars.""

I stared at him.

I had spent the previous night worrying about where I would sleep.

Now someone was telling me my mother had left behind an empire.

"But why would Dad say Mom left me something bigger than the company?""

"Because Carter Fashion House is only one part of what Richard took control of.""

Edward opened the final folder.

Inside was a document with a large red stamp.

*ROSELINE INTERNATIONAL — BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP: NIA EVELYN CARTER.*

I read the words slowly.

Then I looked up.

"Can he take this away from me?""

"Not if we act quickly.""

"What do you mean?""

Edward leaned forward.

"Richard has announced Brielle as the next creative director. Tomorrow's gala is designed to convince investors that the company is entering a new era.""

He tapped the document.

"But your mother's original contracts contain a clause. Any public commercial use of her protected designs without authorization from the rightful owner can trigger an immediate review of the company's licensing agreements.""

I thought of Brielle's gown.

The stolen roses.

The design she was planning to unveil.

"She's using Mom's collection tomorrow.""

Edward nodded.

"Which means tomorrow may be the day everything changes.""

My phone vibrated.

A message from Daniel appeared.

*Nia, do not sign anything Richard gives you. I just discovered something disturbing in Evelyn's original legal file.*

Another message followed.

*Your mother didn't just leave you the company. She left instructions about who should inherit it if Richard ever tried to steal it.*

I frowned.