Chapter 9: The Last Secret of Evelyn Carter
The ballroom became so quiet that I could hear the cameras clicking.
My father stood beneath the spotlight, his face red with anger.
My grandmother held her cane tightly.
I looked at her.
"Grandmother?""
She didn't answer.
Richard laughed.
"Go ahead. Ask her.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"Richard, stop.""
But my father continued.
"Everyone here thinks Evelyn was some innocent victim. They think I stole everything from her. They have no idea what happened in that hospital.""
I turned toward Margaret.
"What happened?""
She closed her eyes.
Then she whispered:
"I should have told you sooner.""
My heart began pounding.
"Tell me what?""
Margaret looked at Richard.
Then at the audience.
"When Evelyn became seriously ill, she asked me to take Nia away from the mansion.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because she had discovered that Richard was using your identity to establish financial accounts connected to the company.""
I frowned.
"My identity?""
Edward nodded slowly.
"Your father had been preparing documents in your name without your knowledge.""
Richard laughed.
"That's nonsense.""
Margaret continued.
"Your mother found evidence that money was being transferred into accounts supposedly controlled by you. She was terrified that one day you would be blamed for the missing funds.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"You were eleven, sweetheart.""
Margaret's voice broke.
"She didn't want you growing up believing your father was capable of betraying you.""
I looked at Richard.
"Did you use my name?""
He said nothing.
Thomas opened his briefcase again.
"We have the bank records.""
Richard turned toward him.
"Shut up.""
Thomas placed several documents on the table.
"These accounts were opened using forged identification documents. The transfers continued for three years.""
The audience murmured.
Margaret stepped closer to me.
"Your mother confronted Richard. She wanted to leave him and take you with her. But he threatened to use the company and his connections to make sure she lost custody.""
My throat tightened.
"Then what happened?""
Margaret looked down.
"Three days before Evelyn died, she asked me to meet her at the hospital. She gave me the original documents and begged me to protect you.""
"Did you?""
"I tried.""
Her voice trembled.
"But Richard had already convinced the hospital that I was causing distress. He obtained an order restricting my access.""
I stared at her.
"That's why you couldn't visit?""
She nodded.
"Every time I tried, I was turned away.""
I felt tears sliding down my cheeks.
My father had taken my mother.
Then he had taken my grandmother.
Then he had spent years convincing me that I had nobody.
I turned toward him.
"Why?""
Richard finally spoke.
"Because I was protecting what I built.""
"You built nothing without her.""
"I kept the company alive!""
"You stole her designs!""
"I made them profitable!""
"You stole her money!""
"I gave this family everything!""
I stepped closer.
"No, Dad. You gave us expensive things. Mom gave us something worth remembering.""
His expression twisted.
Then he looked toward the cameras.
"She was unstable! She was sick! She didn't understand what she was signing!""
Margaret raised her head.
"That's enough.""
She reached into her handbag.
Then she removed a small envelope.
"This is the original hospital statement.""
Richard froze.
Margaret continued.
"It was signed by the attending physician, the hospital administrator, and Evelyn herself.""
She handed it to Daniel.
He examined the document.
His eyes widened.
"What is it?"" I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
"It's a statement Evelyn made the day before she died.""
He turned the page.
"She specifically revoked Richard's authority over her financial and intellectual property interests.""
I stared.
"Then why was it never filed?""
Thomas answered.
"Because Richard intercepted it.""
My father shook his head.
"That's not true.""
Daniel held up the document.
"The hospital retained a certified copy. The original was sent to the legal office, but it disappeared from the file.""
Margaret looked directly at Richard.
"You thought you could erase every piece of evidence.""
Richard backed away.
"But you forgot one thing.""
She touched the envelope.
"Your mother knew you better than anyone.""
The board members gathered on the side of the stage.
Helen Crawford approached Daniel.
"We need to speak privately.""
Daniel nodded.
I followed them into a small conference room.
Richard was escorted inside by two security officers.
Vanessa and Brielle followed.
My father looked exhausted.
But he still refused to admit anything.
Helen placed the documents on the table.
"Richard, pending the investigation, your authority over Carter Fashion House is suspended. Your access to company financial accounts is also restricted.""
He laughed.
"You can't do that.""
"We already have.""
"You need me!""
Helen looked at him.
"The company existed before you became its chairman.""
Richard pointed at me.
"She knows nothing about running a business.""
I looked at him.
"Then I'll learn.""
He scoffed.
"You think owning shares makes you a designer?""
"No.""
I placed my mother's sketchbook on the table.
"Making something with your own hands does.""
Brielle suddenly stood.
"You're going to destroy everything!""
I turned toward her.
"Everything?""
She gestured wildly.
"The company! The collections! The reputation! All of it!""
I looked at the gown she was still wearing.
"Then perhaps you should have thought about that before stealing from the woman who created it.""
Brielle's eyes filled.
"Mom told me the designs were hers.""
Vanessa turned sharply.
"Don't.""
But Brielle continued.
"She said Evelyn had given them to the family. She said you were too young to understand.""
I stared at her.
"You knew?""
Brielle shook her head.
"I didn't know everything.""
"Did you know the dress was my design?""
She looked down.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered:
"Yes.""
The room went silent.
I felt something heavy settle inside my chest.
"Why did you destroy it?""
Brielle started crying.
"Because Mom said if you presented it, Dad might change his mind about the creative director position.""
"So you tore it apart.""
"I didn't think it would matter.""
I stared at her.
"You didn't think four months of my work mattered?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I was scared.""
I almost laughed.
For years, Brielle had made me feel small because she was afraid I might become something she couldn't control.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Don't listen to her. She's trying to manipulate everyone.""
Brielle turned toward her mother.
"Stop!""
Vanessa froze.
Brielle's voice shook.
"You told me Nia was never going to matter. You told me everything was already mine.""
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
"Be quiet.""
Brielle pulled away.
"You told me to destroy the dress!""
The room went completely silent.
I looked at Vanessa.
She stared at Brielle with an expression of pure fury.
Then I asked quietly:
"Did you?""
Vanessa's lips tightened.
"She is lying.""
Brielle shook her head.
"I have the messages.""
She took out her phone.
Vanessa lunged.
But a security officer stepped between them.
Brielle opened the conversation and placed the phone on the table.
There were messages from Vanessa.
Make sure the dress is destroyed before the investors arrive.
Another:
Richard cannot afford to see Evelyn's design on that runway.
And one more:
If Nia asks questions, remind her that she has no money and nowhere to go.
I read them twice.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
She had no answer.
Helen turned toward the legal adviser.
"Please preserve these messages as evidence.""
Vanessa's shoulders dropped.
For the first time, she looked like an ordinary woman rather than the powerful stepmother who had controlled every room she entered.
At eleven forty-five, the board issued its final preliminary decision.
Richard was removed from his executive duties.
The company's financial accounts would be independently audited.
The original design registrations would be challenged.
And the trustees would begin transferring control of the protected intellectual property to the rightful beneficiary.
Me.
But there was one more document.
Daniel handed it to me.
"Your mother included this in the final succession package.""
I opened it.
It was a letter addressed to the next creative director of Roseline International.
My name appeared at the top.
I looked at Edward.
"What is this?""
He smiled.
"Your mother wanted you to have the opportunity to lead the company if you chose.""
I read the letter.
My dearest Nia,
If you have reached this point, then you have survived something I prayed you would never experience.
You may have lost a home. You may have lost people you believed would always love you.
But please remember that none of those losses determines your worth.
I don't want you to spend your life fighting Richard. I want you to build something so extraordinary that his cruelty becomes a small chapter in a much greater story.
The world doesn't need another person who knows how to destroy.
It needs someone who remembers how to create.
I pressed the letter to my chest.
Then I looked at Daniel.
"Where is Roseline headquarters?""
He smiled.
"Your grandmother has the key.""
Margaret reached into her handbag and placed it in my palm.
"The building is still there, darling.""
I closed my fingers around it.
"Then I want to see it.""
We left the ballroom shortly after midnight.
The reporters were still waiting outside.
Edward walked beside me.
Margaret held my arm.
Daniel carried the original documents.
Behind us, Richard was speaking to his attorney.
Vanessa stood near the entrance, refusing to look at anyone.
Brielle remained alone in the dressing room.
I stopped before the ballroom doors.
For one moment, I looked back.
The runway was empty.
The lights were still on.
And the enormous screen continued displaying my mother's name.
*EVELYN CARTER — ORIGINAL CREATOR.*
I smiled.
Then my phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke.
"Miss Carter, my name is Olivia Bennett. I'm the director of the Roseline International archive.""
I glanced at Daniel.
"Yes?""
"Your grandmother informed us that you would be coming.""
"Is everything ready?""
There was a pause.
"Almost. But there's something you should know.""
"What?""
"The original collection isn't the only thing Evelyn left behind.""
I stopped walking.
Olivia continued.
"There's a private room in the building that has remained sealed for nineteen years.""
My heart began racing.
"What's inside?""
Her voice dropped.
"Your mother's final collection. And a letter addressed to the person who would eventually become the owner of Roseline International.""
I looked at my grandmother.
She smiled sadly.
"Your mother wanted you to see it with your own eyes.""
Then Olivia added:
"But I should warn you, Miss Carter. The final design in that collection is not a dress.""
I frowned.
"Then what is it?""
There was a long silence.
"A wedding gown.""
I stopped breathing.
Because my mother had designed that gown nineteen years earlier.
And according to the handwritten note attached to its sketch, it had been created for a very specific person.
*The woman who would inherit everything Evelyn Carter had built.*
Me.
But why would my mother have designed a wedding gown for her nineteen-year-old daughter?
And what else had she known about my future?
I looked at the key in my hand.
May you like
Tomorrow, I would finally open the last door my mother had left for me.
And I had a feeling the biggest secret of the Carter family was still waiting on the other side.
