My Mother Stole My Dream, My Sister Wore My Masterpiece, and Neither Knew What I Had Hidden Beneath the Lining...

“Olivia, what did you mean when you said he promised not to look into it?””

Nobody moved.

The university auditorium, which had been filled with celebration less than twenty minutes earlier, now felt like a courtroom.

Olivia stood beside Alexander, gripping the sides of my father's gown. Her diamond engagement ring caught the overhead lights.

My mother rushed toward her.

“She's exhausted. It's been a long day. Everyone needs to calm down.””

Alexander didn't look away from Olivia.

“Margaret, please stop answering questions that are directed at your daughter.””

My mother froze.

I had never heard anyone speak to her that way.

Olivia swallowed.

“Alexander, can we talk privately?””

“We've had plenty of private conversations.””

“Please.””

He glanced at the university administrator.

“Could we have access to a private meeting room? I think the academic records need to be reviewed before anyone makes further statements.””

The administrator nodded and directed us toward a conference room behind the auditorium.

I followed reluctantly.

My mother grabbed my arm outside the door.

“This is your fault.””

I looked at her.

“My fault?””

“You couldn't let Olivia have one happy day.””

I pulled my arm away.

“Mom, she stole my dress, claimed my design, and lied about who paid for her education. What exactly was I supposed to celebrate?””

“She is your sister!””

“And I'm your daughter.””

For a moment, my mother had no answer.

Then she leaned closer.

“You have no idea what you're doing. Alexander's family has enough money to destroy us.””

I stared at her.

“Then perhaps you should have thought about that before helping Olivia steal from me.””

I entered the conference room.

Alexander sat at the head of the table. The university administrator, Dr. Raymond, opened his laptop. Olivia sat beside my mother, looking smaller than I had ever seen her.

I placed my father's envelope on the table.

“Before we discuss anything else, I want this documented.””

Alexander nodded.

“Agreed.””

Dr. Raymond opened a file.

“Dr. Bennett, your doctoral degree was awarded based on a dissertation titled Predictive Biomaterials for Advanced Cellular Regeneration. Is that correct?””

Olivia nodded.

“Yes.””

“Your research was partially funded by the Whitmore Biomedical Foundation?””

“Yes.””

“And you submitted the final research documentation six weeks before your graduation?””

“Yes.””

Alexander folded his hands.

“Then perhaps you can explain why the foundation received a second version of your dissertation last month.””

Olivia blinked.

“What second version?””

He turned his laptop around.

On the screen was a document containing several pages of academic research.

“An external research partner received this version during a collaboration proposal. It contains extensive sections that appear to have originated from another researcher's unpublished work.””

Olivia shook her head.

“That's impossible.””

Dr. Raymond adjusted his glasses.

“The university has identified several passages that match a research manuscript submitted by a doctoral candidate at another institution.””

My mother immediately spoke.

“Could it be a coincidence?””

The administrator looked at her.

“Not when entire experimental descriptions and data tables are identical.””

I watched Olivia's fingers tighten around the edge of the table.

Alexander continued.

“The original researcher is Dr. Hannah Price. She claims her research files were accessed without permission two years ago.””

Olivia began crying.

“She gave me those notes.””

“Did she authorize you to use her experimental results as your own?”” Alexander asked.

“She was my friend!””

“That wasn't my question.””

Olivia looked down.

I remembered Hannah Price.

She had visited our tailoring shop once, several years earlier, looking for a suit alteration. She had been a quiet graduate student who spent most of her time talking about laboratory experiments.

I remembered Olivia mentioning her.

They had apparently worked together briefly.

Dr. Raymond scrolled through the document.

“There is another concern. The laboratory access records show that Dr. Bennett was absent from the university during several of the dates listed in her dissertation.””

Olivia shook her head.

“I had permission to work remotely.””

“Some of these experiments required specialized equipment.””

“I had assistance!””

“From whom?””

She didn't answer.

Alexander leaned forward.

“Olivia, I need you to understand something. The foundation isn't interested in protecting a prestigious name at the expense of scientific integrity.””

My mother slammed her hand against the table.

“She's been working toward this degree her entire life!””

I turned toward her.

“So have the people whose work she allegedly stole.””

My mother glared at me.

“You should be supporting your sister.””

“Why? So she can steal another six years from me?””

Olivia suddenly stood.

“Enough, Charlotte!””

I remained seated.

“I'm listening.””

“You think you're better than me because you stayed in Dad's stupid shop?””

I felt my chest tighten.

“Don't call his shop stupid.””

“You had no idea how hard university was for me!””

“I paid for it!””

“You made me feel indebted every single day!””

I stared at her.

“When did I ever ask you to repay me?””

She opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

I continued.

“I never asked you for money. I never asked you to buy me a house. I never asked you to introduce me to wealthy people. I only wanted you to acknowledge what I sacrificed.””

Olivia wiped her cheeks.

“You don't understand. Mom said you were fine with it.””

I turned toward my mother.

“What?””

My mother looked away.

Olivia continued, her voice breaking.

“She told me you didn't really want to become a designer anymore. She said you had decided to stay at the shop because you weren't talented enough to make it in New York.””

I couldn't move.

My mother finally spoke.

“Charlotte, I was trying to protect Olivia from feeling guilty.””

I stared at her.

“You told her I had given up?””

“You were always more independent.””

“So you made my sacrifice disappear?””

My mother folded her arms.

“Someone had to keep the family together.””

I laughed once, without humor.

“Dad left the shop to me because he believed in me. You sold his machines to pay for Olivia's accommodation, then told her I had chosen that life.””

“Don't twist things!””

Alexander stood.

“Margaret, I think we've heard enough.””

He turned to Olivia.

“Until the foundation completes its review, your appointment is suspended. The licensing proposal is withdrawn.””

Olivia looked horrified.

“You can't suspend me. I graduated today!””

“Your degree is a university matter. Your appointment is a foundation matter.””

She turned toward me.

“Are you happy now?””

I looked at the woman wearing my creation.

“No, Olivia. I'm devastated.””

For a moment, she looked genuinely surprised.

Then Dr. Raymond received an email.

He read it, frowned, and looked up.

“Mr. Whitmore, there's another development.””

Alexander approached him.

“What is it?””

“The external researcher has provided additional evidence. She claims someone offered to purchase her silence shortly after the dissertation was submitted.””

Olivia's face went completely white.

Alexander read the email.

Then he slowly looked at my mother.