Chapter 2: The Woman Who Knew Her Father
Nia stared at the name on her phone.
Evelyn Whitmore.
She remembered hearing it when she was younger.
Her father, Daniel Carter, had been a gifted costume designer. Before his death, he had worked with theater companies, fashion houses, and several prestigious design studios.
But after he died, Vanessa had told Nia a different story.
According to her stepmother, Daniel had been betrayed by his business partner. He had lost everything because of a woman who stole his designs and abandoned him.
That woman was Evelyn Whitmore.
Nia had grown up believing that name represented everything her father had lost.
Now the competition director was telling her that Evelyn had been involved in a special exhibition registered under her father's name.
She called the number immediately.
A woman's voice answered.
“National Fashion Excellence Awards. This is Claire speaking.””
“This is Nia Carter. I received your message.””
“Oh, Miss Carter. Thank goodness.””
“Can you tell me why my father registered me for an exhibition?””
There was a pause.
“Your father submitted an application three years ago. He requested that his daughter be invited to participate once she became eligible.””
Nia gripped the phone.
“My father died five years ago.””
“I know. We were very sorry to hear about his passing.””
“Then why am I only hearing about this now?””
Claire hesitated.
“Because the exhibition's principal sponsor recently requested confirmation of your participation.””
“Who is the sponsor?””
“Evelyn Whitmore.””
Nia closed her eyes.
“Can you please tell her I'm not interested?””
“Miss Carter, I don't think you understand. Your father left something specifically for you.””
“What?””
“A design archive. And a letter.””
Nia's breath caught.
“A letter?””
“Yes. Evelyn has been keeping it in a sealed envelope for years. She was instructed to give it to you personally when you entered the competition.””
Nia looked at the black curtain.
“What time does the exhibition open?””
“Tomorrow morning. Ten o'clock.””
“I'll be there.””
She ended the call.
For the next hour, she prepared the hidden creation.
She added a final silver fastening at the waist, adjusted the shoulder structure, and attached a detachable train that could unfold behind the wearer.
The dress had been designed to respond to light.
Under ordinary illumination, the material looked like black velvet with faint silver detailing.
But when exposed to ultraviolet light, thousands of tiny embedded fibers would glow in shades of blue, violet, and white.
The effect was unlike anything she had ever seen.
She named it The Last Constellation.
At 9:30 a.m., she carried the covered garment downstairs.
Vanessa was standing in the kitchen, holding a cup of coffee.
Madison sat at the table, wearing the stolen sapphire gown.
The skirt had been shortened with safety pins. One shoulder strap was twisted, and a large chocolate stain marked the front.
Nia stopped.
“What happened?””
Madison looked down.
“I spilled my chocolate milk.””
Vanessa shrugged.
“Children make messes.””
Nia approached the dress.
“You ruined it.””
Vanessa set down her coffee.
“Watch your tone.””
“That fabric cost almost everything I had.””
“And now it's being worn by someone who actually has somewhere to go.””
Madison twirled.
“I'm going to be the prettiest girl at the gala!””
Nia looked at the ruined bodice.
She wanted to cry again.
Instead, she walked toward the front door.
Vanessa noticed the black-covered bundle.
“Where are you going with that?””
“To the competition.””
Vanessa laughed.
“Don't be ridiculous. You don't have an entry.””
“I do now.””
“You think they'll let you participate with something you made overnight?””
Nia turned.
“You'd be surprised what can happen in one night.””
Vanessa narrowed her eyes.
“Don't come crawling back when they reject you.””
Nia opened the door.
Behind her, Madison called out.
“Nia! Can you make me another dress?””
Nia paused.
Then she answered without turning around.
“No.””
It was the first time she had ever said that word to her stepsister.
And it felt strangely wonderful.
The exhibition was being held at the historic Grand Regent Hotel in downtown Chicago.
The ballroom had been transformed into a spectacular display of modern fashion.
Crystal chandeliers hung above polished marble floors. Models moved between displays while photographers captured every detail.
Nia felt painfully out of place in her simple black trousers and white blouse.
She carried the covered dress carefully.
At the registration desk, a young woman examined her confirmation email.
“Name?””
“Nia Carter.””
The woman's expression changed.
“Oh. You're Daniel Carter's daughter?””
Nia nodded.
“Please follow me.””
She was led through a side corridor to a private room.
An elegant silver-haired woman stood beside a window.
She wore a tailored ivory suit, a pearl necklace, and a pair of black leather gloves.
When she turned, Nia recognized her immediately.
Evelyn Whitmore.
“Nia.””
Her voice trembled.
“You have your father's eyes.””
Nia stiffened.
“Please don't.””
Evelyn looked confused.
“Don't what?””
“Pretend you knew him better than you did.””
Evelyn lowered her gaze.
“I understand why you might feel that way.””
“My stepmother told me you stole his designs. She said you destroyed his business.””
Evelyn was silent for several seconds.
Then she reached into a leather folder and removed an old photograph.
It showed Daniel Carter standing beside Evelyn in front of a fashion studio.
They were both smiling.
On the back was a handwritten note.
To Evelyn, the only person who believed the impossible could be sewn. Daniel, 2019.
Nia stared at the photograph.
“Why do you have this?””
“Because your father gave it to me.””
“Why?””
“Because we were partners. Not enemies.””
Nia shook her head.
“That doesn't make sense.””
Evelyn walked toward the desk.
“Daniel and I built a design company together. When he became ill, he wanted to leave the industry and focus on raising you. I offered to buy his share, but he refused.””
Nia frowned.
“My father wasn't ill.””
Evelyn looked at her carefully.
“Didn't Vanessa tell you?””
“Tell me what?””
Evelyn opened the folder.
Inside were documents, photographs, and copies of financial statements.
“Your father discovered that someone had been transferring company assets without authorization. He believed the person was close to the family.””
Nia felt her stomach tighten.
“Who?””
Evelyn did not answer immediately.
Instead, she removed a sealed envelope.
“This was written by Daniel. He asked me to give it to you when you entered your first major fashion exhibition.””
Nia recognized the handwriting instantly.
Her father's handwriting.
Her fingers shook as she opened it.
My dearest Nia,
If you're reading this, it means you've found the courage to make something of your own.
Never allow anyone to convince you that your talent belongs to them.
There is something in the old workshop that I couldn't explain before I left. A small wooden box beneath the cutting table. Inside it is the truth about what happened to our family.
Nia stopped reading.
The room seemed to tilt.
There was more.
And sweetheart, if Vanessa is still living in our house, please be careful.
Nia's lips parted.
She read the final line.
She knows where I hid the original designs.
The letter slipped slightly in her hands.
Evelyn watched her face.
“Did you know your father left behind an old workshop?””
Nia nodded slowly.
“It was locked after he died.””
“Who has the key?””
Nia thought about the house.
About Vanessa.
About the sewing machine.
Then she remembered something.
The little brass key her father had worn around his neck.
Vanessa had taken it after the funeral.
She had always said it was worthless.
Nia looked up.
“My stepmother has it.””
Evelyn's expression darkened.
“Then we need to find out why.””
Before Nia could respond, a loud announcement echoed through the ballroom.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the opening exhibition begins in fifteen minutes. All registered designers are requested to bring their creations to the presentation area.””
Evelyn glanced at the black velvet covering Nia's garment.
“May I see what you've made?””
Nia hesitated.
Then she pulled back one corner.
A faint silver shimmer appeared beneath the fabric.
Evelyn's expression changed instantly.
She stepped closer.
“Oh, Daniel.””
“What?””
Evelyn touched the edge of the material.
“He told me you might do something like this one day.””
Nia frowned.
“What do you mean?””
Evelyn looked directly at her.
“Your father spent years developing a special textile technique. He never completed the final design because he wanted you to finish it.””
Nia stared at the gown.
“That's impossible. I found this fabric in an old box.””
Evelyn gently lifted the corner.
Then she noticed the tiny symbol sewn into the inner seam.
A small silver star surrounded by three delicate stitches.
Her face went pale.
“Where did you get this?””
“From my father's old supplies.””
Evelyn slowly stepped backward.
“Nia, this isn't ordinary theater fabric.””
“What is it?””
Evelyn looked toward the ballroom doors.
Then she whispered something that made Nia's heart pound.
“Your father called it the Whitmore Star. And the patent was never supposed to belong to Vanessa.””
Nia's phone suddenly vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
Come home immediately. I know what you're planning.
A second message followed.
If you show that dress today, you'll never find out what happened to your father.
Nia stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
It contained a photograph.
Her father's old workshop.
The cutting table.
And a wooden box sitting on top of it.
May you like
The box was open.
Someone had already found it.
