Chapter 4: The Money Her Father Left Behind
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Nia stared at the envelope in Madison's hands.
Her father's handwriting was unmistakable. The capital letters leaned slightly to the right, and the final strokes of his signature always curved upward, as though he had been too optimistic to finish a word properly.
“Give it to me, sweetheart,” Nia whispered.
Madison looked at her mother.
Vanessa shook her head violently.
“No. Put that down.””
“But Mommy, it says Nia's name.””
“I said put it down!””
Madison flinched.
Nia crouched in front of her stepsister.
“It's okay. You haven't done anything wrong.””
Madison slowly handed over the envelope.
Nia turned to Evelyn.
“Daddy wrote that it should only be opened with you.””
Evelyn nodded.
“Then we'll read it together.””
She carefully broke the seal.
Inside was a letter and a small photograph of Daniel standing beside a young Nia at a sewing machine.
Evelyn unfolded the letter.
Her eyes moved across the first paragraph.
Then she stopped.
“Oh, Daniel.””
“What does it say?”” Nia asked.
Evelyn swallowed.
“Your father wanted me to make sure you understood something before you accessed the trust.””
She continued reading.
Evelyn,
If Nia has reached this letter, then she is old enough to understand the truth. I know Vanessa may have told her that I was irresponsible, that I wasted our money, or that I destroyed the family business.
Please tell my daughter none of that is true.
I created a trust in her name. It contains the royalties from my textile patents, the proceeds from the sale of my original designs, and a separate medical fund.
The medical fund was established specifically to pay for Nia's eye treatment. Her vision has always been precious to me. I want her to see the world clearly, even when I am no longer here to guide her.
Nia covered her mouth.
Her father had known.
He had noticed her struggling to read small print. He had noticed her moving closer to the television and squinting at street signs.
She remembered telling him it was nothing.
She remembered him gently brushing her hair away from her face.
We'll take care of it, little star.
She had thought he meant someday.
He had meant now.
“How much?”” Nia whispered.
Evelyn looked at the financial summary attached to the letter.
“The original medical fund was two hundred and forty thousand dollars.””
Nia's knees nearly buckled.
Vanessa let out a bitter laugh.
“That money doesn't exist anymore.””
Nia slowly turned.
“What did you do?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Your father left behind debts. Someone had to pay them.””
“Evelyn just said the company was profitable.””
“Companies have expenses!””
“Then show me the records.””
Vanessa's face reddened.
“You're not entitled to question me.””
“It's my money!””
“It was your father's money.””
“And he left it to me!””
Vanessa pointed at Evelyn.
“She manipulated him. She was always trying to turn him against me.””
Evelyn remained calm.
“Daniel's trust was legally registered. You were named a temporary custodian of the medical fund because Nia was a minor. You had no authority to use it for personal expenses.””
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
“You don't know what I had to do.””
“Then explain it.””
For the first time, Vanessa looked toward Madison.
The little girl stood beside the doorway, clutching the sapphire gown.
“Mommy?”” Madison whispered.
Vanessa's expression softened for half a second.
Then she turned back to Nia.
“Your father made me promise to protect you. I did everything for this family.””
Nia stared at her.
“You took my surgery money.””
Vanessa said nothing.
“You took my dress.””
Still nothing.
“You told me I was worthless every time I tried to make something of myself.””
Vanessa slammed her handbag onto the worktable.
“Because you were always making me feel like I had to compete with a dead man!””
The room went silent.
Nia blinked.
“What?””
Vanessa's voice grew louder.
“Every time you touched that sewing machine, you reminded me of him. Every time someone praised your work, they mentioned Daniel. Every time you accomplished something, I had to hear how much you were like your father.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“So you punished his daughter?””
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
“I gave her a roof over her head.””
“You stole her future.””
Vanessa turned toward Evelyn.
“You have no idea what Daniel put me through.””
Nia looked at the woman who had lived in her father's house for five years.
For years, she had wondered what she had done wrong.
Why Vanessa never praised her.
Why Madison received everything while she was expected to be grateful for scraps.
Now she understood.
It had never been about the dress.
It had never been about the fabric or the sewing machine.
Vanessa hated seeing Daniel's talent survive in someone she couldn't control.
Evelyn took out her phone.
“I am contacting the trust administrator.””
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Don't you dare.””
Evelyn ignored her.
Within minutes, she had reached the bank's legal department.
She explained the situation, provided the trust identification, and requested an immediate review of all withdrawals.
The representative asked for several details.
Then Evelyn placed the call on speaker.
“According to our records,” the representative said, “the medical account was liquidated in several transactions over the last thirty months.””
Nia closed her eyes.
“How much is left?””
“Approximately three thousand, four hundred dollars.””
Nia gripped the edge of the table.
“Where did the rest go?””
“We cannot disclose all transaction details without completing identity verification. However, I can confirm that the withdrawals were made through an authorized custodian account.””
Evelyn's voice turned cold.
“Please freeze all remaining funds and flag the account for suspected misuse.””
“Certainly.””
Vanessa suddenly grabbed her handbag.
“I have nothing more to discuss.””
Nia stepped into her path.
“Where did you spend it?””
“Move.””
“Was it for Madison?””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“Don't bring my daughter into this.””
“Then tell me where my father's money went.””
Vanessa shoved past her.
Madison watched her mother disappear into the hallway.
Then she looked down at the ruined sapphire gown.
“Nia?””
Nia turned.
“Am I in trouble?””
The question nearly broke her heart.
“No, Madison. You're not.””
“But Mommy said the dress belonged to me.””
Nia looked at the chocolate stain.
“It was mine. But you didn't know that.””
Madison's eyes filled.
“Can I help you fix it?””
Nia looked at her for a long moment.
Then she gently took the dress.
“We'll see.””
Evelyn approached with the letter.
“There is something else.””
Nia looked up.
“What?””
“Your father mentioned a second account. Separate from the medical fund.””
“How much?””
“I don't know. He called it the Star Account.””
Nia frowned.
“Why didn't he put everything in the medical fund?””
“Because he wanted you to have a choice. He wanted you to be able to build your own business without depending on anyone.””
Evelyn turned the letter over.
A handwritten bank reference was printed at the bottom.
Nia recognized the institution.
Whitmore National Trust.
The same bank named on the brass key.
Evelyn examined the number.
“That's the account we need to access.””
Nia looked toward the doorway.
Vanessa was gone.
But the front door had been left wide open.
Outside, a car engine started.
Evelyn moved to the window.
A black luxury sedan pulled away from the curb.
“Was that Vanessa?”” Nia asked.
Evelyn nodded.
Then Nia noticed something on the worktable.
A small rectangular card had been left beside the wooden box.
It bore the logo of a private surgical clinic.
Underneath was a handwritten note.
Your appointment has been canceled. Payment authorization withdrawn.
Nia stared at it.
Vanessa had somehow reached the clinic before they had even left the workshop.
May you like
And on the back of the card, written in red ink, were six words.
You will never get your eyes fixed.
