Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Favoritism
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on my bedroom door.
Three sharp knocks.
“Maya, open up.””
It was my mother.
I sat up in bed and glanced at the clock.
6:42 a.m.
My graduation ceremony was scheduled for eleven.
I hadn't slept much.
The night before, I had spent hours staring at the blackened remains of my dress, wondering how something that should have been one of the happiest moments of my life had turned into another battle for respect inside my own home.
“I'm getting dressed,” I called.
“We need to talk.””
“About what?””
“About yesterday.””
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
I opened the door.
Denise stood outside wearing a cream-colored blouse and tailored trousers. Her hair was perfectly styled, and her makeup was already done.
She looked like a woman preparing for an important event.
Not a woman whose daughter had destroyed another daughter's graduation dress.
“Can I come in?”” she asked.
I stepped aside.
She walked into my bedroom and immediately noticed the empty space where my graduation dress had hung.
“Richard overreacted yesterday,” she began.
I folded my arms.
“That's what you came to say?””
“He embarrassed Vanessa.””
I stared at her.
“Mom, she burned my dress.””
“She was upset.””
“So was I.””
Denise sighed.
“Must everything become a competition between you two?””
I almost laughed.
“You're asking me that?””
She sat on the edge of my bed.
“Vanessa has always struggled with feeling accepted since the marriage. You know that.””
I looked at her.
“She's been living in Dad's house for years. He pays for her clothes, her car, her trips, and her shopping. What exactly is she struggling with?””
Denise's expression hardened.
“Don't talk about things you don't understand.””
“Then explain them.””
She stood.
“Richard has always had a soft spot for you. I don't think you realize how much that hurts Vanessa.””
I shook my head.
“He has a soft spot for me because he's my father.””
“And he's Vanessa's father too.””
“No, Mom. He's her stepfather.””
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
Denise picked up a pillow and straightened it unnecessarily.
“You're being cruel.””
I looked at her.
“Yesterday, you watched Vanessa burn something I worked months to afford. You didn't stop her. You didn't comfort me. And now you're telling me I'm cruel?””
She turned toward the door.
“Just get ready for graduation. Don't ruin today with another argument.””
Before she left, she paused.
“Your father has made things unnecessarily difficult for this family.””
Then she walked away.
I stood there for several seconds.
Something about the way she said it bothered me.
Not because she blamed my father.
Because she sounded afraid.
At eight o'clock, Richard knocked gently.
“Can I come in, sweetheart?””
I opened the door.
He was no longer wearing his blue suit. Instead, he had on dark trousers and a crisp white shirt.
In his hands was a garment bag.
“I have something for you.””
I looked at it.
“Dad, you didn't have to buy me another dress.””
“I know.””
He unzipped the bag.
Inside was a beautiful navy-blue graduation dress with subtle silver detailing.
It was simple, elegant, and exactly the kind of thing I would have chosen myself.
I touched the fabric.
“When did you get this?””
“Yesterday evening.””
I looked at him.
“After everything happened?””
He nodded.
“I remembered the store where we saw the other one.””
My eyes began to sting.
“Dad…”
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I want you to enjoy today. You've worked too hard to let anyone steal this moment.””
I hugged him.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I pulled back.
“Why did Mom look so scared last night?””
Richard's expression changed.
He glanced toward the hallway.
“Did she say something?””
“She told you that if you kept protecting me, you'd lose Vanessa forever.””
He exhaled slowly.
“Your mother and I have some things to work out.””
“Is it about Vanessa?””
He hesitated.
“Partly.””
“Dad, what is happening?””
He looked toward the closed bedroom door.
“I don't want to put this on you before graduation.””
That answer made me more nervous than if he had simply told me everything.
“Are we okay?””
He smiled faintly.
“You and I? Always.””
Then he handed me the garment bag.
“Now get ready. Your father has a front-row seat to claim.””
At ten-thirty, we arrived at the university.
The campus was decorated with blue and gold banners. Families gathered outside the auditorium, taking pictures beneath the graduation arch.
I wore my new navy dress beneath my graduation gown.
Richard walked beside me carrying a small bouquet of white roses.
He looked happier than I had seen him in weeks.
“Remember your first day?”” he asked.
“I was terrified.””
“You told me you were going to become a lawyer.””
“I still might.””
He laughed.
“I never doubted you.””
We stopped near the entrance.
I noticed Vanessa standing with Denise.
She was wearing a white designer outfit, large sunglasses, and heels that looked uncomfortable.
When she saw me, she lowered her sunglasses.
“Well,” she said.
“You found another dress.””
I smiled politely.
“Good morning, Vanessa.””
She glanced at Richard.
“Dad, can we talk?””
“Not right now.””
Her smile disappeared.
“It's important.””
“Then it can wait until after the ceremony.””
Denise stepped closer.
“Richard, please. We need to discuss something.””
He looked at her.
“Not here.””
Vanessa leaned toward me.
“You really enjoy making everyone choose sides, don't you?””
I looked at her.
“I didn't make you burn my dress.””
Her mouth tightened.
Before she could respond, an announcement came over the speakers.
Graduates were being asked to line up.
I hugged Richard.
“Save me a seat.””
He kissed my forehead.
“Front row. Right where I promised.””
I joined the other graduates.
As I walked away, I heard Vanessa say something behind me.
“Dad, if you tell her, everything changes.””
I stopped.
I turned around.
Richard's face had gone completely still.
“Vanessa,” he said quietly, “not another word.””
My stomach tightened.
Tell me what?
But the graduates were already moving inside, and I couldn't stay behind.
The ceremony was beautiful.
When my name was announced, I walked across the stage and accepted my diploma.
I heard Richard's voice above the applause.
“That's my girl!””
I looked toward the front row.
He was standing, clapping with both hands, his face glowing.
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
The burned dress.
The arguments.
My mother's cold words.
Vanessa's jealousy.
None of it mattered.
I had made it.
After the ceremony, Richard hugged me so tightly that I laughed.
“You did it,” he whispered.
“We did it.””
He shook his head.
“No, sweetheart. You did the work. I'm just lucky I got to watch.””
He handed me the roses.
Then his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“It's the attorney,” he said.
I frowned.
“Your attorney?””
He nodded.
“I need to take this.””
He walked several steps away.
I watched him answer.
“Yes, Michael. I'm with Maya.””
A pause.
Then:
“No. Don't send it to the house. Bring it to the office.””
Another pause.
His jaw tightened.
“And make sure the original documents are included.””
He ended the call.
I approached him.
“Dad, is something wrong?””
He looked at my diploma.
Then at me.
“There's something you need to know about this family.””
My heart began beating faster.
“What?””
Before he could answer, Denise appeared beside us.
Her face was pale.
“Richard,” she said, “we agreed you wouldn't bring this up today.””
He stared at her.
“I didn't agree to hide it forever.””
Vanessa came rushing toward us.
“Dad, please!””
Richard took a slow breath.
Then he said the words that made my mother reach for his arm.
“Michael found the original trust documents. And Maya needs to know whose money has been paying for Vanessa's lifestyle.””
I looked at him.
“What trust documents?””
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked directly at my mother.
“Denise, why don't you explain it?””
My mother's lips parted.
May you like
But Vanessa spoke first.
“Because she was never supposed to find out!””
