Chapter 9: The Grandmother's Confession
"Grandma?""
Nia's voice was barely audible.
Evelyn reached toward her.
But Nia stepped backward.
"Please don't.""
The old woman stopped.
Her hands trembled.
"Nia, sweetheart, I can explain.""
Nia held up the tiny piece of paper.
"Why is your name here?""
Eleanor Hawthorne stood near the table, watching them both.
She looked deeply troubled.
"Camille left that message for a reason," Eleanor said quietly.
Evelyn turned toward her.
"Please. Not like this.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"She deserves to know.""
Nia's eyes filled.
"Know what?""
Evelyn sat down.
For several seconds, she stared at her hands.
Then she began.
"Twenty years ago, when Camille and Margaret opened their studio, your grandfather had just died. I was struggling to keep the family home. I had debts I couldn't pay.""
Nia listened without moving.
"Margaret knew about our situation. She offered to help. She said she could arrange a loan through the Bellamy company.""
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
"I didn't know she was planning to steal Camille's designs. I thought she was simply helping us.""
"What happened?""
"She brought me a document. She said it was a financial guarantee. She told me Camille needed to sign it so the studio could receive funding.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Was that the document containing the false signature?""
Evelyn nodded.
"I signed as a witness.""
Nia felt her chest tighten.
"Did you know it was fake?""
"No, baby. I swear I didn't.""
Evelyn reached into her handbag and pulled out a faded photograph.
It showed her standing beside Margaret outside the old studio.
On the back, Camille had written:
The day I thought my family was safe.
Evelyn looked at it.
"After the contract appeared, Camille accused me of helping Margaret. I told her I had only signed what I was told was a financial guarantee.""
"Did Mom believe you?""
"At first.""
Evelyn's voice cracked.
"Then Margaret showed her a copy of the document with my signature. She claimed I had agreed to the transfer.""
Nia closed her eyes.
"So Mom thought you helped steal her work?""
"Yes.""
"Did you?""
"No!""
Evelyn stood abruptly.
"I never wanted to hurt her. I thought I was helping her. I was desperate, and Margaret knew exactly how to use that.""
Nia looked at the paper.
"Then why did Mom hide your name inside the dress?""
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
"Because she eventually discovered I had been telling the truth.""
Nia looked up.
"What?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Three years before Camille died, she found a letter from Margaret. It admitted that the financial document had been changed after I signed it.""
Eleanor's expression sharpened.
"Where is that letter?""
Evelyn reached into her handbag again.
She removed a small photograph.
It showed a handwritten letter.
The words were difficult to read, but the signature at the bottom was clear.
Margaret Ellis.
Nia leaned closer.
The letter stated that Evelyn had signed a document described as a financial guarantee, not a transfer of ownership.
It also admitted that Margaret had altered the agreement afterward.
Nia stared at her grandmother.
"Then Mom knew you were innocent?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She apologized to me.""
Her voice broke.
"She told me she was sorry for doubting me. We made peace before she died.""
Nia felt tears slide down her face.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
Evelyn took a shaky breath.
"Because Camille asked me not to.""
"Why?""
"She didn't want you growing up surrounded by accusations and legal battles. She wanted you to remember your mother as someone who loved creating beautiful things.""
Nia looked away.
For a long moment, the only sound was the quiet hum of the hotel air-conditioning.
Then she walked toward her grandmother.
Evelyn opened her arms.
Nia hesitated.
Then she stepped into the embrace.
"I'm sorry I thought you were involved.""
Evelyn kissed her forehead.
"You're allowed to ask questions, baby. Never let anyone make you feel guilty for wanting the truth.""
Nia held her tightly.
But the moment didn't last.
Eleanor's phone rang.
She checked the screen.
Her expression changed.
"What's wrong?"" Evelyn asked.
Eleanor answered.
"Yes?""
A man's voice came through.
Nia recognized it immediately.
Adrian.
"Mrs. Hawthorne, I need to speak with Nia.""
Eleanor glanced at the girl.
"She's here.""
"Please put me on speaker.""
Eleanor did.
Adrian sounded terrified.
"I know you have the original agreement. I know Margaret is trying to transfer the trust.""
Nia stepped closer.
"Why did you forge my mother's signature?""
Silence.
Then Adrian spoke.
"Because my father told me to.""
"Your father is dead.""
"I know.""
"Then why are you still helping them?""
"I'm not.""
Nia looked at Eleanor.
"Where are you?""
"Outside the hotel.""
Eleanor walked to the window.
A black car was parked near the entrance.
Adrian stood beside it.
He was holding a large brown envelope.
Nia stared.
"Come upstairs.""
"I can't. Margaret's people are watching the building.""
Eleanor frowned.
"How do you know?""
"Because one of them followed me from the Bellamy office.""
A car pulled away from the curb.
Adrian glanced over his shoulder.
"Listen. I have the original signature page. I also have the email where James Bellamy instructed me to create the false document.""
Nia's heart raced.
"Then bring it here.""
"I can't risk losing it.""
He paused.
"There's a service entrance on the east side. I'll leave the envelope with the hotel manager.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"No. Bring it to me personally.""
Adrian looked frightened.
"Mrs. Hawthorne, please understand. Margaret knows I have it.""
A car door opened across the street.
Adrian's face changed.
"She's here.""
The call ended.
Eleanor immediately contacted hotel security.
Nia rushed toward the window.
A black sedan pulled into the entrance.
Margaret stepped out.
Vanessa followed.
They walked directly toward the hotel doors.
Evelyn grabbed Nia's hand.
"We need to leave.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"There's a private elevator.""
She led them through a side corridor.
But before they reached the elevator, a hotel employee appeared.
"Mrs. Hawthorne?""
"Yes?""
The employee handed her a small package.
"This was left at the reception desk for you.""
Eleanor opened it.
Inside was the brown envelope Adrian had described.
She quickly checked the contents.
The original signature page.
A printed email.
And a small USB drive.
Eleanor's expression changed.
"He's done it.""
Nia leaned closer.
"What's on the drive?""
"Possibly the final evidence we need.""
Then a voice came from behind them.
"How touching.""
Margaret stood at the end of the corridor.
Vanessa was beside her.
Two security guards followed.
Margaret looked at the envelope.
"Give it to me.""
Eleanor placed it behind her back.
"You're not entitled to this.""
Margaret smiled.
"Actually, I am.""
She looked at Nia.
"Sweetheart, you really should have stayed at home.""
Nia stepped in front of her grandmother.
"Why are you so afraid of a little girl?""
Margaret's smile vanished.
"Because your mother taught you to ask questions.""
Vanessa approached.
"Just give us the documents. We can end this without making a scene.""
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
"You've made enough scenes for one lifetime.""
Vanessa looked at her.
"Your daughter was never as innocent as you think.""
Nia stepped forward.
"Stop talking about my mother.""
Margaret gestured to the security guards.
"Take the envelope.""
One guard hesitated.
"Ma'am, this is a private hotel corridor.""
Margaret pulled out a company identification card.
"I'm a senior executive of Bellamy Fashion Group. These documents concern company property.""
Eleanor held up the original contract.
"No. They concern a woman whose work you stole.""
Margaret's expression hardened.
"Give it to me.""
Then a voice echoed from the far end of the corridor.
"Don't you dare touch that envelope.""
Everyone turned.
Richard Bellamy was approaching with two attorneys.
Behind him stood Denise, holding a tablet.
Margaret stared.
"Richard.""
He stopped beside Eleanor.
"I've spent twenty years protecting the wrong people.""
He looked at Vanessa.
"And tonight, that ends.""
Vanessa's face turned pale.
Richard handed one of his attorneys a document.
"These are the records of every transaction involving the Phoenix Collection. I've also signed a statement accepting responsibility for the original theft.""
Margaret laughed.
"You think a confession will save you?""
"No. But it might help the truth survive.""
Richard turned toward Nia.
"There's something else.""
He looked at the brown envelope.
"That email is important. It proves James Bellamy ordered Adrian to forge the contract.""
Nia looked at Margaret.
"And you helped him.""
Margaret didn't answer.
Richard continued.
"But the USB drive may contain something even more damaging.""
Eleanor inserted it into her tablet.
A list of files appeared.
One was labeled:
*CAMERAS — PRIVATE STUDIO — FINAL MEETING.*
Eleanor opened it.
A video began playing.
The image showed Camille sitting at a desk.
Margaret sat across from her.
A younger Richard stood near the window.
The recording had no sound for several seconds.
Then Margaret leaned forward.
The audio became clear.
"Sign the agreement, Camille. It's over.""
Camille shook her head.
"I won't sign away my designs.""
Richard looked toward Margaret.
"Then we have a problem.""
Margaret smiled.
"Not for long.""
She pulled a document from her bag.
Camille looked down.
Her face went white.
"That's my mother's signature," Nia whispered.
Eleanor increased the volume.
Camille stood.
"You forged it.""
Margaret shrugged.
"You were never going to agree.""
Camille looked at Richard.
"Did you know?""
Richard lowered his head.
"Yes.""
Nia stared at the screen.
Then Camille said something that made everyone in the corridor go silent.
"Then I suppose I should tell you what I've already sent to the authorities.""
Margaret's smile disappeared.
"What?""
Camille leaned closer.
"The original contract. The payment records. And the recordings of every conversation we've had.""
Margaret stood abruptly.
"You wouldn't dare.""
Camille looked directly into the camera.
"Try me.""
The video ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Eleanor looked at the file list.
"There's another recording.""
She opened it.
A document appeared on the screen.
A bank transfer.
The recipient was Margaret Ellis.
The amount was $2.4 million.
The date was twenty years earlier.
But the sender's name was not Richard Bellamy.
It was someone else.
May you like
Someone whose identity made Evelyn grab Nia's arm.
Because the money had come from a company owned by Nia's own father.
