Chapter 5: The Warning Eleanor Left Behind
Nathan took the smaller paper from my hand.
His mother immediately reached for it.
"Give that back.""
He moved it out of her reach.
"Not until you explain what this means.""
"It means nothing.""
"Then explaining it should be easy.""
Victoria glanced around the ballroom.
Hundreds of guests were watching her.
The screen behind the altar still displayed the security footage, and the ivory gown that had been intended to make Brittany the center of attention had become the most damning piece of evidence in the room.
Victoria lowered her voice.
"This is a private family matter.""
Nathan's expression hardened.
"You made it public when you helped someone steal Madison's wedding dress.""
"I was protecting this family.""
"From what?""
She looked at me.
"From her.""
I didn't react.
I had learned long ago that Victoria's accusations were often designed to make the person she targeted defend themselves until the original question disappeared.
This time, I refused to play along.
Instead, I turned the small paper toward Nathan so he could read it again.
Eleanor's handwriting was elegant but firm.
Victoria, I know what you did. If you attempt to interfere with Madison's commission, the original records will be released to the family representative.
The date was six months old.
Nathan read it twice.
"Mom, what did you do?""
Victoria's lips trembled.
For a moment, I thought she might tell the truth.
Then she lifted her chin.
"Eleanor was confused. She believed people were conspiring against her.""
"She wrote your name.""
"She wrote many things.""
"Did you interfere with Madison's commission?""
"No.""
The answer came so quickly that it sounded rehearsed.
I folded my arms.
"Then why did you help Brittany remove the gown from my dressing suite?""
Victoria turned toward me.
"Because Brittany was devastated.""
"About what?""
"About being excluded.""
I almost laughed.
Brittany, still trapped inside the ivory gown, suddenly looked furious.
"Victoria!""
The older woman ignored her.
I turned toward my sister.
"What were you told?""
Brittany's eyes darted between us.
"Nothing.""
"Brittany.""
"I said nothing!""
Her voice cracked.
I recognized the signs.
She was frightened, embarrassed, and desperately trying to calculate which lie would cause the least damage.
I had seen that expression when we were children.
The difference was that, back then, I usually stepped in and protected her.
Today, I waited.
Finally, Brittany looked toward Victoria.
"She said it was supposed to be mine.""
The ballroom fell silent again.
Nathan's eyebrows drew together.
"What?""
Brittany swallowed.
"She said Grandma Eleanor had intended the gown for the Whitmore family, and Madison was only making it for herself because she wanted to take everything.""
I stared at her.
"Everything?""
Brittany's eyes filled with tears.
"She said you were going to marry Nathan and take over the family business. She said Grandma was giving you things that should have stayed with us.""
Nathan looked genuinely stunned.
"Grandma's business?""
Victoria stepped forward.
"Brittany, stop talking.""
But Brittany had already begun.
"She told me that if I wore the gown at the wedding, everyone would understand that I was the one who belonged in this family.""
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Nathan turned toward his mother.
"You told her to steal the dress because you wanted her to look like the rightful bride?""
Victoria's cheeks flushed.
"That is not what happened.""
"Then what happened?""
She pointed toward me.
"Madison has always wanted to make me look like a villain.""
I shook my head.
"No, Victoria. You've managed that without my help.""
A few guests gasped.
Nathan looked at me, and I saw the faintest flicker of a smile cross his face.
Victoria did not appreciate it.
"You think you're clever," she snapped.
"You think because you can sew a few pearls onto silk, you understand the Whitmore family.""
I glanced down at my gold gown.
"I understand enough to recognize when someone is lying.""
"You know nothing about our family.""
"Then explain the warning Eleanor left for you.""
Victoria's eyes flashed toward the document in Nathan's hand.
Her silence became an answer of its own.
I looked back at the first page.
There was a paragraph I had overlooked while reading the ownership terms.
It described the gown as part of a larger collection of commissioned works.
The collection had been created under a private agreement between Eleanor and me.
The arrangement included not only the bridal gown but also a series of original designs and the intellectual property associated with them.
I had assumed the agreement was simply a generous commission.
Now I wondered whether Eleanor had intended something much more significant.
Nathan read over my shoulder.
"There's a reference here to a family representative.""
I nodded.
"Someone designated to verify the terms.""
"Who?""
I turned the page.
The answer was written beneath Eleanor's signature.
Nathan Whitmore.
His eyes widened.
"Me?""
"Apparently.""
Victoria let out a sharp laugh.
"Of course. Eleanor always favored Nathan.""
He looked at her.
"Why would she appoint me?""
"Because she knew you would do whatever Madison told you to do.""
"No," I replied.
"She appointed him because the agreement required someone independent of the designer and the wearer to verify the terms.""
Victoria's expression became murderous.
"You have no right to interpret Eleanor's intentions.""
"I have the signed agreement.""
"You don't understand the legal implications.""
"Then we can ask the attorney named on the final page.""
That stopped her.
Nathan looked down.
"There's an attorney listed?""
I nodded.
"Yes. The agreement requires the designated representative to contact the attorney if anyone challenges the ownership or attempts an unauthorized transfer.""
He studied the page.
"Then that's what we'll do.""
Victoria stepped toward him.
"Absolutely not.""
"Why?""
"Because this is a wedding, not a courtroom!""
"Then you should have thought of that before helping Brittany take Madison's dress.""
Victoria's composure finally cracked.
"You have no idea what you're risking!""
Nathan stared at her.
"What am I risking, Mom?""
She opened her mouth.
Then she looked at the guests.
Her gaze settled on the enormous screen.
The footage showed her entering my dressing suite.
The image was clear enough to identify her face.
And now, in front of everyone, she had admitted knowing about the gown's concealed compartment.
I watched the realization settle over her.
She had expected the theft to embarrass me.
She had expected me to arrive late, wearing whatever dress I could find, while Brittany stood beside Nathan and accepted the admiration Victoria believed should belong to her family.
She had expected me to become emotional.
To shout.
To cry.
To abandon the ceremony.
Instead, I was standing in front of her with a signed agreement and a document bearing Eleanor's warning.
And she was the one who could not explain herself.
Brittany began tugging at the neckline of the ivory gown.
"I want this off.""
An attendant approached cautiously.
"I can help you, ma'am.""
Brittany turned on her.
"Don't touch me!""
The attendant stepped back.
I sighed.
"Brittany, the dress is worth a million dollars. If you damage it, you'll have a much bigger problem than embarrassment.""
She glared at me.
"You did this on purpose.""
"You stole my dress.""
"You could have stopped me!""
"I didn't know you were going to steal it.""
"You always have to make me look stupid!""
I stared at her.
"No. You keep doing that yourself.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
For a moment, I felt the old instinct to comfort her.
Then I remembered the attendant recoiling after Victoria slapped her hand away.
I remembered the stolen bouquet.
I remembered Brittany's triumphant smile as she walked toward the altar in my gown.
I remembered every time I had been told to forgive her because she was younger.
And I let the instinct pass.
Nathan handed the document to the wedding coordinator.
"Please make sure these pages are kept together. Nobody is to remove anything from this room.""
The coordinator nodded and called for security.
Victoria's face hardened.
"You wouldn't dare involve security against your own mother.""
Nathan's voice was quiet.
"I'm not involving security against my mother. I'm protecting my fiancée and preserving evidence of what happened.""
The distinction seemed to wound Victoria more than an insult could have.
She looked toward the guests.
Then she turned to me.
"You've wanted this moment for years.""
I shook my head.
"I wanted to marry Nathan.""
"Don't pretend you're innocent.""
"I'm not pretending anything.""
I held up Eleanor's warning.
"I'm simply asking why she believed you might interfere with this commission six months before my wedding.""
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
For the first time, she stopped trying to look offended.
Instead, she looked calculating.
Then she leaned close enough that only Nathan and I could hear her.
"Ask Eleanor's attorney what happens when the original agreement is challenged.""
Nathan stiffened.
"What does that mean?""
Victoria stepped back.
"Read the final page.""
I turned it over.
A new paragraph appeared beneath the attorney's contact information.
It outlined a condition that would take effect if the commission was challenged on the grounds of ownership, authorization, or improper transfer.
The condition involved a separate document.
A document that had been signed before Eleanor approved the final gown.
I looked up.
Victoria was smiling again.
Not triumphantly this time.
Desperately.
As if she had just remembered a weapon she believed I could not defend myself against.
"What is it?"" Nathan asked.
I read the final sentence twice.
Then I felt the blood drain from my face.
Because Eleanor had anticipated this exact situation.
May you like
She had known someone might try to take the gown from me.
And she had included a condition that could change everything.
