Chapter 4: The Evidence Nobody Expected
The applause had barely faded when Mr. Harrison raised his microphone.
"Before we continue with the competition, I want both contestants to remain onstage.""
Brianna immediately shook her head.
"Why? There's nothing to investigate.""
Eleanor Brooks turned toward her.
"Then you shouldn't have any problem with an examination of the garments.""
Brianna glanced at Vanessa.
Her mother stood, adjusting the turquoise dress she had worn proudly all evening.
"Excuse me," Vanessa said.
"My daughter has worked extremely hard for this opportunity. I don't think it's appropriate to turn a fashion competition into a public accusation.""
Mr. Harrison remained calm.
"Mrs. Carter, your daughter challenged another contestant to prove her claim. We are simply allowing her to do so.""
"She's a child," Vanessa replied sharply.
"She doesn't understand how professional competitions work.""
Lily looked at her mother.
"I'm seventeen, Mom. I understand perfectly well when someone takes something I made.""
A few audience members applauded.
Vanessa's face tightened.
Eleanor approached Brianna's blue gown.
"May I inspect the embroidery?""
Brianna stepped backward.
"Do you really need to?""
"Yes.""
After a long pause, Brianna reluctantly turned toward the judges.
Eleanor examined the silver vines near the waist.
Then she stopped.
"There it is.""
Mr. Harrison leaned closer.
"What did you find?""
Eleanor pointed toward a small cluster of three silver beads.
"These beads cover a broken embroidery loop. It's an unusual correction. I noticed the same detail in Miss Carter's sketch.""
Brianna laughed nervously.
"That's just a coincidence.""
Lily shook her head.
"No, it isn't. I remember that mistake because I spent almost an hour trying to fix it.""
Eleanor looked at her.
"Why did you leave the correction in the final design?""
"Because removing the original embroidery would have damaged the fabric. I decided to cover the thread instead.""
"That's actually a very practical solution.""
Brianna interrupted.
"Anyone could have copied that from the sketch.""
Lily nodded.
"That's possible. But the sketch wasn't public.""
Mr. Harrison raised his eyebrows.
"Where was it kept?""
"In my bedroom. Inside a blue portfolio.""
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
"Enough, Lily.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She forced a smile.
"This is becoming uncomfortable. We can discuss these things privately.""
Lily stared at her.
"Why privately?""
"Because families shouldn't fight in front of strangers.""
"You didn't seem worried about that when you dragged me into my chair.""
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
Brianna stepped between them.
"Mom, don't listen to her. She's trying to ruin everything because she couldn't handle seeing me succeed.""
Lily looked at Brianna.
"Then answer one question.""
"What?""
"Who gave you my design?""
Brianna folded her arms.
"I designed my own dress.""
"Then where is your original sketch?""
"I don't have to show you anything.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Actually, you do if you want us to verify the originality of your submission.""
Brianna turned toward the judges.
"Are you serious?""
Mr. Harrison nodded.
"Every contestant was required to submit preliminary sketches before the competition. We have yours.""
He motioned to the production manager.
"Please bring Brianna's original submission.""
A few moments later, a staff member returned carrying a folder.
He placed it on the judges' table.
Eleanor opened it.
Her expression changed almost immediately.
"Mr. Harrison, you should look at this.""
He leaned over her shoulder.
The folder contained a sketch of the blue gown.
The same neckline.
The same silver vines.
The same asymmetrical shoulders.
But something was wrong.
The drawing was dated only three weeks earlier.
Lily stared at it.
"That's my design.""
Brianna's voice rose.
"No, it isn't!""
Eleanor examined the signature at the bottom.
"Miss Brianna, why does your submission contain measurements written in the same notation as Miss Carter's original sketch?""
Brianna looked confused.
"What notation?""
"The measurements along the shoulder seam. These aren't standard fashion-design abbreviations. They're handwritten instructions.""
Lily stepped closer.
"I use those abbreviations because my grandmother taught me to.""
The auditorium became unusually quiet.
Eleanor turned the page.
"There's another issue.""
She placed both sketches side by side.
"The original drawing contains a tiny correction in the left sleeve. Brianna's submission reproduces that correction, including the crossed-out measurement.""
Mr. Harrison looked at Brianna.
"How did you obtain this information?""
Brianna's breathing became uneven.
"I... I don't remember.""
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
"She was given inspiration from several sources. That doesn't mean anything was stolen.""
Lily turned toward her.
"Then why does her sketch have my handwriting?""
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
At the VIP balcony, the mysterious man slowly removed his glasses.
He leaned toward the woman beside him.
"Get me the original competition registration documents.""
The woman nodded.
"Immediately.""
Onstage, Mr. Harrison closed the folder.
"Until we verify the submissions, both designs will be temporarily removed from the scoring process.""
Brianna looked horrified.
"You can't do that!""
"We can.""
"But the award ceremony is in twenty minutes!""
"Then I suggest you cooperate.""
Brianna turned toward Lily.
Her eyes were no longer mocking.
They were frightened.
"You think you've won, don't you?""
Lily shook her head.
"No. I think you've finally been asked a question you can't answer.""
Then the production manager hurried back onto the stage.
He handed Mr. Harrison a second document.
The judge read the first page.
His expression hardened.
"Miss Carter, there's something else you need to see.""
Lily approached.
"What is it?""
Mr. Harrison turned the document toward her.
It was a record of the person who had originally submitted Brianna's design.
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And the name listed beneath the submission wasn't Brianna's.
It was Vanessa Carter.
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