Chapter 5: The Signature That Exposed Her Mother
Lily stared at the document.
For several seconds, she couldn't process what she was reading.
*Original Design Submitted By: Vanessa Carter.*
Her mother's signature appeared beneath the name.
Brianna stepped closer.
"Mom?""
Vanessa snatched the paper from Mr. Harrison's hand.
"This is a clerical mistake.""
Mr. Harrison held out his hand.
"Please return the document.""
Vanessa reluctantly gave it back.
"I registered both designs because Brianna was busy preparing. I handled the paperwork. That's all.""
Eleanor looked at her.
"Why did you register Lily's design under your own name?""
"I didn't.""
Lily's voice was barely audible.
"Mom, you told me you were helping me submit my portfolio.""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"Not now.""
"You said you were sending my sketches to a youth design program.""
"I said we would discuss opportunities.""
"You took my blue portfolio.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Lily noticed.
"You remember," Lily continued.
"The day you came into my room and said you wanted to scan my designs?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"You're twisting ordinary family conversations into something sinister.""
Brianna looked between them.
"Mom, what is she talking about?""
Vanessa grabbed her daughter's hand.
"Don't worry about it.""
But Brianna pulled away.
"Why is your name on my submission?""
The question seemed to hurt Vanessa more than anything Lily had said.
She lowered her voice.
"Because I wanted to make sure everything was handled correctly.""
Eleanor examined the registration sheet again.
"That doesn't explain why the original design belongs to another contestant.""
Mr. Harrison called for the competition administrator.
"We need the digital submission records, including timestamps and uploaded files.""
The administrator nodded and hurried backstage.
Meanwhile, Lily stood motionless.
She remembered the blue portfolio.
She remembered her mother sitting on the edge of her bed, complimenting her sketches.
She remembered Vanessa promising to help her find opportunities.
And she remembered asking whether the designs were safe.
Her mother had smiled.
"Of course, sweetheart. I'm your mother.""
Now those words sounded different.
Brianna moved closer to Vanessa.
"Mom, tell me you didn't know.""
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
"Don't you dare question me after everything I've done for you.""
"But you said this dress was mine.""
"It is yours.""
"You submitted it.""
"I helped you!""
Brianna looked toward Lily.
For the first time, she seemed to understand that the situation was bigger than a disagreement between two sisters.
Lily spoke quietly.
"I never gave you permission to use my designs.""
Vanessa snapped.
"You wouldn't even have had these opportunities without me.""
"I made the dresses.""
"And I paid for things! Fabric isn't free. Sewing machines aren't free. Do you think all of this happens because you sit in your room drawing?""
Lily reached into the pocket of her gown.
She removed a small notebook.
"I paid for most of the materials with the money I earned from alterations.""
Vanessa scoffed.
"That's pocket money.""
"It's still mine.""
Lily opened the notebook and showed the judges a list of expenses.
Fabric purchases.
Thread.
Crystals.
Pattern paper.
Machine maintenance.
Every expense had a date and a handwritten note.
Eleanor studied the pages.
"These records are useful.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"This is ridiculous. You're all acting as though I'm some criminal.""
Mr. Harrison responded carefully.
"We haven't reached any conclusion. We're establishing who created and submitted the designs.""
A moment later, the competition administrator returned with a laptop.
He connected it to the large screen behind the stage.
"Mr. Harrison, I recovered the original upload records.""
The screen displayed two submission files.
One belonged to Brianna.
The other was listed under Vanessa.
The administrator opened the first file.
A scanned sketch appeared.
Lily immediately recognized it.
It was her original blue-gown design.
But there was more.
The file properties showed that the sketch had originally been created on a computer registered to Vanessa's email account.
The administrator opened the second record.
It contained a scanned photograph of Lily's handwritten notebook.
The same notebook she had kept beside her sewing machine.
Lily's stomach dropped.
"That was in my bedroom.""
Vanessa's expression went pale.
The administrator continued.
"Both files were uploaded from the same account, approximately three weeks apart.""
Mr. Harrison leaned forward.
"Can you identify the account holder?""
"Yes. Vanessa Carter.""
Brianna covered her mouth.
"Mom...""
Vanessa raised her voice.
"I was helping my daughters! I thought it would be easier to submit everything through one account.""
Eleanor looked at her.
"Then why did you remove Lily's name?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Lily looked down at her notebook.
She had spent years believing that her mother simply preferred Brianna because Brianna was more outgoing.
Now she understood that Vanessa hadn't merely overlooked her work.
She had taken it, organized it, and presented it as someone else's achievement.
Mr. Harrison spoke into the microphone.
"Given the evidence, the judging committee will suspend the award decision until an independent review is completed.""
Brianna shook her head.
"No. Please. I didn't know about the account.""
Lily looked at her.
"Did you know about the dress?""
Brianna's eyes filled with tears.
"I thought Mom had helped you make it.""
"Then why did you tell everyone you designed it?""
Brianna looked away.
"I wanted to win.""
Those three words were almost a confession.
But before Lily could respond, a production assistant approached Mr. Harrison with a message.
He read it and looked toward the VIP balcony.
Then his posture changed.
"There's someone here who would like to speak with Miss Carter.""
Lily looked confused.
"Who?""
Mr. Harrison glanced upward.
"The chairman of the foundation sponsoring this competition.""
The auditorium erupted into whispers.
Vanessa looked up sharply.
May you like
Brianna wiped her eyes.
And in the darkened balcony, the mysterious man finally stood.
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