Chapter 19 - MY SISTER'S LAST CHANCE
Brittany arrived at Bellamere two days later.
I hadn't expected her.
She stood outside the atelier wearing a simple beige coat, holding a small handbag.
Her face looked thinner.
Her expensive jewelry was gone.
“Madison?”
I looked up from my desk.
“What are you doing here?”
She swallowed.
“I need to talk to you.”
I gestured toward the chair.
She remained standing.
“I heard about Adrian.”
“From whom?”
“He contacted me.”
My expression hardened.
“What did he want?”
Brittany opened her handbag and removed a small envelope.
“He offered me money.”
I stared at her.
“How much?”
“Five hundred thousand dollars.”
“For what?”
“To tell him where you keep the original designs.”
I felt my jaw tighten.
“And what did you tell him?”
“I said no.”
I studied her face.
For once, she didn't seem to be performing.
She looked genuinely frightened.
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I brought you everything he sent me.”
She placed several printed messages on the desk.
Adrian had promised to pay her in exchange for information about the restored gown and the original archive.
One message contained a photograph of the atelier.
Another showed my office.
Someone had been watching the building.
“Did you give him anything?”
Brittany shook her head.
“No.”
“Why come to me?”
She looked toward the portrait of our mother.
“Because I found something in Victoria's belongings before she was arrested.”
She removed a small USB drive.
“Mom had kept this hidden inside a jewelry box. I didn't know what it was until Adrian contacted me.”
I didn't immediately take it.
“What is on it?”
“I don't know everything. But I heard Mom talking about a second contract. She said it could destroy Adrian if it ever became public.”
Daniel entered the room.
He examined the USB drive.
“Where did you get this?”
“From Victoria's private storage unit.”
Daniel looked at me.
“We need to preserve this as evidence.”
Brittany lowered her eyes.
“Madison, I know I don't deserve anything from you. I know what I did at the wedding was unforgivable.”
I remained silent.
She continued.
“I wanted your life. Your business, your success, your dress. I thought if I could take one important thing from you, I would finally feel like I mattered.”
I looked at her.
“You didn't just steal a dress, Brittany. You helped people who were trying to steal our mother's entire life's work.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
I took a breath.
“I won't promise to forgive you.”
“I understand.”
“But if you're telling the truth, cooperate with Daniel and the investigators.”
She nodded.
Then she turned toward the door.
Before leaving, she stopped.
“Madison?”
“Yes?”
“Mom used to say you were the only person in the family who inherited her hands.”
I looked at her.
“Why are you telling me that?”
“Because I finally understand why she was proud of you.”
She walked away.
I stared at the USB drive.
May you like
Perhaps Brittany had finally begun to understand what she had destroyed.
But understanding and forgiveness were two very different things.
