Chapter 13 - THE WEDDING DRESS MY MOTHER NEVER FINISHED
I stared at the photograph.
My mother had designed a wedding gown.
For me.
And somehow, the message connected it to Lucas Cole.
That made no sense.
Five years earlier, Lucas and I had never met.
I had been a struggling fashion student.
He had been the heir to a powerful empire.
Our lives existed in different worlds.
Lucas examined the image.
“That dress looks familiar.”
I turned toward him.
“Why?”
“My mother kept a similar sketch in her private collection.”
My heart raced.
“Where is it?”
“At Cole House.”
The next morning, Rebecca arranged access to Vivienne's archived design studio.
The room had been locked for years.
Dust covered the furniture.
Mannequins stood beneath white sheets.
And along the walls were shelves filled with fabric samples and design journals.
I felt as though I'd stepped into my mother's dreams.
Lucas opened a wooden cabinet.
Inside was a folder labeled:
The Rose Collection.
My hands trembled.
I opened it.
Dozens of sketches lay inside.
My mother's handwriting.
Vivienne's annotations.
And one final drawing.
The wedding gown.
But there was something written beneath it.
For Elena, whenever she finds the person who sees her heart before her name.
I began crying.
My mother hadn't designed it specifically for Lucas.
She'd designed it for my future.
For a day she knew she might never see.
Lucas looked at the sketch.
His expression softened.
“She wanted you to be happy.”
I nodded.
“She wanted me to have a life.”
I turned the page.
A handwritten note appeared.
Elena, if you ever wear this dress, promise me one thing.
I swallowed.
Do not marry someone because you need saving.
My tears fell.
Marry someone who knows you were already strong enough to save yourself.
I looked toward Lucas.
He was watching me quietly.
For the first time, I realized how much had changed between us.
When we'd met, I'd been terrified of him.
Now I saw a man grieving his mother.
A man confronting the crimes inside his own family.
A man trying to become better than the reputation he'd inherited.
But I also knew that love couldn't grow from gratitude alone.
And Lucas seemed to understand that.
He stepped back.
“Elena, I don't want you to feel you owe me anything.”
I smiled through my tears.
“I know.”
He looked relieved.
Then Rebecca entered the studio.
“We have news.”
Lucas turned.
“About Margaret?”
“She surrendered to federal investigators this morning.”
My heart raced.
“And?”
“She agreed to cooperate.”
Lucas's expression hardened.
“What did she say?”
Rebecca looked toward me.
“She admitted to falsifying the ownership documents and participating in the medical records conspiracy.”
I covered my mouth.
“But she insists someone else ordered the original plan.”
Lucas frowned.
“Who?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“Daniel Whitmore.”
I stared at her.
Then she continued.
“He's offered investigators a confession.”
My knees weakened.
Rebecca looked at Lucas.
“And there's one more thing.”
“What?”
“Daniel claims Vivienne Cole didn't fall down the stairs.”
Lucas went completely still.
May you like
Then Rebecca said:
“He claims she was pushed.”
