He didn't notice that almost none of the items belonged to Nia.
Occasionally, Nia tried to tell him.
One evening, she approached his office while he reviewed engineering drawings.
"Dad?"
He looked up.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
She held one of her sneakers.
The fabric near the toe had started separating.
"I think I need new shoes."
Marcus immediately nodded.
"Of course."
He took out his phone and sent Vanessa a message.
Please get Nia a good pair of school shoes this weekend.
Then he kissed his daughter's forehead.
"Taken care of."
Nia smiled.
She believed him.
The following Saturday, Vanessa told her the stores were too crowded.
The next weekend, she said the right size wasn't available.
A week later, she claimed Marcus wanted everyone to wait until the back-to-school sale.
Nia didn't ask again for several days.
When she finally did, Vanessa's expression changed.
"Your father works hard for this money. Stop acting like you can have anything you want."
Nia looked down.
"But he saidβ"
"I know what your father said."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"And I know what he meant."
The girl fell silent.
That was how the new rules worked.
Marcus said one thing.
Vanessa interpreted it.
And Nia was expected to accept the interpretation without question.
The keepsake chest became the next problem.
Vanessa noticed it while helping Nia reorganize her bedroom.
She opened the lid and examined the jewelry boxes, photographs, and handwritten letters. Nia stood nearby, watching carefully.
"These belong to my mom," she explained.
Vanessa nodded.
"Of course."
Then she lifted a velvet pouch.
Inside was a pair of delicate gold earrings.
Vanessa examined them.
For a moment, admiration crossed her face.
"These are beautiful."
Nia smiled faintly.
"She wore them on her birthday."
Vanessa looked toward the chest.
"Does your father know all this jewelry is sitting in here?"
Nia nodded.
"He helped me put it away."
Vanessa's expression became thoughtful.
"Some of these things are probably valuable. It might be safer if I put them somewhere secure."
Nia immediately shook her head.
"Mom wanted them here."
Vanessa smiled.
"I'm not taking them away, sweetheart. I'm protecting them."
Nia hesitated.
Then she remembered her father's instructions.
He'd promised the chest would remain hers.
She looked toward Vanessa.
"Can you ask Dad first?"
The smile disappeared.
For a moment, Vanessa stared at her.
Then she placed the earrings back in the pouch.
"Fine."
She closed the lid.
But the following week, she returned while Nia was at school.
She opened the chest.
Removed several jewelry boxes.
And placed them inside a large shopping tote.