A knock sounded at Deanna's door, catching her off guard. She hadn't expected any visitors that day. Since her classes had been canceled, she stayed home to clean and sort things out, knowing she would usually come back late. This should have been her last year at university, the one she planned to finish alongside Harry. Now, that plan had been pushed back.
"Sorry for showing up like this—"
"Don't worry about it, Laura. Come in. I've been cleaning, so things aren't exactly in order."
"Thanks. I actually came with a purpose."
"A purpose?"
"Daniel handed me his card, and today we're going out together."
"So the family meeting's already set?"
"It is."
"Then I'll do what I can."
"I don't even know how to thank you, Deanna. After how things went the other night, and with you having to step away from school because of us... it means more than you think." She rested her hands over her stomach.
"It's nothing. I want to help. That baby you're carrying is going to grow up with great parents and a happy life. That's what matters."
"And they'll have a wonderful aunt too."
"An aunt who'll spoil them every chance she gets."
"Alright, let's go make good use of Daniel's money. We need something perfect for you."
"Give me a minute. I'll get changed first."
Stepping into those boutiques felt unreal to Deanna. Places like that had never been part of her world. Everything around her looked like something pulled straight out of a film, polished and distant. Even the lowest price tag matched what she earned over months. It didn't make sense to her. Did people really spend that much on a single dress? The thought alone made her uneasy. And it wasn't just clothing. Laura had already mentioned shoes, handbags, and even a salon visit.
Watching Laura move through it all made the difference even clearer. She paid without a second thought, as if it were nothing. One shop led to another, and the cycle didn't stop. Trying on outfit after outfit took up most of their time, and choosing between colors dragged on longer than she expected. The noise, the lights, the constant decisions—it all began to wear her down. This wasn't her world.
Everything she knew had always been simple. Her days were shaped by home-cooked meals, clothes passed down over time, and small gatherings with familiar faces. Her mother and grandmother raised her in the restaurant they ran, where the air carried the scent of cooking all day. That was where she grew up, surrounded by warmth and routine. After school, she spent her afternoons playing with friends in the park. Nothing about it stood out as unusual. Her teenage years followed the same path, filled with friends and occasional trips to the cinema. By 16, she had already started helping at the restaurant. A year later, she experienced her first relationship.
Now, everything had shifted without warning. She found herself standing in a place that felt far removed from anything she had known, and she wasn't sure she even liked it. The things that seemed to excite Laura didn't mean anything to her. Singing had always been the one thing that mattered. That was all she ever wanted—to stand on a stage in a respected theater and keep performing for as long as her voice allowed. Fame never crossed her mind, and money wasn't the goal. What mattered was sharing her voice. Every time she sang, something inside her came alive. In those moments, she felt at peace.
"This shade really suits you. It works with your hair."
Deanna blinked, unsure. "I don't get any of that, Laura, but I'll trust you."
A laugh slipped from Laura. "Good. Just leave everything to me. By the end of this, even Harry won't know who he's looking at."
Back at university, her instructors had been left speechless during her audition. No one expected that kind of voice to come from someone with her build. She reached high notes with ease and still carried warmth in every tone. From that moment, it was clear she had something rare ahead of her.
Everything changed once she stepped onto a stage. The cheerful girl people knew faded, and something else took over. Her stance shifted, her expression sharpened, and the energy she carried pulled every eye toward her. Each performance came from a place deep within her.
"I look like my great-aunt in this. She passed away years ago."
"You're being dramatic. It actually looks great on you... just maybe not what you'd usually pick."
"How much longer are we staying here?"
"We're not leaving until we find something that makes an impression. Though honestly, I think you've already made one on Daniel."
"Your brother-in-law doesn't react to anything."
"He's not that bad. He's just a bit..."
"Boring?"
"I'd call him formal. He carries himself like someone in charge, but there's also something about him that puts people at ease."
If she were honest, Daniel had caught her off guard. The man she pictured before meeting him didn't match the one standing in front of her that night. His age didn't show the way she expected. He didn't seem older, yet he didn't feel young either. He stood somewhere in between, settled in a way that felt complete. A trace of gray marked his temples, and most of what he expressed came through his gaze rather than his words. Laura's description fit. He looked composed, but there was something about him that didn't push people away.
If not for the way he spoke and how he insisted on getting his way, she could see why others would find him appealing. Still, there was something else she noticed but kept to herself. It might have been nothing, yet it felt real. A quiet heaviness seemed to follow him, like something unspoken lingered beneath the surface. Harry had told her enough about his past, so maybe that explained it.
"That's it. That one's perfect for you."
"You're sure about this?"
"I'm certain. How does it feel?"
"Like I belong on stage."
"Then we're done here."
"Finally. Can we go now? I'm starving."
"Alright. We'll grab something to eat, then pick up the rest."
As they stepped out, Deanna made a quiet promise to herself. The next time she saw Harry, he'd hear exactly what she thought about all of this.
Elsewhere, Harry made his way to Daniel's office. He needed to talk some sense into his brother before things got worse. Deanna might not back down, but that didn't mean she should have to deal with everything alone.
Inside, Susan was already there, questioning Daniel about what their mother had told her. After a moment of hesitation, Harry decided to lay it all out.
"Honestly, I've got two brothers who belong in an asylum. Both of you are impossible." Susan shot him a look. "Don't joke around. Is it true or not?"
"You know we didn't have much choice. That rule about appearances left us stuck, and she was the only one willing to help."
"She must care about you a lot to agree without asking for anything."
"That's just who she is. Which is why I'm asking you, Daniel... go easy on her, alright?"
"She doesn't seem like someone who needs that. She speaks her mind just fine. Maybe you should ask her to tone it down instead."
"We're the ones putting her in this position. She didn't have to agree. She's doing this for us."
"He's right. You should treat her better, Daniel."
"You're making it sound like I'm some kind of villain."
"No one said that... but you can be distant. And when you want to be, you can come across as... very condescending."
"I'm not like that."
Susan didn't back down. "You are, Dan."
With her on their side, things stood a better chance of working out. Even so, she still couldn't figure out how Daniel had agreed so quickly. It didn't seem like something he would normally accept. If a child was involved, that might explain part of it. Still, she felt there was more to it. She would find out soon enough when she finally met Deanna.
