Even though she had her in-laws on her side and knew they would pressure Harry to leave her, Laura still wasn’t at ease. Her limits were slipping. She had been so obsessed with chasing after that woman that she had completely forgotten about Deanna and Leonard. If they spoke out, she’d be cornered—and if Charles found out, he’d move heaven and earth. They wouldn’t give the child to Harry, but they would give her to them. It was the same thing. She could go against Harry, but not against Crusher Sr.The threats toward that woman intensified—more violent, more aggressive. She didn’t just call her anymore—sometimes she waited for her outside work, shouting at her in the street. Unlike Harry, and to her misfortune, the woman had actually fallen in love. So much so that she put up with everything in silence, lowering her head.Many times, she had tried to end things with Harry. Long stretches passed where they were apart. She wouldn’t see him or answer his calls.That’s when Harry started
“What did that snake want? She’s got some nerve coming all the way here,” Leonard asked.Laura ran out of the dressing room. Leonard had a knack for scaring her off.“Just to complain about what you did with Camila,” Deanna said.“Aha! Looks like your mother-in-law heard… Good, good… With any luck, she’ll finally do something about it. She’s spent way too long pretending nothing’s wrong.”“I don’t know, Leonard…” Deanna didn’t look like her usual self.“What’s wrong, baby?” he asked, concerned.“Nothing… I’ve just got a headache,” Deanna replied, rubbing her forehead.“You’re stressed, Deanna. Want to take a few days off? I can talk to Sacha, give him a call. Stay home,” Leonard offered.“No, no… I’ll be fine.”Deanna looked at him closely for the first time since he’d walked in; he was dressed to the nines, in a brand-new suit, his hair carefully styled and a noticeable scent of cologne. She forgot all about Laura and her threats.“Where are you going?” she asked, eyeing him suspicio
Once again, she had dinner alone with the kids. This streak of bad luck didn’t seem to want to end. She understood that his responsibilities could pull him away sometimes, but all these last-minute emergencies and late arrivals were starting to really wear on her.What was driving him crazy—or rather, who—was sitting right across from him.A small café, tucked away, discreet. Her green eyes were watery again, and her voice was trembling.“You can’t do this,” Daniel said quietly.“I don’t have a choice,” the woman replied.“But…”“I can’t live hiding forever. I know I shouldn’t have done it, I know I made a mistake, but I can’t take it anymore… Especially not now.”“Leaving won’t solve anything… Please…”She looked at him with sadness, but she’d made up her mind.“I’m going back to my parents, I’ll find another job; I know I can do this on my own.”“What happened? What changed?”“Everything changed… I’m leaving in a week.”“You’re rushing this. Let me fix it.”“You can’t fix it. Are yo
“Where did they take him?“ asked Deanna, as she jumped out of bed.“Hudson Hospital, wait for me,” replied Leonard.But Deanna didn't wait for him; she ran out in her slippers, grabbing the overcoat Daniel had left on a chair and the car keys. “Deanna! Baby!” Leonard shouted into the phone.Deanna couldn't hear him, the phone remained in one of her pockets, but Leonard could hear the car engine starting.“Shit!” exclaimed Reed, raising his arms. He went out to the street to get a taxi. He was closer to the hospital, he'd get there first. He'd better not die, bastard! Two more seconds and he could have let out all that pent-up desire he had to beat him up. And to top it all off, Deanna had left in a hurry, he hadn't had time to explain anything to her. “As if he deserved it, the bastard! He doesn't deserve anything from her!” he said out loud, the taxi driver only watched him in the mirror. Deanna was driving fast. What had happened? God! Please let him be okay! She ended up running
Deanna settled down next to him, watching him sleep. She thanked God a thousand times for still having him with her. She asked that please this not happen again, that please he not leave her alone.Leonard returned with a change of clothes for his daughter. She gave him what she was wearing and asked him to please go to sleep, that whatever happened she would call him. Daniel had not woken up, apparently he was going to sleep for all those hours he had stayed up working.“You always take care of us,“ Deanna said with gratitude in her voice.“I don't take care of him,” her father replied, with a gesture of annoyance.“Yes, you do.”He kissed her on the cheek and left. He was heading out the main entrance when he felt something hit his knee, Daniel's coat folded in one arm. He reached in and found Deanna's phone. “That's not going to help her call me,” he thought. But there was something else besides the phone, a piece of paper.Could it be his daughter's too? He opened it, it was folde
When Leonard finished reading the folder his assistant had given him that afternoon, he stretched out on the couch, closed his eyes, and sighed. The woman in question didn't have much to say, but she did have a direct connection to Crusher.Daniel was already back home. The scare was over.“I'm going to take a break from rehearsals and stay with you...”“No, of course not, I'm fine.”“And how do I know you won't go back to work like a madman?”“Don't you trust me?” he said, feigning indignation.“Let me think... No!”Alone, in the privacy of their bedroom, with the house silent, they were themselves again. Embraced on the bed, talking and feeling each other's warmth. That was when they could relax and leave all their worries behind.“It scared me so much, Daniel...”“I know, I'm sorry,” he apologized, squeezing her waist a little tighter.“Take a few days off.”“That's the idea, I'll let Harry take care of things for a few weeks.”“Really?”“I want to stay with you, here, with the kid
He wanted to forget everything, he didn't want to think about anything else, just be with his family, with Deanna. He spent those two weeks spending time with her, accompanying her to the theater, watching rehearsals, taking her out to dinner. They even escaped for a weekend out of town. “I need to spoil you,” he said to convince her to leave the kids with Susan.And so they went out that Friday night for dinner. He knew how to flatter her. They drove all night to the little cottage; they had breakfast under the trees in their bathrobes, listened to music, and relaxed in the evenings after giving in to their desires.It wasn't hard for Daniel to fall in love with his wife all over again every day, or for Deanna to melt at his thoughtful gestures and attention. Despite the routine of married life, the house, and the children, he planned to court her forever.The season premiere was approaching, and once again the theater began to take on a life of its own.“You don't understand, I don'
Deanna wasn't at all happy with what Harry was proposing. He had to be crazy to come up with such an idea."What you're saying makes zero sense. Did you hit your head before coming here?""I know, but we need your help. I don't know who else to ask."Harry's girlfriend, Laura, wasn't saying anything, but she was getting more nervous by the minute.Their situation wasn't good - they were still in school, they were young, madly in love, but they'd been careless. Laura had confirmed her pregnancy just three days ago."I get where you're coming from, Harry, but no one's going to buy it. Your family doesn't even know me.""But I talked to my brother and he agreed. Please Deanna, help us."Laura finally spoke up, her eyes full of tears."We wouldn't ask this if it wasn't so important to us. Our families are really strict about this stuff. They won't let Harry marry me if his older brother is still single. And my family won't let me keep the baby unless I'm married."Seeing Laura so distress
He wanted to forget everything, he didn't want to think about anything else, just be with his family, with Deanna. He spent those two weeks spending time with her, accompanying her to the theater, watching rehearsals, taking her out to dinner. They even escaped for a weekend out of town. “I need to spoil you,” he said to convince her to leave the kids with Susan.And so they went out that Friday night for dinner. He knew how to flatter her. They drove all night to the little cottage; they had breakfast under the trees in their bathrobes, listened to music, and relaxed in the evenings after giving in to their desires.It wasn't hard for Daniel to fall in love with his wife all over again every day, or for Deanna to melt at his thoughtful gestures and attention. Despite the routine of married life, the house, and the children, he planned to court her forever.The season premiere was approaching, and once again the theater began to take on a life of its own.“You don't understand, I don'
When Leonard finished reading the folder his assistant had given him that afternoon, he stretched out on the couch, closed his eyes, and sighed. The woman in question didn't have much to say, but she did have a direct connection to Crusher.Daniel was already back home. The scare was over.“I'm going to take a break from rehearsals and stay with you...”“No, of course not, I'm fine.”“And how do I know you won't go back to work like a madman?”“Don't you trust me?” he said, feigning indignation.“Let me think... No!”Alone, in the privacy of their bedroom, with the house silent, they were themselves again. Embraced on the bed, talking and feeling each other's warmth. That was when they could relax and leave all their worries behind.“It scared me so much, Daniel...”“I know, I'm sorry,” he apologized, squeezing her waist a little tighter.“Take a few days off.”“That's the idea, I'll let Harry take care of things for a few weeks.”“Really?”“I want to stay with you, here, with the kid
Deanna settled down next to him, watching him sleep. She thanked God a thousand times for still having him with her. She asked that please this not happen again, that please he not leave her alone.Leonard returned with a change of clothes for his daughter. She gave him what she was wearing and asked him to please go to sleep, that whatever happened she would call him. Daniel had not woken up, apparently he was going to sleep for all those hours he had stayed up working.“You always take care of us,“ Deanna said with gratitude in her voice.“I don't take care of him,” her father replied, with a gesture of annoyance.“Yes, you do.”He kissed her on the cheek and left. He was heading out the main entrance when he felt something hit his knee, Daniel's coat folded in one arm. He reached in and found Deanna's phone. “That's not going to help her call me,” he thought. But there was something else besides the phone, a piece of paper.Could it be his daughter's too? He opened it, it was folde
“Where did they take him?“ asked Deanna, as she jumped out of bed.“Hudson Hospital, wait for me,” replied Leonard.But Deanna didn't wait for him; she ran out in her slippers, grabbing the overcoat Daniel had left on a chair and the car keys. “Deanna! Baby!” Leonard shouted into the phone.Deanna couldn't hear him, the phone remained in one of her pockets, but Leonard could hear the car engine starting.“Shit!” exclaimed Reed, raising his arms. He went out to the street to get a taxi. He was closer to the hospital, he'd get there first. He'd better not die, bastard! Two more seconds and he could have let out all that pent-up desire he had to beat him up. And to top it all off, Deanna had left in a hurry, he hadn't had time to explain anything to her. “As if he deserved it, the bastard! He doesn't deserve anything from her!” he said out loud, the taxi driver only watched him in the mirror. Deanna was driving fast. What had happened? God! Please let him be okay! She ended up running
Once again, she had dinner alone with the kids. This streak of bad luck didn’t seem to want to end. She understood that his responsibilities could pull him away sometimes, but all these last-minute emergencies and late arrivals were starting to really wear on her.What was driving him crazy—or rather, who—was sitting right across from him.A small café, tucked away, discreet. Her green eyes were watery again, and her voice was trembling.“You can’t do this,” Daniel said quietly.“I don’t have a choice,” the woman replied.“But…”“I can’t live hiding forever. I know I shouldn’t have done it, I know I made a mistake, but I can’t take it anymore… Especially not now.”“Leaving won’t solve anything… Please…”She looked at him with sadness, but she’d made up her mind.“I’m going back to my parents, I’ll find another job; I know I can do this on my own.”“What happened? What changed?”“Everything changed… I’m leaving in a week.”“You’re rushing this. Let me fix it.”“You can’t fix it. Are yo
“What did that snake want? She’s got some nerve coming all the way here,” Leonard asked.Laura ran out of the dressing room. Leonard had a knack for scaring her off.“Just to complain about what you did with Camila,” Deanna said.“Aha! Looks like your mother-in-law heard… Good, good… With any luck, she’ll finally do something about it. She’s spent way too long pretending nothing’s wrong.”“I don’t know, Leonard…” Deanna didn’t look like her usual self.“What’s wrong, baby?” he asked, concerned.“Nothing… I’ve just got a headache,” Deanna replied, rubbing her forehead.“You’re stressed, Deanna. Want to take a few days off? I can talk to Sacha, give him a call. Stay home,” Leonard offered.“No, no… I’ll be fine.”Deanna looked at him closely for the first time since he’d walked in; he was dressed to the nines, in a brand-new suit, his hair carefully styled and a noticeable scent of cologne. She forgot all about Laura and her threats.“Where are you going?” she asked, eyeing him suspicio
Even though she had her in-laws on her side and knew they would pressure Harry to leave her, Laura still wasn’t at ease. Her limits were slipping. She had been so obsessed with chasing after that woman that she had completely forgotten about Deanna and Leonard. If they spoke out, she’d be cornered—and if Charles found out, he’d move heaven and earth. They wouldn’t give the child to Harry, but they would give her to them. It was the same thing. She could go against Harry, but not against Crusher Sr.The threats toward that woman intensified—more violent, more aggressive. She didn’t just call her anymore—sometimes she waited for her outside work, shouting at her in the street. Unlike Harry, and to her misfortune, the woman had actually fallen in love. So much so that she put up with everything in silence, lowering her head.Many times, she had tried to end things with Harry. Long stretches passed where they were apart. She wouldn’t see him or answer his calls.That’s when Harry started
When Camila called Laura asking her to come over because Charles wanted to talk to her, Laura panicked. What did he want? Did they know? Well, if they knew about Harry and his lover, maybe she could get them on her side—maybe they'd even help her force her husband to leave her. She put Emma in the car and left; the child would serve as a shield or, at the very least, might stir some pity in her grandparents—either way, it worked for her.“Laura! Emma!” Camila greeted them as soon as they stepped through the door.The little girl ran into her grandmother’s arms. Despite all the constant "trips" and the many hands that cared for her day to day, she was full of energy—always smiling, always running, always trying to climb onto furniture. The love she didn’t get from her mother, she received from everyone else.“Hi Camila, how are you?” Laura greeted her.Looking at her, she seemed like the same old Laura from college.“I’m sorry, dear, but Charles wants to speak with you. I had a very un
Ethan was waiting for him in the living room; he wasn’t going to hide from the scolding. Yes, he had done something wrong—very wrong—by hitting a younger kid. But that little brat was a pervert. He was sure his dad would understand, even if he punished him too.Naomi, on the other hand, wasn’t so confident. She could already hear him banning her from going out, from seeing friends: school to home, home to school.But Daniel came in and went straight to greet Susan with a kiss on the cheek, and gave Deanna a quick kiss on the lips."Are you okay?" Deanna asked. He looked... off."Yeah, yeah... just a lot of work."He walked directly to where Ethan was, and when Ethan saw him, he stood up. Naomi stayed quiet in a corner, wishing she could disappear into thin air. Daniel stopped in front of his son and said:"Don’t do it again."He turned to Naomi."You either.""Yes, Dad," they both replied at the same time.And that was it? That was it?He took off his jacket and went into his office,