The shockwave began to spread its trails around Daniel. One of the company's most important partners decided to withdraw, and with him, his shares, which caused at least four minor partners to do the same.
The meeting in the boardroom was getting increasingly heated. Daniel endured the complaints from the board members with an iron attitude and in silence. Beverly watched him from the corner of her eye and knew what he was thinking: if it were up to him, the whole company could burn down.
Harry was also watching him, watching how he withstood the anger of everyone else present without flinching. Not one of them stayed quiet; they all had something to say.
Leonard Reed had given orders from the shadows, adjusted some loose screws, and threatened left and right so that, little by little, the
Deanna only knew how to do one thing after Beverly left: lock herself in the music room. It was her refuge when she needed to think, when she argued with Daniel, or when she needed to cry. And at that moment, she really needed to cry.Her place in the house was beautiful, so full of music, so full of her husband's affection in every detail. Everything designed for her, from the sofas where she could receive her musician friends, to the instruments she didn't know how to play.She sang for everyone there. Jonathan would run with all his might when he knew Deanna would give them a private performance. He would settle on the floor, legs crossed and his little face full of expectation, a huge smile from ear to ear. And he would look at her in wonder.There, she taught him, although he never rep
The next shock wave came from the least expected place. Convinced that Harry was going to leave her, that he would go far away and she couldn't hold him back, Laura decided to use her last resort: Deanna herself.Perhaps the final days of her pregnancy were driving her crazy, perhaps the constant rumors about Deanna and Daniel annoyed her, or perhaps she felt cornered by the imminent end of her short marriage; but Laura was livid, tired, exhausted.One can make the best decisions when something important is at stake, or the worst decisions of one's entire life; ultimately, the outcome determines which. She had the feeling that something was slipping through her fingers.Laura: "Deanna, I need to talk to you. Do you think you could come to the University café at 4?"
She remained seated outside the room, head tilted back, staring at the ceiling. Trying to stop her mind from repeating the same words and images over and over.The east wing of the hospital was reserved for wealthy patients, each room the size of a small apartment with all the comforts, and outside a furnished and equipped visitors' lounge. There she waited.Without effort, tears ran down her face, soaking her shirt. She had a very difficult path ahead and wasn't sure if she wanted to walk it. She felt betrayed.All the Crushers arrived together, hurried and anxious. Daniel entered last and Harry was the first to appear before Deanna."What happened?" Harry asked urgently."They're doing an
"What do you think will happen now?""What we were waiting for.""How can you be sure?""I can't, I just know. Get the envelope to me... just in case.""He'll come after me!""No, he won't... Get me the envelope and I'll let you know."He was worried about her reaction, her expression, those dull eyes that looked at him in the hospital. But he prepared himself in case his suspicions were true.
Harry watched his wife as she fed Emma. He had to ask her what had happened with Deanna.Emma fell asleep."Laura, what did you and Deanna talk about yesterday?" He kept his voice calm, but tension tightened his jaw."Why are you asking?" She didn’t look up, focused on adjusting the blanket around Emma."She looked awful. She was crying. Tell me what happened.""I told her what she needed to know, Harry.""Know?""Yes, I told her the whole truth. Everything you never wanted her to find out. About Frank. About why you asked her to marry Daniel. The truth—that you're leaving us because you're in love with her."
"You do know they're still together, right?""Well... Maybe the envelope is necessary after all.""Let's just leave everything as it is.""Don't be a coward. We've come this far, why stop now?""What are you going to do with that?""I'll make sure they see it... You might want to start getting ready.""You surprise me every time...""I'm just doing what's best for everyone."
They waited a month for Emma's baptism, and that same month was how long Deanna refused to see or speak to Harry. But the excuses had finally run out because Daniel would be the godfather.She couldn't avoid it—when he saw her again at the church door, arriving with his brother and nephews looking like a perfect family, he felt that familiar ache in his chest. But all those feelings had to fade eventually; he had decided they would.It was Deanna's first time meeting the baby in person, having only seen photos before. Laura insisted she hold her, though it was obvious Deanna had built walls around herself for protection against more pain.But the tiny pink bundle brought a gentle smile to her face, and for a few moments, she forgot everything else. Both men watched her cradling the ch
“But…”“But what, Crusher?”“You and her…”“Oh, please!” He threw his arms up. “Do you think that if we were together, I’d be telling you all this? Yes, I love her… But not that kind of love… I just want her to be happy, and it looks like her happiness is with you…”Daniel watched him, then looked toward the dressing room doors.“Are you still going to hesitate?”“Are you… letting her go?”“I will never let her go! I’m not with her like everyon
Once again, the game of glances, where they spoke thousands of words without saying a thing. The unspoken body language, the small smiles, the hands casually brushing through hair or resting on arms, the subtle movements, the magical feeling of creating an invisible tension in the air that connected them. Daniel’s blood was starting to boil, yet he still couldn’t take a single step toward her.His expressionless face sent one message, but the fire in his eyes sent another. Deanna didn’t understand—was it because of Beverly? Could her fear be true? That he no longer loved her? She bit her lip, hesitating. Why had he come, then? To show her that his love had died and that now he had another woman by his side, someone more suitable?Hours passed, but there was still no reaction from him. She felt her soul slipping a
The music began; the overture played with power, and the melody was so lively that little Jonathan couldn't help but move his feet to the rhythm. He was filled with excitement—it was his first time seeing it live on stage. It was the first time for all of them.The curtain rose, and the play began.As Daniel had explained to Naomi, there were dialogues, fortunately in their own language. The lyrical parts, however, were in German, but at least they could understand what the story was about.And then she appeared…Beautiful, radiant, powerful. Wearing a white period dress, a smile on her lips, and strength in her voice. The first notes left everyone in suspense, and as the first act unfolded, the energy in the theater became
Opera night was no longer what it used to be in the old days, when it was an occasion for ostentation and a gathering of respected members of society. Now, anyone who could afford a ticket could step into the magical world of the theater. But just this once, every single guest would be an ostentatious, respected member of society. Just this once.That was Leonard’s doing—he had made sure Deanna’s debut in her hometown would be done the old-fashioned way. He had sent invitations to those he deemed influential, to the trendsetters, to political figures—anyone who needed to see her sing. He was proud, and he wanted to share that pride with all those who had once whispered behind her back while watching her.Tonight, they would stand and applaud. They would congratulate her at the after-party. Because he and Marcus ha
Daniel was also getting ready, but in a very different way. For him, that night was going to be tough and painful—tough because he’d have to endure seeing her with Leonard, and painful because he’d have to fight the urge to hold her. He didn’t know how much he could take and was trying to prepare himself to keep his impulses in check. Ever since he had met her, everything had been a whirlwind of madness for him. She had turned his life upside down, making him fall in love like a foolish boy.The cold man, hidden in his sorrow, imposing and unshakable, had disappeared a long time ago. Only the facade remained—inside, he had completely crumbled. Just seeing her again was enough to make everything around him falter, because to Daniel, she was a violent gust of wind that knocked him down with nothing but her presence. That’s how in love he was, and that&rsq
Friends are supposed to be unconditional companions that life places in our path so we can share both joys and sorrows. They’re there to lift our spirits when we’re at our lowest or to join us on an adventure. They’re the ears that listen to our dreams and hopes, knowing they’ll tell us the truth, no matter how painful it is. Some even go beyond friendship and become family—the family we choose.Deanna had always been that kind of friend: the reliable one who would listen to you until late at night and then hug you to comfort you. She wouldn’t hesitate to follow you to the ends of the earth in search of the pot of gold, even knowing it didn’t exist. She would marry your brother just to help you build a happy family and would give up many important things just because she considered you even more indispensable. And never, ever, would she betray you
She felt cornered. Why was he suddenly threatening her like that? Everything they had done, they had done for the same purpose. What had changed? But Leonard was right—if she revealed to Daniel how things had actually happened, she would lose him forever."Why are you doing this now?""Because I need to know what happened, in full detail… Everything… and you're going to tell me, baby. Remember, you're gambling with more than just that idiot—think about his career, your ambitions…""You're a bastard…""I know, I know… You just have to tell me what I want, and you can leave in peace. I have my reasons, and I’m not going to explain them to you… You'll understand…"
Naomi paced back and forth from the door to the window, anxious. Ethan had sat down with Jonathan, and they were getting dizzy just watching her. Daniel pretended to read some papers, peering over his glasses at the girl, clearly nervous. Beverly stood on the stairs with her arms crossed, wearing an expression of pure displeasure."Naomi, enough already... for God's sake," Ethan said."When is she going to get here?""She'll be here soon. Why are you so anxious? It's just a dress...""You don't understand anything..."Ethan rolled his eyes. He wasn't excited about shopping in the least; he just wanted to go out with Deanna and spend the day together. The little one watched her go back and f