Daniel was getting anxious. She had gone to her mother's house that afternoon, had not returned, and was not answering his messages. It had been a while since everyone had arrived, his idea was to try to make amends now that it was known what had really happened.
Harry held Emma and felt the same uneasiness, could it be that she didn't want to see him again? Maybe she was deliberately procrastinating, not wanting to show up because he was there. But Deanna never hid like that.
Someone alerted him that a car was approaching. He looked out the window and sure enough, there was a car parked at the door, but no one was getting out.
- Should I wait for you? -
- Weren't you afraid he would see you? -
- It seems to me that he is already watching us... - He gestured with his head towards the window.
Daniel watched them, his face changing.
- Wait for me, but two blocks from here... There's a flower stand on the corner.
- Are you sure? -
- Yes, I'm sure.
He clenched his jaw and turned.
-Children, go to your rooms.
No one reacted.
- Go to your rooms! -
- What's wrong, Daniel? - Susan asked him.
- Tell them to go to their rooms... All three of them! –
The kids looked at each other. No one in the room blinked, they knew that tone. The icy tone he used when he was about to explode. Susan looked out the same window and understood. Oh my God, is that Deanna? And Leonard? She hurried to take Jonathan's hand.
- Come on kids... we'd better go upstairs -
- Why? What's wrong? - Ethan asked.
- Let's go upstairs... -
Daniel was about to explode and no one could stop him. It was better that his children didn't see him.
-Daniel, what's wrong? - Camila asked him.
He remained silent and watched as his children, confused, disappeared down the stairs. When he lost sight of them, he headed for the door.
-Here he comes," Leonard told her.
Deanna got out of the car and had barely closed the door when he was standing in front of her. His face was rugged, his eyes glowing. He grabbed her wrist.
- What are you doing? - he yelled at her.
- Let go of me! -
- What do you think you're doing?! -
- Hey, asshole, let her go! - Reed yelled at him from the car.
Daniel looked at him.
- I'm going to kill you! - he said.
- You want to try? - Leonard opened his door.
- Don't get out, leave! - Deanna told him.
Reed didn't move, but stood there in anticipation. He had never been a good father, never been a father to anyone; but he was ready to stand up to him and defend her if he became more aggressive.
- What do you think you're doing, Deanna?" he shouted again, shaking her arm.
Deanna struggled and let go. She looked at Leonard and he gave her a nod before speeding off. She looked him straight in the eye, glared at him, but didn't say a word, just marched into the house.
Inside, everyone had heard the screams; Harry left Emma in Laura's arms and jumped to his feet.
Deanna came through the door like a hurricane, angry and hurt to the core. Daniel, behind her, completely estranged.
- What were you doing with that guy?! Why did he bring you here?! -
- What do you care?! -
And then he burst out. Not only had she come with Reed, but now she was yelling at him. Was she crazy? He grabbed her arm tightly, making her moan in pain.
- Fucking answer me! -
- Daniel! -
Charles didn't like it when his son got like this, he radiated violence, he was threatening and he knew that if he got out of control it would be even worse. But Daniel didn't listen to him, his head was full of noise, his demons were all screaming at the same time.
- WHAT DO YOU CARE! - Deanna's anger was on the same level as his.
- YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER ME! -
- Let me go! -
- Of course not! Did you go to him?! Did he bring you to the door of MY house to humiliate me?! -
- Daniel, stop it! -Harry tried to intervene.
- You stay out of this! -
- Let her go, you're hurting her! –
- What kind of woman are you to go to your lover and have him bring you to my door?! -
- The same kind of woman you like! -
- Do you want me to show you what my anger looks like, Deanna?! -
- You threaten me?! Show me! What are you going to do, hit me?! No?! Then let me go! -
She struggled harder with him, she was untied, her body shaking with rage. She felt the tears burning behind her eyes, but she could not give in. Daniel finally released her when he saw her so out of control.
- You damned bastard! How dare you have a fit of jealousy after what you did! You're a real bastard! -
He was shocked, she didn't talk like that outside of intimacy.
- You've got a lot of nerve to act offended, Crusher, after what you've done! It seems that lies and manipulation are common currency in this family! - She said the latter, looking at Harry.
- What are you talking about?! -
- You've had enough fun with me! GO TO HELL! I'm sick of you, I'm sick of everybody! What more do you want from me?!... -
Suddenly, she felt what little energy she had left drain out of her body. She was defeated, exhausted. She loved this man so desperately that her pain was equal; she was dying. The fear squeezed her chest so tight she could feel the pressure on her bones.
He managed to take a step in her direction, and then what little strength she had left rose to the surface as if to protect herself. She placed the phone firmly on his chest and he took it.
-Look... Maybe you remember..." She said to him, her voice sounding dejected.
Confused and angry, he looked at the phone screen, his eyes bugging out. The shadow he was trying to hide had escaped its hiding place and was eating everything.
- Deanna...
- What? What do you want to tell me? -
- It's not...
In a second, all his anger was gone as he realized that the noose was around his neck and that he had put it on himself.
- It's not what? It's not what it looks like?! Don't even try to make a fool of me anymore...! It was all a lie... It was all a lie! Did you have fun? Tell me! -
Harry stood next to her and ripped the device out of Daniel's hands.
- You're an asshole... - He said, accusing him.
- Deanna, I can explain.
- Explain? Don't bother, it's more than clear... You weren't supposed to be like this... You were supposed to love me, that all the things we've been through wouldn't keep us apart... We were supposed to fight for it together! And while I endured everyone's contempt, even yours, you were sleeping with another woman! -
- That didn't happen! -
She picked up her phone again and in a fit of rage slammed it to the ground at Daniel's feet. It shattered into pieces, just like her heart. The next thing she did was to take the ring off her finger. The ring he had given her once in his car to pretend their relationship was real. Not even when she had been so angry at his words and actions and had left the house had she taken it off. She threw it right back in his face.
-You were right," she told Harry.
Finally, Deanna relaxed her shoulders, it was done for her. She started up the stairs, Daniel couldn't move.
- Where are you going? - Harry asked.
- To get my things...
What?!
-Wait, Dean...
Harry tried to follow her, but Daniel came running out, running up the stairs in long, desperate strides. He stopped her halfway and grabbed her hand, but she let go.
- Don't touch me -
- Don't go away -
- And stay and let you continue to play with me? Go to hell... You and I have nothing more to do... -
- No, Deanna, please... -
- What happened to you? Two minutes ago, you were a monster blinded by your wounded pride, and now you're begging me? I don't want you to beg! I don't want anything from you! -
Deanna continued to climb, but he couldn't follow her. He realized he had lost her and would not be able to hold her.