- What happened? - Camilla asked Harry.
- Your son is stupid, he lost the only good thing he could have had by sleeping with Beverly -
- What? That can't be...
- What can't be, Mom? I told you not to ruin it! - He yelled at his brother.
She walked into the room, her room, the one she had shared with him for so long; she leaned against the door and tried to fight back the fear that was making it hard for her to breathe. She inhaled and exhaled through her mouth several times, large amounts of air each time; she was about to give up.
She grabbed a bag from the shelf and began to fill it quickly, without looking at what she was grabbing or what she was putting in it. She didn't need any of it, she just wanted to get out, run away, get lost. She didn't want to see him again.
- Daniel, do something! - Harry urged him.
- What do you want me to do? -
- Beg her, beg her forgiveness, anything... She'll leave...
- It won't do any good... she hasn't forgiven you either -
- Damn you, you told me so many times to stay away from her because I disturbed her life and you're even worse -
Daniel looked at him, he was not the same Daniel Crusher anymore. As it had happened to Leonard a few hours before, he had also been reduced to a wreck. But he didn't know what to do or how to act, it seemed that the women he had loved were slipping through his fingers and he couldn't stop them. He couldn't stop them from leaving. Emily was taken by illness and all he could do was watch. Deanna, no matter how much he locked her in a cage, he could never reach her again. She hesitated to say goodbye to the children. The little boy's quiet smile between anger and pain came to mind, his soft caresses, his big colorful eyes, and she felt the pain in her chest. She couldn't face them. What was she going to tell them? If she didn't get out of this house now, she would fall apart.
In a hurry, her body flooded with fear and sadness, she went back down the stairs, almost running. She didn't look at anyone, not even at Daniel, who just watched her disappear from his life. But Harry tried.
- Dean! Deanna! - He tried to get in her way and catch up with her, but she dodged him and continued on her way.
- Daniel! - He called to his brother again.
He didn't move an inch until the door closed and he had to lean on the banister because his legs went slack.
Deanna quickened her pace, as if something was chasing her. She couldn't let herself get caught, if she did, she'd be back in his arms anyway. She walked and walked, the few streets to the flower stand had turned into a mountain climb.
She arrived almost shuffling and Reed was there. She opened the car door and threw the bag in the back seat before getting in. She did, she left him.
- Where are we going? - Leonard asked.
- Take me to a hotel -
- Stay with me at my place... -
- No. Take me to a hotel.
Going back to Philippa's house was out of the question. After what had happened with her father, going back defeated by what Daniel had done would be another blow to her mother.
Leonard drove, just drove. After more than 25 years, he was again being useful for more than just making money and women. He did something for her.
He took her to one of the many hotels he frequented. It was the same one. The concierge already knew him and was not surprised to see him with another young woman. He walked her to the door of the room, but didn't even bother to enter. He put her bag on the floor and waited for her to enter.
-Thank you," Deanna told him before locking herself in the room.
And again he felt satisfaction and the connection to her was reborn. Only this time it was different, now he knew why he had it and her "thank you", though empty, lit a spark of hope in him.
Daniel had collapsed on the stairs, sitting with his face in his hands, not moving. Harry, on the other hand, was elated.
- I'll go get her -
- Harry, no - Laura told him.
- Didn't you see how she was? -
- Yes, but you can't go and get her. She's not coming back.
- She came all the way here with Leonard Reed? What was she doing with him? - Camila asked indignantly.
- I don't know, Mom... Where did she go? -
- Harry, there's nothing we can do - Laura insisted.
- If she was with him, it's because they have something... - Camila still wasn't tired of questioning her.
- Leave her alone. You've done enough to her - Charles said as he stood up.
He went to the stairs and adjusted his coat without looking at his eldest son.
-Today is the first time you've failed me, Daniel.
- Charles! What are you saying? -
- That's enough, Camilla. That's enough, all of you. Leave this poor girl alone. Ever since she came to this family, she's been harassed and bullied. It's better for her to stay away from us.
- But didn't you see her arrive in Reed's car? –
- So what, Camila? Are you going to make a moral speech after what he did? No one can say anything about her, she stood up for everyone, covered everyone's messes, put up with Daniel's tantrums and Harry's lies, took care of your grandchildren as if they were her own, what can you complain about her for? -
Charles was right and Camilla didn't argue.
Deanna locked herself in the bedroom bathroom. There, alone, she could finally let go of her grief. But the tears refused to come. She sat down on the floor in a corner and covered her face with a towel. But the tears still wouldn't come. Apparently, her body was so exhausted that it couldn't even release all the pressure in her chest.
She couldn't cry. The images of him, of both of them, of the children, of Emma, that came into her mind, did not free her. Not even remembering the sensations of her body when he touched her or his hot kisses, she couldn't get the weight off her shoulders.
The events had followed one after the other without giving her a break. Just when it seemed they were getting out of trouble, a new one would appear to drag them down. She was convinced that what everyone had said was true had actually happened: The marriage was doomed.
Of all that had happened, his cheating on her with Beverly had come as a shock, but also as a kind of revelation. She had realized how foolish she had been to believe that love would come into her life, that she would have a family to care for and a husband who would love her despite their differences. And yet she also knew that she would continue to love him the only way she knew how: with everything she was.
Daniel found himself with nothing again. Locked in his office, torturing himself with the guilt he felt. He didn't even answer when Susan knocked on his door. The tears came, and for the first time since Emily's death, he cried inconsolably, choking at himself, blaming himself, cursing himself. That woman had turned his world upside down, coming in like a storm, destroying everything that held him in sadness, and now she was gone the same way, leaving his life in ruins.