Day Ten.

It had been more than a year since Carmen put on a dress this beautiful and expensive. And, if she were being honest with herself, she didn't entirely like it. Carmen could only think of herself as a mother now. She wore simple shirts with cheesy sayings and old sweatpants that got dirty with baby food, snot, drool, and markers. She rarely ever did her hair, almost never did her make up. Not that all mothers were as sloppy as she was but, she was trapped in that stupid penthouse 24/7. Why even bother?

Carmen used to fawn over women that got to wear clothing like this. She once wished she could live a life where she didn't have to look at the price tag and hang on the arm of a rich man she managed to charm with her beauty. Luckily, both of those things had come true thanks to the path she took as a desperate teenager. Unfortunately, this path came with a price that did not end in a dollar sign. It was her own happiness and freedom. Somehow, she found it ironic that she didn't see that coming.

After all these years, Carmen ended up putting aside her materialistic wishes to take care of her children without any distraction. Dresses like the one one she was wearing now was something she would've appreciated more in the past. It was different now. She didn't care about what she was wearing, as long as she could still carry a child on her hip and get it dirty without worrying.

"Finally! The wife is here!" Ezra shouted as he threw open the door to Carmen's hotel room.

Carmen turned from the mirror she was staring into and towards Ezra as he smirked and gestured out the door of her hotel room, his eyes gripping her soul as he stared. Bailey excitedly hopped off the bed and called for her father as she rushed towards him. Ezra humored his daughter by kneeling in front of her and complimenting how beautiful she looked in her fancy dress. Bailey giggled and threw her arms around her father's neck.

Carmen hated when Ezra did that. He didn't care about Bailey. She knew that more than anyone. But, since Bailey was so young and impressionable, he took that as his chance to manipulate her into thinking he actually did care for her. Likely, so she would grow up thinking of her father as a loving man and never leave his side, thus trapping Carmen with him for the rest of her life. Even if Carmen attempted to leave, he had already threatened to start a custody battle to take away Carmen's babies, just to spite her.

Carmen pushed away her hatred for Ezra and hurried to grab Malik from the floor where he was playing with a light up toy. As Carmen joined her husband and daughter by the door, she reached for Bailey's hand as she held Malik on her opposite hip but, Bailey rejected her to hold her father's hand. Ezra cockily smirked as he winked at Carmen, who simply glared back at him with murder in her eyes.

Carmen, Ezra, Bailey, and Malik walked as a family through the halls of the hotel and towards the elevator, where two bodyguards were waiting. Carmen didn't say a word to her husband until he spoke to her in the quiet, tense, small space of the hotel elevator.

"This is the part where you start telling me all about your new friendship with Ms. Zoe Yang." Ezra whispered as he leant towards Carmen, just to invade her personal space.

Carmen shifted uncomfortably, staring forward at the silver doors of the elevator. She only let her gaze falter when she noticed Bailey playing with Ezra's many, many rings. "What exactly did she tell you about our new friendship? Maybe I can help fill in the gaps."

Ezra chuckled and shook his head as he also stared forward. "Nice try, Carmen. You've just said that to trick me into handing you a believable lie on a silver platter but, by attempting such a thing, you've revealed there's something to hide about your little story."

"I have nothing to hide, Ezra." Carmen finally turned to look at her husband, who also turned to stare curiously, daringly into her eyes. "My life doesn't much extend outside of our penthouse. And, like you enjoy reminding me all the time, there is nothing I can do outside of your supervision that you don't know about."

The silver doors opened and Bailey was the first to hop out, pulling her father along with her. They were in the lobby now, which was full of people so, Carmen wiped the anger from her face and followed her husband and her daughter with her son on her hip. Ezra tried to keep a neutral expression but almost nothing angered him as much as when Carmen talked back to him. Five years and she never feared him. It was a constant headache.

The only other person to go head to head with him was Zoe Yang, which was exactly why he wanted to know every little detail of their friendship. After all, Ezra couldn't risk it being some kind of alliance against his very being.

"I met Zoe Yang at the mall three blocks down from the house." Carmen calmly explained once they were all sat in the black van that was waiting in front of the hotel. Ezra looked at her but she did not look at him. "You know I take the kids there every Tuesday and Thursday to let them have some fresh air and exercise. Zoe was there, looking at shoes, I recognized her, and dared to greet her. I told her you were a fan of her parents work and that you were working your hardest to get on the guest list to a Sensation event."

Ezra's eyes narrowed as he cocked his head at Carmen's unbelievable claims. Carmen turned to Ezra, staring him fearlessly in his dark, cryptic eyes so, her lies would be more believable.

"How else do you think you got on the list so suddenly after working for three years to even find the right connections? You said I'm the key to getting you in, right? Because Zoe knows me, not you." Carmen smirked.

Ezra's disbelieving stare turned flat and dead as he glared at his wife. Now, he couldn't help but wonder how much of that story was true and, if it was, he wondered how angry he should be at her for getting him into these luxurious events on her own term without consulting him first. Ezra was also partially disbelieving that his wife could pull off something that elite. She hadn't even hinted at the fact that Ezra wouldn't be able to get into the Sensation events without her. And she hadn't named a price for this opportunity she claimed to hand him.

What was her game?

Of course, Carmen was lying. And, if Ezra could hear the speed of her heart racing right now, he would surely realize that. Carmen knew she had to come up with something that didn't involve Teddy, though. She wouldn't ever allow her brother to end up in Ezra's path. Luckily, Carmen had the entire time she was packing, flying, and resting in her hotel room to come up with that lie. Even more lucky than that, it was working. She could tell Ezra believed her.

"And what do you get out of this?" Ezra's eyes narrowed again as he carefully studied Carmen. "I work three years to get into these events, finally get my name on the list, and you swoop in claiming credit for it? Why? So, I owe you? So, I am finally in your debt?"

Carmen cockily shrugged as she turned her attention forward. She liked that idea. She hadn't thought of that. Her plan had only gotten her as far as the lie. Beyond that, Carmen hadn't realized what this little lie could grant her.

"Maybe I do want something."

"And what makes you think I would give you anything? I still own you, Carmen. You live under my roof, eat my food, spend my money, and you think this little, little thing you've done is going to make you my equal?" Ezra pushed.

Carmen's cocky smirk faded as anger festered in the deepest parts of her bones. She was growing so angry at Ezra's arrogance that her hands were nearly shaking. Everything Ezra said was foolish. She lived under his roof because he beat her if she left without permission. She ate whatever food she brought back from the two days a week she was allowed to leave. She spent his money because he forbade her from having a life and a job outside of his house. Even if this whole thing was a lie, the fact that she came up with it made her ten times as smart as this imbecile.

"I hope that's something you remember and regret on the day you realize you've underestimated me." Carmen quietly spat back at her husband, tearing his skin off his body with just her eyes.

"It's been five years, Carmen. I don't have to estimate anything about you. I know you." Ezra grinned. "You're cowardly, obedient, scared, and there will never be a day that you convince me otherwise."

Carmen nearly reached for Ezra and strangled him, here, in this very van but, the fact that her two children were with them stopped her. Granted, Malik was too little to likely remember something like that and Bailey was busy watching a cartoon on the iPad she handed her. Ezra could tell by the twitching of her murderous expression that those very thoughts were running through her head and, it made his grin spread even wider across his face.

The rest of the car ride was silent as they road through heavy L.A. traffic to get to the only Sensation event of the evening. When they arrived, there were paparazzi and celebrities lining the entrance. Carmen took a deep, deep breath to steady her nerves and her anger as she braced herself for this chaos. She wasn't in the spotlight very often, or ever so, it was hard to be prepared for something like this. Ezra was the first one out of the car as it pulled up the glittery carpet leading up with the busy venue. Carmen plucked the iPad out of Bailey's hand and pulled her out of the van before she grabbed Malik and put him on her hip.

Ezra waved to some paparazzi, although, he wasn't that well known so, not many bothered to take pictures of him. Carmen sighed at Ezra's attempt at fame and continued forwards towards the event, Ezra hurrying to keep up with his two bodyguards shutting the door of the van and driving away. The bouncer at the front door stopped Carmen and Ezra, though, two other looking over him as they stared down at Ezra and his family.

"Name!" The main bouncer with the clipboard demanded, his heavy voice much louder than the paparazzi yelling at celebrities behind them.

"Ezra Zaki!" Ezra proudly announced.

The bouncer looked through the long list, flipping through the many pages twice. Carmen was getting anxious standing in front of all these cameras in a dress she didn't feel fit her and her children nervously clinging to her.

"Not on the list." The bouncer plainly stated.

Carmen looked up at the bouncer in shock. Even Ezra was dumbstruck by that claim. That didn't make sense. He was on the list. He knew he was. Even Carmen said she had gotten him into the event by smooth talking one of the Yang's. That made Ezra wonder if Carmen was lying to him about ever getting him on the list in the first place. Was this all for show? To get him to make a fool of himself? Then, why would Carmen put herself in this situation. She was clearly uncomfortable in this world. None of this was adding up.

"Step aside, please!" The bouncer demanded.

When Ezra didn't react quick enough, one of the bouncers behind him stepped out and pushed Ezra towards the crowded paparazzi that lined the glittery carpet they were stood on. Ezra was awestruck, appalled by the brute that put his hands on him and the other that claimed he wasn't invited in. Ezra then looked at Carmen, who hadn't been pushed aside and was still standing on the carpet with his two children in her grasp. Even she looked shocked and confused.

"Carmen Morgan?" The main bouncer asked, his attention glued to Carmen, who nervously gulped as she stared up at him. "And, I assume these are your children?"

Carmen hesitated as she wrapped her head around what was happening. She had to keep up her ruse that this was all apart of her plan and she had everything under control, though so, Carmen nodded. "Yes. That's me and this is them."

The bouncer didn't say a word as he stepped aside and unlatched the red rope, the other two bouncers also stepping aside. Carmen was frozen in awe. She did not expect this. There was a door being opened to her and her only. Freedom, independence, opportunity. It was all standing in front of her. All she had to do was step forward. Carmen had never felt so smug in her entire life, which made her quickly scramble for something snarky to say to Ezra.

As one of the bouncers unhooked the red rope in front of her, Carmen flashed a smug smirk back at Ezra. "I told you not to underestimate me, darling. Why don't you think about your attitude while you're in a timeout and I might consider letting you in?"

Ezra wasn't prepared with any comeback as he stared in awe at his wife. Satisfied with the look on her husbands face, Carmen continued forward with her head held high and her strides confident. Ezra finally shouted for her but he was pushed back by the bouncers. All he could do was watch his wife and her children trot into the most elite event of the year without him. Exclusively, purposefully, and spitefully without him.

Once Carmen was further into the venue and mixed into the crowd of mingling celebrities and filthy rich businessmen, she had no idea what to do or where to go. The only thing she could think about was the fact there were so many diamonds everywhere. They were being strung from the high ceilings, littered decorative tables all over the place, and sparkled in the chandeliers and jewelry slung over all the rich people that surrounded her.

"Excuse me, Ma'am-" Someone to Carmen's left blurted through the idle chatter and classical music filling the room. Carmen flinched but turned to find a young woman that appeared to be dressed as a member of the staff. "Do you need help finding someone?"

Carmen gulped and nodded. "Y-Yes, actually.. Zoe. Zoe Yang. She specifically invited me so, I would at least like to say hello before I go."

"Oh, alright." The young woman smiled. "Follow me. The press conference has already begun but, after that, she will be free to greet her guests for the rest of the night."

Carmen was a bit uncomfortable and confused, of course but, she followed the woman anyways. It was quickly becoming obvious to Carmen as she ventured further into this event that the brands Sensation and Tiffany & Co had joined together for this event. The Tiffany & Co brand was mixed in with anything involving the Sensation brand. The artwork on the walls of Sensation designs were littered with diamonds, the white car in the middle of the huge hallway between all the rooms had diamonds lining almost every detail of the model.

The room the young woman led Carmen to was huge, loud, and full of guests all crowded towards the back of the room where the press conference was happening, a whole wall of windows on the other side where paparazzi were trying to snap pictures of anything they could see. The woman gestured Carmen towards the press conference and Carmen thanked her before she made her way to the side of the room, not wanting to be too close to the crowd or lose her children within it.

Carmen stood and listened to Mr. and Mrs. Yang give their presentation for a few minutes before the lights in the room went dark. Bailey squealed and Carmen chuckled as she stroked her daughter's hair and let her cling to her leg for safety. Intense action-movie music began to play all around the room as the entire back wall lit up in sparkling lights that reflected the effect of a million diamonds shimmering in the darkness. Everyone in the crowd got a bit more excited as the rhythm of the music built.

The special effects on the wall changed and flashed, showing off Sensation logos all over the wall with the Yang's names and their various Sensation business partners also flashing on the wall. Soon, the sparkling lights formed the model a Sensation car driving across the wall, everyone in the crowd was captivated by the way the lights managed to portray moving wheels and even the turning of the vehicle on a flat surface. Even Carmen was amused.

Eventually, after the special effects show, the music and the lights calmed. As the room stayed dark, the music turned from fast action to slow suspense, causing the crowd to stay on their toes. Again, the sparkling lights came back, now dancing atop a black sheet that covered a car behind rolled on the main floor of the room. Everyone moved out of the way of the slow moving car, pulling out their phones to get ready for the reveal. Carmen craned her neck, curious as to what was going on.

The sparkles atop the black sheet turned into three big beams of light, one at a time, with the best of the suspenseful music. And then, on the fourth beat, the two men standing behind the car that had rolled it on to the main floor, grabbed the sheet and torn it off. In and instant, the car underneath was revealed. In a pitch black room, the Sensation model covered completely in diamonds shone blindingly in the middle of the room.

The crowd erupted in shock and amazement as their cameras flashed to take pictures. Even the music had changed from low suspense to a peppy, techno chime. But, nobody got closer to the car as the two men behind it walked around it to keep people back. It wasn't until one of the men reached for the front door that people realized why they had to stay back. Because, once the door opened, Zoe Yang stepped out in a Tiffany Blue, sparkling gown. That earned another loud eruption from the room.

Zoe sheepishly, but smugly, flashed a grin as stepped elegantly around the car, showing off the diamonds that her long fingers grazed so gently over. Even more people were taking pictures and trying to get Zoe's attention as she sauntered around the car, showing off the car and herself. Carmen couldn't help but clap, feeling a sense of pride at how gorgeous Zoe looked all dolled up in a diamond covered dress and her hair pinned up so nicely.

The lights slowly rose again and some of the crowd turned back to the full wall to see Mr. and Mrs. Yang stepping out again with microphones in their hands. Zoe stood idly beside the car as her parents began another speech about how the event, this year, would consist on collaboration. Today, it was Tiffany & Co, and they had a mind-blowing prop to show tribute to their collaborator. They happily warned their guests to anticipate many more mind-blowing tributes to their collaborators throughout the event.

When the speech was over, the Yang's disappeared behind the wall again and everyone turned their attention back to the car in the middle of the room. The music was casual, the lights were all back on, and Zoe had dropped her elegant composure to greet the guests so eager to greet her. The two men beside the car still stood like body guards as they watched everyone ooh and ahh at the car between them.

Luckily, it wasn't long before Zoe migrated around the room and spotted Carmen against the wall. Her already big, brown eyes instantly widened and a huge smile spread across her face. Zoe hurried towards Carmen, leaving everyone else behind, and wrapped Carmen in a suffocating hug.

"Carmen! I'm so happy you're here!" Zoe excitingly squealed as she squeezed Carmen in her arms.

Carmen nervously chuckled. "Oh, Zoe Yang... You have no idea the things I'm risking to be here right now."

Zoe let go and stared Carmen in her beautiful, brown eyes. "I know, I know. I am so, so sorry for putting you in a situation like this but... I wanted to help."

"Help?" Carmen breathed in disbelief. "What are you helping me with, sweetheart? I'm fine."

Zoe frowned like a poor, little puppy. The expression made her eyes sparkle and her long eyelashes flutter. She was really quite pretty all dressed up like this, in Carmen's opinion. Her blonde, pinned up, locks went well with this color blue and the diamonds that littered her up-do so elegantly. She looked like a character in The Hunger Games with her bright make up, big dress, sparkly hair, and big eyes. But, somehow, she was pulling it off like it was no problem. Zoe was a natural.

"I just..." Zoe grabbed Carmen's hand as she held her frown. "I ran into Ezra at a fancy restaurant my mother had barged into and I just couldn't help but be angry at him. I wanted to make him pay for ever hurting you and your family."

Carmen smiled but there was still a lot of sadness behind the expression. "I very much appreciate the sentiment, Zoe but, Ezra is out there right now, thinking of all the different ways he knows will make me miserable once I step out of here."

"I can protect you!" Zoe excitedly chimed as she stepped closer to Carmen so, she could talk lowly and be heard by Carmen and Carmen only. "I'm a Yang, Carmen. Ezra might think he has something over you but, I promise, you would be safe under our name."

Carmen's sad smile shifted into nothing but a sad frown as she stared right back at Zoe, her mind racing at a mile a minute. "I don't want to be protected, Zoe. I don't want to cower behind anyone's name. I just want to stand behind my own and live my life how I please. And, until I can do that, I'm not complaining. I'm okay."

Zoe nodded. "I know. I understand. I won't push it. But, I will say, you will always receive help from us if you ever, ever need it. I promise you. And if you don't want to be freed yet, at least, let me show you a good time before the magic wears off and you have to go back to being Cinderella again."

A smile returned to Carmen's beautiful face again, this time full of genuine joy. After a quick moment of contemplation, Carmen squeezed Zoe's hand and nodded. "Alright. Might as well make the most of this moment. It sounds nice to live my own life just for tonight."

"Exactly." Zoe happily grinned. "Let's get you dressed up first. This is a collaboration event with Tiffany & Co and you aren't wearing any jewelry."

Carmen chuckled and agreed, looking down to grab Bailey's arm and get her attention. "Bailey, can you say hi to Auntie Zoe? Do you remember her?"

Zoe felt an incredible warmth fill her body at the sound of that little title. Auntie Zoe. It almost made her emotional. It almost sounded like Zoe had a family. A real one. And it meant even more to her that Carmen was the one that place that title on Zoe. Carmen liked and trusted Zoe enough to call her the aunt of her children. Not to mention, that inherently meant she had some kind of romantic relationship with Teddy that gave her that title. That part made Zoe blush.

"Hello, Bailey." Zoe squatted in front of the little, familiar girl and flashed a happy smile, causing the big skirt of her dress to seem even bigger. "Do you remember me?"

Bailey nervously held onto her mother's fingers and sucked on the thumb of her free hand as she stared at Zoe with big, brown eyes. Bailey did not confirm nor deny if she remembered Zoe but, she did seem comfortable enough to step forward and take her thumb out of her mouth just to reach for the flowers and diamonds on Zoe's dress. Zoe showed off the details and diamonds of her dress to Bailey to win her over, which seemed to work as Bailey smiled at her.

"I bet I could get you a tiara, you know." Zoe whispered to Bailey, although, Carmen could hear her just fine. "You could be a real life princess tonight. Should we do that? Make you a princess?"

Bailey hesitated but eventually nodded, causing Zoe's smile to broaden. When Zoe stood again, she reached for Bailey's hand and Bailey complied. Carmen smiled fondly at her daughter and the young girl who was being so kind and friendly with her family. Zoe began to lead Bailey through the room and Carmen took a breath before she followed.

Carmen couldn't help but notice the similarities between Zoe and Teddy. They both had the impulse to protect. That brought Carmen some comfort. She was sure they could take good care of one another if they let themselves get close enough. Unfortunately, it was that very passion to protect that Carmen feared was keeping Teddy at bay. He had lost so much. Of course, he would be worried that he wouldn't be able to protect a girl like Zoe.

"Do you see all these pretty tiara's, Bailey?" Zoe knelt beside the little girl as they both stood in front of one of the glass display cases that held thousands and thousands of dollars worth of jewels.

The diamonds were lit up by the little lights inside the glass that danced beautifully in Bailey's big, brown eyes as she stared so intently at all the tiara's in front of her. It made Zoe smile. She almost felt like she had a little sister to show off all these pretty things to. Or, more appropriately, a niece. But, yet again, Zoe was an only child in an unloving family. She could only assume this intense joy and pride and warmth being with Carmen and her kids is what loving your family felt like.

"Which one is your favorite?" Zoe whispered to the girl she was knelt beside. Bailey took a moment before she raised her hand, that didn't have a finger in her mouth, and pointed to one of the tiara's. "You know, I'll give you that tiara if you stop sucking your thumb."

Bailey turned to Zoe, her eyebrows slightly furrowed and a hint of a frown on her face. "Why?" She finally spoke, talking around the finger in her mouth.

Carmen, stood silently beside them, dropped her jaw in shock. Bailey almost never spoke. And she definitely never entertainment Carmen when she warned Bailey not to suck on her thumb. The fact that Bailey was so comfortable around Zoe was surprising but, if Carmen saw the similarities between Zoe and Teddy, maybe Bailey felt it too. Bailey absolutely adored Teddy. If Zoe gave off the same vibe, maybe Bailey was bound to adore Zoe as well.

"Because, if you keep sucking your thumb when your big girl teeth come in, you're going to ruin them. Look at my teeth. Aren't they pretty?" Zoe beautifully smiled, showing off all her pretty, perfectly aligned, pearly whites.

Bailey stared at Zoe's teeth until Zoe shut her mouth, her big eyes raising to Zoe's as she contemplated the argument passed to her. Finally, Bailey nodded.

"So, will you stop sucking your thumb for me? If you do, I'll let you take the tiara home with you and you can be a princess everyday." Zoe proposed once more.

Bailey hesitated, Carmen and Zoe both staring at her as they waited to see if it would work. Zoe knew Carmen was trying to get Bailey to stop sucking her thumb so, Zoe wanted to see if she could help. And, after a moment, it did work. Bailey slowly pulled her thumb out of her mouth and wiped it dry on her little purple dress. Carmen's shocked expression turned joyful as she marveled at her daughter and at Zoe, impressed by them both.

"Good job, Princess." Zoe beamed happily at Bailey. She gestured towards the person behind the counter without even looking up, a tiara soon being placed in her hand. Zoe showed the tiara to Bailey, who's eyes got wide with intrigue. "As long you keep from sucking your thumb, my promise still stands. Don't suck your thumb while wearing this tiara and you can keep it."

"Okay.." Bailey softly muttered.

"Promise?" Zoe teased with a bright smile, raising her pinky finger to Bailey.

Bailey looked at Zoe's sparkling makeup, her pretty eyes, pretty hair, beautiful dress, her pearly white teeth, and then her pinky finger before she made up her mind. Zoe looked like a real life princess so, Bailey believed that she would really be one too if Zoe said so. She could give up sucking her thumb to be like Zoe. Pretty and kind, just like a princess.

"Promise." Bailey nodded, holding her small pinky up to Zoe's so they could both wrap around each other.

With Bailey's promise, Zoe raised the tiara above Bailey's head and slowly lowered it to place it on top of her head, right in front of her wild curls that were all pulled into a messy, fluffy ponytail. Bailey reached her hands up to feel the tiara on her head and a smile spread across her face. Zoe reaches up again for the hand mirror from the person behind the counter before she held it in front of Bailey. The sight of the tiara on Bailey's head made her softly gasp, which made both Carmen and Zoe chuckle.

"Mommy!" Bailey turned to Carmen, who had tears in her eyes as she watched her baby girl come to life like this. "Princess!"

"Yes!" Carmen beamed with pure joy, her tears pooling in her eyes but never falling. "You're a princess, baby girl. You're my princess."

Bailey turned back to the hand mirror and stole it from Zoe to stare into it. Zoe stood again, towering over the five year old as her eyes lifted to Carmen. "I hope those are tears of joy." Zoe awkwardly smiled.

"Oh, of course!" Carmen sniffled as she tried to gather herself. She couldn't take her eyes off of Bailey. "I've just never seen her that excited about anything. You've just made my baby feel so happy, I'm overwhelmed."

"You said I was her aunt, right?" Zoe played with the tight curls of Bailey's hair as she stared into the mirror she was holding. Carmen stared awestruck at Zoe, still a glisten in her eyes from the tears that hadn't ridden themselves yet. "That's what you're suppose to do for family. Take care of each other, make each other happy, protect each other."

Carmen couldn't hold back the tears this time. They simply poured from her eyes like a waterfall. Zoe was slightly caught off guard, instantly worried that she had struck some kind cord that offended or hurt Carmen. To her surprise, though, Carmen stepped towards Zoe and wrapped her free arm around her to pull her into a tight hug. Zoe reluctantly hugged Carmen back, feeling warm and comfortable in the arms of someone she trusted.

"How are you this sweet? You're like an angel." Carmen's voice broke and faltered on Zoe's shoulder as she sniffled back more sobs.

"It's no big deal, Carmen. Really. This is the absolute least I could do, considering all the things I want to do for you." Zoe awkwardly chuckled.

"Ugh!" Carmen let go of Zoe and wiped away her tears. "There you go again."

Zoe smiled at Carmen as she collected herself the best she could. It really wasn't like she was going out of her way to be nice to Carmen. It wasn't just because she was Teddy's sister either. There was so much about Carmen that Zoe related to and envied. Carmen was trapped in this world, her life attached to a leash that someone more powerful than her held on to, and, in order to feel happy in that endless misery, she had kids to keep her company and distract her from the awful world she lived in.

And above all of that, Carmen was still fearless and caring and honest. She did not let the world she lived in make her into the person it wanted her to be. She was still Carmen. A girl from Ohio, Teddy's older sister, someone who had lost everything but, still fought for her own happiness. Zoe had become everything this world wanted her to be but she still held on to things about herself that this world wanted to destroy. Like her generosity and empathy towards others. They wanted her to be cold but Zoe refused.

No matter what happened to her, what this world tried to turn Zoe into, she wanted to be like Carmen and hold on to the little pieces of herself that held so strongly. She wanted to always surround herself with people she loved and that loved her. She wanted to be as courageous and caring and strong as Carmen. She wanted to always fight, like Carmen.

"Are you going to get dressed up?" Zoe gestured towards the jewelry counter, her eyes glued to Carmen as she finished wiping tears from her cheeks.

Carmen looked at the jewels hanging on the wall behind the glass counter and then at everything inside said glass counter. "Oh no, Zoe, that's not necessary. I don't have the money to pay for all of this stuff. You can have Bailey's tiara back before we leave, too."

"Nonsense!" Zoe gestured a hand towards the person behind the counter, again without looking, and spoke as the person placed the exact right necklace in her hand. "You deserve pretty things like this, Carmen. Besides, this is my family's party. I'll pay for them."

Carmen's eyes followed the diamond necklace as Zoe stepped towards her and held it up, showing off all the beautiful, slightly pink diamonds that surrounded the perfectly clear ones, as if resembling flowers. It was certainly a gorgeous necklace but Carmen could only imagine how expensive it was. She couldn't imagine wearing something like that on any other day but today. She hardly ever wore jewelry and she couldn't see herself wearing something like that necklace just casually to the mall or something.

"Zoe, I really don't need jewelry. Trust me. With these two, it will get broken or lost or-" Carmen began but was cut off when Zoe slipped behind her and raised the necklace over her head to clip it behind her neck.

"What if you decide you want to be free? Do you have the money you would need to escape and take care of yourself? Do you know where to go without money?" Zoe whispered behind Carmen as she fussed with the necklace, her eyes glancing around the room to make sure Ezra wasn't in sight. "Take the necklace, the earrings, bracelets, tiara's.. anything. Take them and pawn them in an emergency so you can live free."

Carmen gulped as she listened to Zoe, feeling a rush of anxiety at the fantasy of escaping the leash that Ezra had on her and her kids. Even if she did run and she had all the money in the world to do so, there was no way Ezra would just forget about her. He was a man hungry for control and power. Besides, there was no way Carmen would make it out of the party with all these jewels and not have them instantly confiscated by Ezra. She was never allowed to have anything without Ezra's permission and these jewels were not on his acceptance list.

Carmen didn't say anything as she was dressed in more jewels than she had ever put on at one time. Bracelets, rings, earrings, all of it. At one point in her life, she would've died for a day like this but, the reality of it wasn't as grand as she once imagined. She wasn't putting on these jewels because she worked so hard to become the head CEO of a big company and had earned this lifestyle. She was putting all of this one to hopefully, one day, save her and her children's lives.

"Thank you, Zoe.." Carmen choked once she was all done up in crystal clear diamonds.

"No need to thank me." Zoe shrugged.

They both were silent for a moment before someone approached Zoe and excitedly greeted her, Zoe gasping at the sight of a familiar face. Carmen stood back and stayed quiet, as she was used to, while Zoe conversed with the woman that approached. It was a Sensation event and Zoe was a Yang so, she was bound to have people flocking towards her all evening. Carmen wasn't really meant to be around people, though, let alone talk to them. Ezra didn't like it.

"And, I'm very sorry, I didn't introduced myself to you." The woman suddenly averted her attention to Carmen and jutted her hand out towards her with a friendly smile. "My name's Patricia Claire. Who might you be?"

"Oh!" Carmen perked up, surprised that she was being acknowledged. She also reached her hand out, her new bracelets jingling as she moved. "Carmen! Carmen Morgan."

"It's very nice to meet you, Carmen. And your children are very, very adorable little creations." Patricia grinned as she waved at Malik, who was too tired to pay her any attention, and then at Bailey, who shyly waved back.

"Thank you.." Carmen nervously smiled and held Malik closer. She wasn't used to being this exposed and thrusted out of her comfort zone like this.

"And how do you know each other?" Patricia asked, her body language displaying that she was about to get comfortable and have an in depth conversation, which frightened Carmen.

"Oh, I'm friends with her brother." Zoe carelessly confessed, causing Carmen's entire body to tense up.

"And what's his name? Does he go to June Dicken's Private School, maybe?" Patricia not-so-coyly smirked.

"No!" Carmen jumped in as she saw her opportunity. "He goes to school in another state. You wouldn't know him."

Zoe peered towards Carmen, very slowly picking up on her nervous body language and her quick dismiss of Patricia's question. It wasn't until Zoe thought about it that she realized Carmen probably didn't want Teddy's name in such a high class circle. He was just a kid, going to school in Ohio, with a target on his back already just by being Zoe's friend. Carmen didn't want anyone in this world to become familiar with his name.

"Yes, right.." Zoe nervously turned back to Patricia. "He doesn't go to June Dicken's. You wouldn't know him. But, how is everyone else there? I haven't seen them in, it feels like, so long."

"Oh, my students are doing wonderful!" Patricia shamelessly bragged, one sentence dragging on to the next and the next as she gloated over how wonderful June Dicken's was and how amazing of a teacher she was.

Zoe was never in any of Patricia's classes but everyone there knew Patricia Claire. Mostly because she had been caught multiple times paying male sex workers to visit her house. There were a lot of bdsm rumors about Patricia Claire that she never bothered to confirm nor deny but, she was also too powerful to get fired.

Patricia tried to talk to Carmen and get to know her and even asked where she planned to enroll Bailey, offering her an opportunity to apply to June Dicken's when she was older. Carmen was quick to shoot down that offer. She didn't want her daughter going to such a high-class, exclusive, private school like that. Carmen was secretly worried that kids would find out that Bailey wasn't rich, just her father was, and get made fun of for mooching off her father's money.

Maybe she was just projecting but, still, Carmen didn't want to put her in any sort of situation like that.

Soon after, though, thankfully, Patricia Claire was pulled away to another conversation and let Zoe and Carmen free. Zoe apologized for putting Carmen in such an uncomfortable situation and offered to bring her somewhere a little less crowded. Zoe, of course, got stopped to chat with a few people but she tried to keep the conversation short and distract her guests from asking Carmen too many questions.

And soon, they made their way on to the balcony that overlooked a beautifully groomed courtyard. There were two beautiful Sensations parked in the courtyard, bedazzled in more diamonds with people sitting in them and posing beside them for their social media pages. Carmen and Zoe sat on the big, round, comfortable seats on the balcony and looked over it to everyone below as the mingled. Malik was asleep in Carmen's arms and Bailey was playing with the flowers that had diamonds glued in the center of them.

"These events are such chaos. I don't know how you keep up with all of this, Zoe." Carmen sighed as she finally relaxed.

Zoe chuckled. "It's not that bad. I'm a people-person so, I enjoy meeting new people and getting to know them. I won't say it's not totally and completely exhausting but, it's still fun."

"How many more events do you have?"

"Uhm.. a number.." Zoe chuckled once more, which made Carmen smile. "It's only the second day and I've been to five events so far so, whatever that is, times three more days."

"Jesus.." Carmen sighed. There was a moment of comfortable silence between them before Carmen gently spoke up again. "Have you been too busy to talk with Teddy?"

Zoe glanced at Carmen but quickly averted her eyes back to the mingling of the party guests below them. "I always say good morning and goodnight. To him, Howl, and Fisher. I've sent Teddy a few other things but he has yet to respond to any of them."

"Really?" Carmen's eyes narrowed as she instantly grew annoyed at her annoying little brother. "He's ignoring you?"

"I'm not sure." Zoe nibbled nervously on her bottom lip. "Before I came to L.A. my friends threw me a Christmas party and Teddy went and we, somehow, ended up..." Zoe glanced at Carmen again, who knowingly cocked an eyebrow back at her. "We may, or may not have... kissed at the party."

"Kissed?" Carmen gasped, her shock loud enough to almost wake Malik. Carmen hurriedly calmed him and darted her eyes towards Zoe again. "You two kissed?"

Zoe was furiously blushing now, embarrassed that she had confessed this to Teddy's older sister. Zoe groaned as she hid her face behind her hands. Carmen didn't drop it, though, as she waited patiently for Zoe to speak again.

"Did you make out?"

"No! God, no! It was just one!" Zoe finally confessed as she dropped her hands. "We only kissed once!"

"Who kissed who?" Carmen asked, now a little suspicious as her eyes narrowed again.

"Teddy... kissed me." Zoe cringed.

Zoe hadn't really talked about what happened to anyone besides Howl and Howl actually saw it. He already knew the story. Telling the story again, to Carmen of all people, was a lot more nerve wracking than Zoe thought. And it definitely didn't help when Carmen's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Zoe was instantly panicking, hoping Carmen wouldn't confront Teddy about this or ask him any sort of questions. She didn't want Teddy to know that Zoe had told his sister he kissed her.

"And anyways-" Zoe blurted, trying to change the subject as quickly as she could.

"No, wait a minute!" Carmen laughed, her eyes glued to Zoe's. "Zoe... I'm, like, 99% sure Teddy has never kissed anyone before. Were you Teddy's first kiss?"

Zoe was frozen with shock before a smile slowly began to itch at the corner of her lips. That little fact instantly filled her with so much warmth and happiness. That was the best news she could've ever heard from that kiss. Zoe was his first kiss. That made Zoe instantly giddy. It was amazing. That was Zoe's first kiss as well. They had shared firsts. And Teddy was the one that kissed her. He gave her his first and stole hers. It was a dream come true.

"He was mine." Zoe shrugged, a giddy smile pushing up her rosy cheeks.

"Wow..." Carmen snorted a laugh as she stared at Zoe, absorbing ever inch of her beauty and happiness and angelic personality. "You two are totally gonna get married."

"Carmen!"

"What?" Carmen laughed. Zoe was even redder than she was before, collapsing back in her chair with her hands over her face again. "I'm serious, Zoe! Teddy's never had a girlfriend before, he's barely ever had friends, and I'm pretty sure that means he's also a virgin."

Zoe tried to curl up into a ball and escape this conversation but, at the same time, she also wanted Carmen to continue on this path to inevitably telling Zoe how perfect they were together and how special she was to Teddy. Nothing would make Zoe happier than the reality that she and Teddy had a special relationship. Well, actually getting to date him and kiss him and be treated like a princess by him would make her happier but, a special friendship was enough.

"Please, don't tell him I told you we kissed." Zo groaned behind her hands.

"I won't, Zoe." Carmen chuckled. "Why isn't he responding to any of your messages if he kissed you before you left?"

"Exactly!" Zoe shot up in her seat, her brown eyes wide and blonde hair sparkling in the moonlight and fairy lights surrounding the courtyard. "I mean, there might be a reason why.. That's not all that happened so, maybe he regrets it.."

"What else happened?"

Zoe's expression flattened into a shameful frown and her muscles relaxed into a slouch as guilt completely invaded her body and destroyed her giddy emotions. She didn't want to tell Carmen that her brother got beat up because he kissed her. Carmen didn't even like when Teddy got into school fights. Zoe could only imagine Carmen would shun her if she realized Zoe was the reason Teddy kept getting into trouble recently. But, Zoe also knew she couldn't lie if she wanted to be good friends with Carmen and earn her trust.

"Teddy kissed me, at the party, in front of everyone. There were also a lot of cameras so, when it happened, it got posted to social media immediately. I had to leave for L.A. the next morning, and then, that night, Teddy got jumped." Carmen's eyes widened in shock and Zoe dropped her gaze to the floor.

Zoe was ashamed that she had to break this news to Carmen and even cause it to happen in the first place. She didn't mean for it to happen but, it was inevitable. And the very fact that Zoe believed that made her think she shouldn't love Teddy. Or anyone, for that matter. If everyone she ever had feelings for was going to get hurt, they would eventually realize what's best for them and leave. Teddy was already ignoring her after he payed the price of showing her any sort of affection. It was already happening.

It was just too dangerous for Zoe to be loved.

"Teddy reassured me that he was okay. And he said we could talk when I got back to Ohio but, he hasn't spoken to me since. I'm kind of worried he's just waiting to let me down easy but, I really hope he doesn't because-" Zoe paused as she closed her eyes and fiddled nervously with the diamonds on her dress. "I really like him."

Carmen let all of Zoe's confessions sink in before he let out a long, stress-filled sigh. She obviously wasn't happy that Teddy got jumped because he kissed a girl he, so obviously, liked. But, yet again, she was also upset that Teddy would ignore Zoe the entire time she was away if she was his friend and his first kiss. Even more than anything, Carmen was upset that Teddy hadn't told her any of this. They had just talked on the phone and Teddy didn't bring any of this up.

"The more I get to know you, Zoe, the more I realize how similar you and Teddy are." Carmen finally spoke with a soft smile on her face.

Zoe raised her head and stared at Carmen with so much hope and confusion swirling in her sparkling eyes. "How?"

"You drive each other crazy, which I witnessed with my own eyes when we went shopping together. Only people that are as close and as similar as you two can annoy each other like you two do. And you even said you wanted to protect me. Teddy reminds me that he promised to do so almost every time we talk. You even go out of your way for the people you care about but, when it comes to your own feelings and the things you want, you both get scared." Carmen softly explained.

Zoe's blush reappeared on her face as she dropped her gaze again. "You can tell I'm scared?"

"Of course." Carmen softly chuckled. "I can only imagine how scary it would be if everyone that kissed you got attacked for it. I understand how that would make it hard for you to get close to someone. Unfortunately, the other side of that is what Teddy fears as well." Zoe looked up, instantly curious as to what Carmen meant. "He wants to love too, Zoe but, he's afraid of being punished for it. He's scared of the person he cares about leaving his side. It's already happened with all three members of his family. If he likes you, I can only imagine how scared he is that you won't come back to him."

"So.. Do you think he likes me?" Zoe's smile tried to break through her frown but it never succeeded. She liked the idea and she was hopeful but, she really couldn't justify why Teddy would like her. She's been nothing but a nuisance to him. She knew that.

Carmen sighed and shrugged. "I'll ask him when I ask how that little kiss between you two happened."

"Don't tell him I told you, though!" Zoe instantly panicked. "Tell him you saw one of the pictures or something. Don't tell him I told you."

"Okay, okay. I won't." Carmen chuckled.

Zoe nervously played with her dress and looked off the balcony to those below, Carmen gently caressing Malik in her lap and calling Bailey over to her when she got too far down the long balcony. Bailey hurried to crawl into her mother's big chair and wedged herself on Carmen's lap with Malik. She, instinctually, raised her thumb to her mouth but stopped when her eyes met Zoe's. Since she was still wearing her crown, Bailey dropped her hand and hid them both between her legs.

"I hope that's not why he's avoiding me." Zoe raised her eyes to Carmen, who met her eyes with a curious tilt of her head. "Because he's scared of me."

"I don't think he's scared of you, Zoe." Carmen chuckled. "That's not what I meant. He's scared of holding something close just for it to be torn out of his arms. If he keeps his distance, it'll be easier when you inevitably split ways."

"Did he tell you all this?" Zoe's eyebrows furrowed.

It was amazing to her that Carmen knew Teddy so well when Zoe had so much trouble figuring him out. She knew Teddy was a good person on the inside, even if he didn't show it outwardly, she just couldn't explain why. Carmen knew why. Carmen seemed to know every inch of Teddy's mind.

"No. I don't think he's capable of finding the right words for the way he feels. Once our mother got sick, I think Teddy got too confused trying to figure out his own emotions and eventually gave up. Anger, frustration, grief. He couldn't figure out the difference between them and still doesn't know. He's confused."

"Do you..." Zoe paused to gulp down her nerves and the shyness begging her to shut up. "Do you think I can help him?"

Carmen carefully examined Zoe for a moment before she answered. "You want to fix him, Zoe? Are you only fond of my brother because you think he's broken and you want to be the one to mend him?"

"No!" Zoe blurted, nearly waking Malik. She curled her lips in to shut herself up and let Malik settle before she tried again. "No. I don't think that at all. I like Teddy the way he is. But, there's more to him. He's hiding and pushing away so much of himself, I can feel it. I don't want to fix him, Carmen, I want to... experience him... and experience things with him..."

A smile slowly pulled at the corner of Carmen's lips as she stared at the little blonde in front of her. She was impressed. Obviously, the paths that Zoe and Teddy were on were rough and, when combined, it only became that much harder for them to navigate. But, Carmen had faith that Zoe's optimism, kindness, and strong-spirit, along with Teddy's perseverance, protection, and encouragement would make the difficult journey a bit more bearable for them.

Together, they could be powerful. They could be happy. Carmen was sure of it.