Upstairs, Isabella was seated on her bed, still in her school uniform. Her small legs dangled over the side, her posture hunched. Beside her sat Ruth, her nanny, barely in her early twenties, with an easy smile and a voice soft enough to calm storms. She leaned in close, speaking in a gentle, coaxing tone, like an older sister trying to draw out a secret.
But Isabella's eyes stayed fixed on her own hands, as if she were clutching invisible thoughts she couldn't share.
Claire knocked softly. "Baby girl, can I come in?"
Isabella's head tilted just enough to see her mother in the doorway, the large ivory box in her arms.
Claire stepped inside, setting the box on the plush white rug. She crouched so they were eye-level.
"Daddy has a gift for you," she said gently, her voice carrying that mix of excitement and concern.
Isabella looked up slowly, her expression unreadable.
Before Claire could lift the lid, the doorbell rang downstairs. Ruth excused herself, leaving them alone in the quiet room.
Claire sat there for a moment, fingers on the ribbon, wondering how to bridge the growing gap between her daughter's heart and her father's dreams.
She opened the door and smiled at the sight of a familiar face, Ava Moore. A small girl with caramel skin and two curly puffs bouncing on her head. Isabella's best friend. Really, her only true friend at school, living just two blocks from the Harts mansion.
Ruth's brows lifted in surprise. "Did you come here alone, Ava? Where's your mum?"
Ava adjusted the straps of her little backpack and shrugged. "Mum's not back from work yet. I'm alone at home… I wanted to see Isabella."
Ruth sighed softly, shaking her head. She knew Ava's mother, a kind but exhausted single parent who juggled two jobs just to make ends meet. That apartment just a short walk away was often empty until late evening.
"Come on, sweetheart," Ruth said, bending to scoop the girl up into her arms. "You'll catch your death standin' out there." Ava rested her small head against Ruth's shoulder, the familiar scent of cocoa butter wrapping around her like comfort.
Upstairs in Isabella's suite , Claire sat on the edge of the bed with the ivory-gold box beside her. The weight of what was inside pressed on her far more than the actual fabric.
Isabella sat with her legs tucked under her, her gaze fixed on the floor, but her body tensed as her mother untied the velvet ribbon. She didn't need to see it to know, her father's "dream" dress for her was inside.
Claire lifted the lid and slowly drew out the gown. The pearls caught the afternoon light, scattering tiny rainbows on the walls.
"Isn't it pretty, baby?" Claire asked, her voice gentle, searching for some spark in her daughter's face.
Isabella glanced at the dress, gave the tiniest nod, but said nothing.
Claire smoothed the shimmering fabric between her fingers. "Baby, you'll have to put this on for Grandma's birthday tomorrow. Daddy will be so proud to see you in it."
Something in Isabella's face changed instantly, the faint glow from moments ago dimmed to nothing. Her shoulders hunched, her lips pressed into a tight line. The silence in the room became heavier than the dress itself.
Just then, the door opened and Ruth stepped in, carrying Ava.
"Guess who came to see you, Bella," she said warmly.
The moment Ava's feet touched the plush carpet, she ran toward the bed. Isabella's eyes, moments ago clouded, lit up at the sight of her friend. The faint shimmer of tears that had been building suddenly vanished, replaced by the smallest but truest of smiles.
They didn't need words. Ava climbed onto the bed, and the two girls wrapped their arms around each other in a very tight hug. For a moment, it was as if the dress, the expectations, and tomorrow's looming event didn't exist.
Claire and Ruth stood frozen, both quietly stunned. The transformation was undeniable, the quiet, withdrawn child had been replaced by one brimming with life, all because of the presence of this one girl.
Ava pulled back just enough to grin at Isabella. "I missed you," she said, simply kissing her forehead.
"I missed you too," Isabella replied, her voice soft but genuine, the first full sentence she'd spoken all afternoon. They stared at each other with full smiles. Isabella brought out a chocolate, handing it to Ava. "You love this chocolate, I saw you looking at it in school" Isabella said touching Ava's face. Ava was all excited, she couldn't believe it.
And just like that, the room felt warmer.
Ava's curious eyes drifted to the sparkling dress laid neatly on the bed. The pearls and delicate tulle shimmered under the soft light, but instead of the awe most little girls might have, her gaze flickered between the dress… and Isabella. Then she turned toward Claire with a quiet boldness.
"Isabella doesn't want these," Ava said matter-of-factly, her small voice steady. "She feels sad in girls' clothes."
The words landed heavy, slicing through the unspoken tension that had been building in the room for months. Claire blinked, taken aback, this wasn't just a child's guess. These two had clearly shared something deeper, the kind of honest exchange only children can have without fear of judgment.
Claire studied Ava's face and saw no hesitation there. This wasn't teasing, nor mischief, it was understanding. Somehow, Ava knew exactly how Isabella felt… without needing Isabella to explain it.
Something clicked in Claire's mind. If I can convince Ava, maybe Ava can convince Bella. She needed her daughter to wear the dress for Grandma's birthday. This event was far too important for Adrian's image to have his little girl show up in a suit. The whispers, the questions, the sharp looks from relatives… no, that couldn't happen tomorrow.
She knelt beside Ava, lowering her voice. "Sweetheart… It's a very important day tomorrow. I think your friend might need your help."
Ava's head tilted, curls bouncing. "Help how?"
Claire glanced at Isabella, who was staring down at her lap, pretending to be distracted by a loose thread on her sleeve. "Convince her to try it on. Just for tomorrow. Then she can wear whatever she likes after."
Ava nodded slowly, as if weighing the request, then turned toward Isabella. "Bella," she said softly, "will you try it if I try it first?"
Isabella's head snapped up, her eyes searching Ava's. "You'll wear it first?"
"Promise."
A hint of a smile tugged at Isabella's lips. "Okay."
Ruth fetched the dress from the bed and helped Ava into it. The transformation was instant. The shimmering fabric floated around her tiny frame, and the soft gold tones of the gown seemed to make her skin glow. Ava spun in a slow circle, her laughter ringing out like bells.
She had never owned anything this fine, not even close, but the joy on her face made it clear she loved every second of wearing it.
"Mum…" Isabella's voice cut through Claire's thoughts. She turned to see her daughter looking up at her with a brightness she hadn't seen in days.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Isabella asked, nodding toward Ava.
Claire's throat tightened, but she managed a warm smile. "Yes, she is."
"Can she have it?" Isabella's voice was gentle but full of conviction. "I'll wear the cute new suit you bought for me. I want to hold my best friend's hand on Granny's birthday. I want to tell everyone she's my bestie and she's sooo pretty."
The room went still. Claire felt the air thicken between her and her daughter's request. Ava froze mid-spin, glancing between them, as if realizing the weight of what Bella had just said.
Claire's heart clenched — the offer was pure, innocent, and full of love. But it also meant tomorrow's event would not go the way Adrian had imagined. The tension rose inside her like a tide… because she knew what was coming when her husband found out.