Daisy said softly, "I went to Peter's house, Mama."
Nataliya : Your marriage to Peter is already arranged, Daisy. "Why did you go there now?"
she asked, her voice edged with concern.
Irina stepped forward quietly.
Irina : Mama, how much longer will you keep trying to control her? Daisy's grown up now. She knows what's best for her.
Nataliya : Do you want her fate to be just like yours? You never really listened to me, You've always done things your own way.
Denis Mikhailov stepped forward. He looked at Daisy and said gently, "Go on inside, dear."
Daisy quietly walked into the house, her footsteps barely making a sound. Natalia said nothing—just stood there, silent, her face unreadable.
Irina turned away and quietly disappeared into her room.
As Daisy entered her room, her eyes fell on the wedding gown laid out neatly on her bed—waiting, silent.
The wedding gown lay softly across the bed, its ivory fabric glowing in the pale light that filtered through the snow-covered window. Tiny pearls and delicate lace traced the bodice like frost patterns on glass. The skirt flowed in gentle layers, light as winter air, and beside it, a sheer veil rested quietly—still, untouched, and waiting.
Without even realizing it, Daisy felt a warmth stir in her heart. Her Peter—the one she had known all her life—would soon be hers, for a lifetime. What greater joy could there be than that?
With gentle hands, Daisy carefully set the gown aside, as if it were something fragile, precious.
Just then, Irina appeared at the doorway to Daisy's room,
Irina : I pray that your life will be beautiful. May no harm ever come near you. Mama has shielded you away from the world. You're living in a beautiful dream, and I never want that dream to be broken.
Daisy : Why do you always go against Mama? She only ever wants what's best for us.
Just then, Rasha toddled into the room. She had only just learned to walk, and with her tiny, unsteady steps, she made her way quietly to Daisy's side.
Irina scooped her up into her arms, and Daisy began to cradle her gently, showering her with soft affection.
Suddenly, Daisy looked up and spoke, "Why haven't you married, Irina? Why have you kept Rasha from the love of her father?" None of us know who Rasha's father is.
At the very least, for Rasha's sake, you should consider getting married.
I won't marry again. I want to spend the rest of my life with Rasha—just her and me."
Irina smiled softly.
But I'm truly happy for you, "I hope your life is nothing like mine. I hope it turns out just as beautiful as the dreams you hold in your heart."
Irina quietly left the room. Daisy stepped out onto her balcony, watching as the snow continued to fall. The sky over Norilsk was a pale, endless gray, veiled in a soft, mind-blurring fog. The trees, rooftops, and streets below looked like something from a dream—quiet, untouched, almost unreal. Daisy breathed it in slowly, letting the cold air fill her chest. For a moment, everything felt gentle, distant, and beautifully frozen in time. The night seemed in no hurry to end. Daisy stood quietly, waiting—for the morning, for tomorrow. The night slipped away quietly. In the morning as Daisy opened her eyes, she gasped—Irina was already standing in her room, watching silently, as if she had been there for a while.
"Peter is missing," Irina said in a calm, quiet voice. Daisy felt as if she were trapped in a distant nightmare. She sat up abruptly, her heart pounding in disbelief.
It felt as if the sky had shattered above her head. Had Peter run away because he didn't want to marry her?
Peter has been missing since yesterday. There's no sign of him anywhere. The entire house was thrown into chaos. Downstairs, in the hall room, Peter's father sat quietly. Guests began murmuring among themselves, whispers growing louder with every passing moment.
After a tense silence, the police arrived. The officer stepped forward and delivered the chilling news: two children—Peter's neighbors - had been found lifeless. The two children had been killed in a cruel and brutal way. Peter has been missing since yesterday as well, and the police suspicion is starting to turn toward him.
The entire household stood frozen in silence, breath caught and hearts heavy. None of them could have ever imagined that this day would unfold into such a nightmare. Just then, two police officers appeared out of nowhere. One of them said , The children's bodies looked as if every drop of blood had been drained from them — pale, cold, and disturbingly lifeless.
Most of their body parts have been torn off. Everyone in the house was in a terrible condition. Daisy's mind drifted back to those two children. The moment she heard about their condition, a sharp pain gripped her heart — a sorrow so deep, it felt as though the air had been pulled from her lungs. And since yesterday's incident, Peter has been missing.
Though Peter had no prior record with the police, many had seen him wandering late at night. Strangely, his wallet was found at the very spot where the children's bodies were discovered — and inside it, a photo of Daisy. Tears welled up in Daisy's eyes. The police left to begin their investigation. The guests offered a few quiet words of comfort before taking their leave. In an instant, the wedding house felt like a desert — empty, silent, and stripped of all joy.
Daisy has stopped eating. She refuses to touch any food. Day by day, her body is growing weaker, slipping further into a silent, painful decline. This was never supposed to happen. Daisy's mother can no longer bear to see her daughter in such misery. Seeing her child's pain right before her eyes, her heart feels shattered into pieces. An unbearable agony consumes her.
I can't see my daughter end up like this. Natalia Mikhailov stood frozen in thought, her heart sinking at the
sight of her daughter's condition. With each passing day, Daisy's condition grew more and more alarming.
Then is it true? Did Peter truly abandon me? Had he never loved me at all?
"No, my love—he has always loved you, with all his heart."
Daisy turned slowly, her breath catching as her eyes met the gentle gaze behind her. There stood her aunt—the woman she had loved like a second mother. The same woman she had written to countless times before the wedding, pleading in quiet, ink-stained letters for her to come, just once, to see her.