Daphne's phone had buzzed since six in the morning, and every feed carried the same headline.
Her mother had finally done it.
Maura read the statement on the front steps of the house, calm as a weather report.
Maura: Daphne Wray is not a singer. She has never been a singer.
Maura: She is a backup voice who got confused. Any claim she makes about my daughter's songs is a lie.
Gil stood behind her with his hands folded, like a man at a funeral he had planned himself.
Gil: My sister needs help. We're asking people not to encourage her.
He said it kindly. That was how he made everything worse.
Under her sleeve, the countdown ticked down to twelve days.
Daphne: Twelve days. Then I guess I'd better be loud.
Then the show posted its own video, and the video was her.
Someone in the Blue Room had filmed the whole song, and the clip had run all night.
The comeback show wanted one challenger to face its star live.
The post used her real name. Daphne Wray. Not a backup voice. Not Cleo's shadow.
Daphne put on her hoodie and took the bus to the studio.
Daphne: They want me in person. Fine. I'll be very in person.
Soren Thane was waiting by the stage door, like he had known she would come.
Soren: You took your time.
He stood close enough that she had to tilt her head back, and her pulse picked up without permission.
Soren: The invite is real. Say yes and the stage is yours.
Daphne: And if I say no?
Soren: Then I ask again tomorrow. I'm patient.
His voice was flat and low, and it still went down her spine.
Then the hallway door banged open, and her brother came through it with his face already red.
Gil: You think this is a game?
Gil: You put your name on a stage that belongs to Cleo. You embarrassed her in front of the whole city.
Daphne: I sang my own song. That's not a crime.
Gil grabbed her arm and yanked her away from Soren, hard enough that her shoulder popped.
Gil: You're a backup voice with a family discount. Nothing has changed.
Two stagehands looked at the floor. The woman with the clipboard took a step back.
He always did this in front of people. That was the point.
Gil: Soren Thane doesn't want your voice. He wants a story, and you're the cheap one.
Gil: Drop out of the show, or I'll make sure nobody believes a word you sing.
Daphne looked at his hand on her arm, then at his face.
Daphne: You already tried that this morning. It didn't work.
Gil let go of her and threw his phone at the wall so hard the screen cracked.
Gil: You will not do this to this family!
Soren had not moved during any of it. Now he took one step forward, and his hand landed flat between her shoulder blades, warm and steady.
Soren: Mr. Wray. Touch her again in my building and I'll have you removed.
Gil: You have no idea what you're starting.
Daphne: I know exactly what I'm starting. Watch me.
Behind her, the countdown ticked down to eleven days.