In the vibrant and bustling metropolis of Chicago, within an ordinary yet deeply story-rich family, a tempestuous and heartrending collision between dreams and reality is stealthily brewing and about to unfold.

The intrepid protagonist of this tale is Deloise, a young and audacious girl whose heart burns with an unquenchable passion for the alluring performing arts. She fervently yearns to one day etch her name in the annals of the entertainment industry, dazzling like the brightest star in the firmament. In the cozy yet somewhat cramped corner of her own room, she pours her entire soul into enacting a monologue script she unearthed on the vast expanse of the internet. Standing resolutely before the camera perched on a tripod, she transforms into a vision of pure artistic dedication, as if the very stage of her dreams has been magically transported into that small space. However, her mother Esther, whose brow is furrowed with concern, firmly holds the belief that her daughter should tread the more secure and "righteous" path of becoming a lawyer. With unwavering determination, she staunchly opposes Deloise's pursuit in the unpredictable and often cutthroat world of acting.

By a stroke of serendipity, Deloise stumbles upon a rare and precious scholarship opportunity at the illustrious Royal Arts Academy in the captivating city of New York. This seemingly golden ticket appears to be the slender ray of hope that could potentially unlock the door to her long-cherished dreams. But as she peers into the abyss of intense competition that lies ahead, she is acutely aware that the journey will be fraught with formidable challenges. Yet, the fire within her refuses to be extinguished, and she is unwilling to relinquish this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that could irrevocably alter the course of her destiny.

Meanwhile, in the glitzy and glamorous entertainment hub of New York, the renowned and charismatic actor Daniel Greenwood makes a triumphant return to the scene, sending shockwaves through the industry and kindling an even more intense longing and wild daydreams within Deloise's heart. She envisions herself ascending to the same dizzying heights of success as Daniel, basking in the adoration and unwavering support of a legion of fans.

Within the family dynamic, the simmering conflict between mother and daughter steadily escalates, reaching a boiling point. Esther, driven by her unwavering conviction that she knows what is best for her daughter's future, secretly takes the fateful step of applying to the state law school on Deloise's behalf. The admission notice arrives, but it brings with it a Pandora's box of uncertainty and apprehension, as Esther grapples with the daunting task of revealing this news to her daughter. On the other side of the divide, Deloise is engaged in a valiant struggle to make her mother fathom the depth of her love and unwavering commitment to acting, desperately hoping to win her mother's blessing and support to pursue her dreams.

At the hallowed halls of the Royal Arts Academy, the visionary dean Mr. Austin is on a tireless quest to handpick the crème de la crème of students for Daniel Greenwood's highly anticipated new film project. His eyes are set on finding a truly remarkable and promising actress to embody the female lead, a role that could catapult the chosen one into the stratosphere of stardom. Among the multitude of candidates vying for this coveted opportunity, Deloise's application video lies in wait, like a hidden gem yearning to be discovered. The question that hangs in the air like a tantalizing mystery is whether she will be the one to seize this golden chance and set her dreams ablaze.

As the narrative unfolds with bated breath, we are left with a series of gripping questions that tug at our heartstrings: Will Deloise summon the courage and talent to emerge victorious in the cutthroat scholarship competition? How will the seemingly insurmountable chasm between her and her mother be bridged and healed? Will she manage to take that all-important and nerve-wracking first step on the treacherous path of acting and transform her dreams into a tangible reality? And will Esther's steadfast insistence prove to be the guiding light that leads Deloise to a brighter future, or will it instead become a stumbling block on her journey? These enigma-laden questions will be gradually unfurled and answered as we delve deeper into the pages of this captivating novel. Let us now step into this world brimming with challenges and tender moments, and bear witness to Deloise's arduous and poignant journey of choices and growth, as she navigates the treacherous waters between her dreams and her family.

DDD 1

Deloise's Home, Chicago.

Inside the walls of a three-room capacity bungalow, Deloise was found inside one of the rooms that belonged to her, with a tripod set up that held her phone as she prepared herself for a smooth delivery of the monologue script she found on the internet.

Immediately getting into character, facing the camera, she began:

" Of course I know I'm pretty! The problem remains that you don't."

She cocked her hand towards the camera and summoned a deranged look that could bring paralyzing chills and fear to her prey.

" It's all because of you! " she said with every reason and conviction like she had thought it all through and could never be wrong with her assumptions.

" You choose her over me. " She spoke with discontent. " Again and again, time without number. You caused this, you should have chosen me! " She screamed, getting angrier as the seconds trickled by. " When I said to make a choice, you picked wrong."

Deloise gestured her gun to her head and pulled the trigger, feigning suicide, and immediately fell limp upon her bed. At that moment, Esther - Deloise's mum, walked in. On seeing her daughter go limp, her spirit nearly left her body before she sighted the setup.

Deloise, saw her mom come in and almost lose her footing immediately palmed her face. She readied herself for a lecture which she knew was looming now she was caught in the act.

" Louise dear, what exactly is going on?" Esther asked, almost too calmly.

" Shooting? " She drawled.

Esther grew aggravated. " Baby, you should know by now that you are not supposed to be playing around." She said, displeasure clouding her face. " Especially at this pivotal point in your life." She lectured.

" I know ma, I'm just trying out my acting skills on this new monologue I stumbled on earlier today, it's so challenging and exciting so I decided to–" Deloise shared excitedly only to be cut off by her mother,

" Enough already! I don't want to hear it, Loise. You shouldn't be here wasting precious time." She reasoned, " You should be preparing for your future in law school! " she projects firmly, sounding dissatisfied.

" But mummy you know I don't want to pursue law as a profession," Deloise whined. " My passion is acting and I want to make a profession out of it."

" I don't want to hear it! We have a plan, Deloise." Esther said, taking a breath, " The earlier you start pursuing it, the better for us. I am your mother and I know what's best for you, this is nothing but a hobby and no child of mine is taking that path," She said sternly.

Deloise's face fell, and every trace of her prior happiness vanished to thin air.

" Don't make a big deal out of this, listen to me. I wouldn't mislead you, having the brains which you do, you'll make for a very great lawyer in this state. And that, my dear, is a life to lead," Esther spoke with a patronizing voice.

Deloise felt ambushed and lost words to explain or defend how important her dream to be a world- renowned star meant.

" But I love what I do, you know I can do this, I'll become famous and do great stuff, Mom. I have no desire or call to the bar." She complained, almost childishly.

" This isn't a conversation." Esther said, having had enough, " I believe I've made myself clear. Clean up all of these and let me not see them or you in front of them ever again." she ordered, gesturing to the whole setup. " I've allowed you to have your fun. It's time you got serious and that's final," Esther walked out the room with an unpleasant look. Leaving no room for rebuttal and a hurt Deloise.

Mood soured, Deloise took down the tripod and mock setup she made and headed for a change of outfit, feeling suffocated and caged by the words and plans of her mother.

Soon enough, she was girded in a black jogger and T-shirt alongside her running shoes. She picked up her phone and connected her earphones ready to leave the house to her favorite spot.

A saddened Deloise sprinted away from home, leaving her mother to her devices, all the while trying so hard to understand why her mother had such an uncouth feeling towards her chosen career path and passion.

As Eminem's ' Am not afraid ' blasted into her ears, It felt like the world was laughing at her. Of course, she was afraid! She couldn't even imagine not having the support of her mother, talkless of going against her.

' Why couldn't she do this for herself? Why couldn't the world stop revolting against her? Why does her mother have such a deep-rooted hatred for the film industry? And why the hell, couldn't she be happy?

Deloise pondered and sprinted even faster, feeling even more upset and conflicted. She got to a park not so far from her high school, her go-to spot in times like this which held a lot of memories from her childhood.

Deloise was born and bred in Chicago, a place where she discovered her passion and was groomed into the woman she was. With everything, the city felt more constricted than ever.

Esther's dream for her daughter to one day become one of the most respected and brilliant lawyers from Columbus University was forever standing as a bane towards the existence of Deloise.

Her fears of what could be, should she not accept the plans of her mother kept her up at night and scared the daylights out of her. She knew her mother and how very extreme the repercussions for disobeying her could be.

Mumbling, she sat on a log of wood and took a breather. She logged into the popular microblogging app as an effort to get her mind off the waters of the confrontation earlier experienced.

Scrolling through the news feed from her timeline, she encountered snippets of an interview from one of the most successful veteran actors in the industry.

" The film and entertainment industry scene at large would be stoked to have you back after your two-year hiatus, Mr. Daniel." The interviewer said to veteran actor, Daniel Greenwood.

He smiled modestly, " The industry is such a beautiful place, one that makes dreams a reality. I'm just glad to be a part of that, now as a director and actor. "

" Well, you're going to add to the beauty! I mean look at you, girls all over the world are blown away by today's news. They are all anticipating your return,"

Daniel let out a laugh, " It's no secret that I am not interested in pursuing any kind of relationship at this time, I can't say I'm not grateful for the love and support from the fans though, so thank you all. " He said, effortlessly killing any further inquiry.

" So there you have it, Daniel Greenwood is back in the entertainment scene, ready to take on a journey as a production director and actor in his home city, New York!"

Deloise exited the video after getting the gist of the situation. With a smile, she continued reading comments from fans of the actor. The news of the return of the movie King Daniel dominated every conversation.

There, she whispered to herself that one day she also will attain such height and level of artistry and stardom.

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