He was the monster they warned her about.
And she loved him anyway.
Daniella Lockwood was never supposed to fall for Klaus Mikaelson. But somehow, between stolen glances, late-night painting sessions, and the gentle way he said her name, she did. Co...
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The masquerade ball—Daniella's personal holiday. Everyone knew it. And everyone knew she had to have the best outfit.
It wasn't technically a competition, but she treated it like one. Every year after the ball ended, she immediately started planning for the next one. Her father used to help—cheer her on, validate every over-the-top idea. But this year was different.
This year, she was alone.
Her mom never understood their eccentric plans. And now that it was just her, Daniella felt the absence in every decision. She sought approval where there was none.
Tyler tried to step in, tried to cool their mom down, reminding her to let Daniella do her thing. But it wasn't the same. The excitement was dimmer. She still cared—of course she cared—but it didn't feel like before.
It was still morning, and Daniella was already pacing the venue. She had a clipboard in one hand and judgment in her eyes.
"You can't be serious! Look at that bouquet, and look at mine! They're two completely different things!" she scolded one of the decorators, holding up the example she'd made herself.
The woman nodded quickly, eyes wide, and Daniella spun around, already moving on to the next thing that needed fixing—only to nearly run into Tyler.
"I'm honestly shocked they haven't all quit," he muttered.
"They're lucky they didn't get fired," Daniella snapped. "I mean—do you see that bouquet? It's like she's blind. I literally gave them a model!"
Tyler studied her. Her voice was sharp, but her eyes were tired. He could tell she hadn't slept. She was running on caffeine and sheer willpower. If she didn't start getting dressed now, she was going to be late.
"Fear not," a voice said behind her. A hand appeared with a coffee cup. "I come bearing gifts."
Daniella turned around to see Dylan, coffee in hand, a crooked grin on his face. She couldn't help but smile. He leaned in for a quick kiss before Tyler cleared his throat.
"Sorry," she laughed. "But I really needed this."
She took a huge sip, already feeling her system rebooting.
"Wait, where's your suit? Why are you here?"
"I figured you'd need an extra hand. I brought my clothes—I'll change here," he replied, noticing the slight panic in her eyes. "And I think you should start getting dressed now."
"You both have zero faith in me," she said, narrowing her eyes. "But I see what this is. You're trying to get rid of me."
She handed Tyler the clipboard with a dramatic sigh. "Fine. But if I come back down here and it looks like a disaster, I'll make both your lives a living hell."
