Mr. Americana and The Heartbreak Princess

8

Long chapter ahead!! (3957 words!!)

The soft rustle of silk filled the room as Juliette adjusted the delicate sleeves of her gown, her reflection shimmering in the full-length mirror. She looked every bit the picture-perfect debutante, but the weight of the evening hung heavy on her shoulders. Her mother's voice, crisp and controlled, broke through the silence.

"You're not even going to ask who it is?" Caroline Durand-Miller said, standing behind her daughter with arms crossed.

Juliette glanced at her mother in the mirror, her expression calm but steely. "I'm not sure it matters, does it? You've already made the decision for me."

Caroline's lips thinned. "Don't be dramatic. This is how these things are done. Your father and I were introduced this way, and it worked out perfectly."

Juliette turned sharply, the lace of her gown catching the light. "Really, Mom? Is that the example you want to use? Because last I checked, you and Dad can't even be in the same room without arguing."

Caroline's jaw tightened, but she didn't rise to the bait. "This isn't about me. This is about you making the right impression, aligning yourself with the right people. That's how we survive in this world, Juliette."

Juliette folded her arms, her gaze unwavering. "And who decided that? You? The Kooks? I didn't ask for this, Mom. I didn't ask to be paraded around like some prize."

Caroline stepped closer, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. "You are not a prize, Juliette. You are a Durand. And with that comes responsibility. Do you think I like having to make these arrangements? Do you think I enjoy putting up with the whispers and the judgments so that you can have a future free of them?"

Juliette's expression softened for a moment before she shook her head, her voice colder now. "You don't do this for me. You do this for yourself. Because you care more about what people think than what I want."

Caroline's composure cracked, her voice rising slightly. "Do you even know what you want, Juliette? Or are you too busy pretending you're above all of this to figure it out?"

Juliette stepped forward, her tone sharp. "What I want is a choice. I want to be able to decide who I'm handed off to, if I even want to be handed off at all. But you can't stand the idea of me not following your perfect little script, can you?"

The room fell silent, the tension between them almost suffocating. Caroline took a deep breath, her voice quieter but no less firm. "You'll understand someday. When this is all behind you, and you're in a position of respect and power, you'll thank me."

Juliette shook her head, turning back to the mirror. "Don't count on it."

Caroline's heels clicked softly against the floor as she walked toward the door. She paused, her hand on the handle, and glanced back at her daughter. "You're my daughter, Juliette. And whether you believe it or not, everything I do is for you."

Without waiting for a response, she left, the door clicking shut behind her. Juliette stared at her reflection, her jaw clenched and her heart pounding. She looked perfect, just like her mother wanted. But inside, all she felt was anger and the growing weight of the unknown.

Whoever was waiting for her tonight, it didn't matter. She wouldn't let anyone else define who she was or who she'd become.

The grand ballroom was buzzing with soft chatter and the muted clink of champagne glasses. The chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the room, illuminating the polished marble floors and the guests dressed to perfection. Juliette stood at the top of the staircase with the other debutantes, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she waited for her name to be called.