danielle marilyn belmont was born and bred into a life substantially enriched by the notoriety, acclaim, and splendor that amounted the worth of her parents' names and ensuing reputations. she was the eldest child of the once star-crossed lovers - praised screenplay writer, christian belmont, who had left his first wife to begin anew lustful affair with his muse and the perpetual apple of his eye, sophia ames, a big-screen actress and true renowned starlet seemingly flawless in her presence and grace. it wasn't long before their meager flight of fancy resulted in an honest courtship, and christian took sophia's hand in marriage not long before danielle was born. christian's center of attraction was then drawn away from his work and he refocused it upon his new role within the fatherhood sphere, which for him was much more rewarding. danielle was an enchanting child of sorts and possessed an inviting, admirable nature likened to that of her mother - not only were people taken by her charm, but as she matured her physical attributes cultivated danielle into a classically beautiful young woman.

however, it was to be said that her parents' fleeting romance was every bit less than the tale of happily ever after that it appeared to be. even the notion and subsequent arrival of a second child, a daughter jillian, could fix what was then broken. things never seemed effortless - in fact, they were oftentimes complicated due to her mother and father's conflicts - and the belmonts were struck with one adversity and burden after the next, including a torrid love affair that shook the very foundation of their once happy home. in the spotlight they were the picture of perfection and no one suspected the adultery and betrayal that took place when the cameras finally ceased fire, but behind closed doors danielle's parents fought relentlessly. sophia in her all but desperate attempts to salvage the years of her youth slowly but surely began to stray away from her husband and kin, and grew a wandering eye, which merely served as a catalyst for the hardships that came next.

christian maintained his suspicions concerning his wife's affair, but it was the least of his concerns and his priorities always remained on his girls; seeing to that they were given an abundant, rewarding childhood despite his failing marriage. eventually, sophia became disgusted with her self-seeking, indulgent intentions and ended her adulterous relationship - not only did she seem ready, but was actually willing and hopeful to repair what she had left at home, bracing herself for the admittance of her selfish, wicked ways. it soon became a reality among many, but certainly not the most critical. while christian forgave her with the promise of putting forth every such strife in his lone being to put their family back together, just a mere four months later sophia was diagnosed with cancer. it caught everyone off guard, most of all danielle, who knew even at the ripe age of eight years young that her life's circumstances would never be the same.

while danielle's younger sister had been simply too naive - too fragile - at the time to fully weigh out the depth and impact of sophia's eventual death, danielle mourned silently for the loss of their mother when she passed after a year-long struggling battle that everyone had tried to overcome. left behind in the wreckage was a grieving widower and father of two flourishing daughters, neither of whom understood when he fled the country to western europe for three and a half months. - to be continued . . .