The twins panicked.

"We don't want this."

Julian understood.

"You don't have to talk to anyone."

"But they're asking about Grandma."

Marcus looked uncomfortable.

Julian stepped forward.

"They're not entitled to your grief."

The twins went inside.

Julian began making calls.

The sudden attention created opportunities.

But it also created danger.

People wanted interviews.

Brands wanted endorsements.

Managers wanted meetings.

Some offered contracts that looked generous until Julian read the fine print.

He rejected all of them.

The twins didn't understand.

"Why did you say no?"

Julian showed them one contract.

"They wanted ownership of your recordings forever."

Marcus stared.

"Forever?"

"Yes."

Malcolm frowned.

"Why would they want that?"

"Because they believe you'll become valuable."

Julian folded the contract.

"Your voices are valuable. That doesn't mean you should give away your future."

For the first time, the boys understood that success could be complicated.

Their first television appearance came a week later.

The host asked about their childhood.

Marcus became quiet.

Malcolm answered carefully.

"We grew up with our grandmother."

"What happened to her?"

"She passed away."

The host lowered her voice.

"I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

Then she asked,

"Did you really sing for food?"

Marcus nodded.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because we needed food."

The audience became quiet.

The host looked uncomfortable.

"What do you hope happens now?"

Malcolm thought.

"I want people to hear the music."

"And personally?"

"A place to live."

The audience applauded.

The next morning, a local nonprofit offered the twins temporary housing.

It wasn't glamorous.

But it was safe.

They had beds.

A kitchen.

A bathroom.

A door that locked.

Marcus stood in the bedroom.

"We have a room."

Malcolm smiled.

"Two beds."

They sat down.

Neither spoke for several minutes.

Then Marcus whispered,

"Do you think this is real?"

Malcolm looked around.

"Yes."

Their lives changed quickly after that.

They returned to school.

They began recording.

They worked with Julian.

But fame brought something else.

A producer named Victor Lane approached them.

Victor had worked in the industry for decades.

He offered a major recording deal.

Julian didn't trust him.

"Why?"

Victor asked.

"Because you're offering too much."

Victor laughed.

"You should be happy."

"I am."

"Then why question it?"

Julian looked at the contract.

"Because nobody gives away this much without expecting something."

Victor smiled.

"You're protecting them too much."

"They need protecting."

"They're almost adults."

"They're still seventeen."

Victor shrugged.

"They'll learn."

Julian refused the deal.

Victor's smile disappeared.

"You'll regret that."

Maybe.

But Julian didn't care.

That evening, Malcolm asked him,

"Why did you protect us?"

Julian answered honestly.

"Because when I saw you singing, I remembered why I entered music."

"Why?"

"Because I believed music could change people's lives."

Marcus smiled.

"Did it change yours?"

Julian looked at him.

"Not the way I expected."

He didn't explain.

But the twins could tell there was more.

The next day, Julian showed them an old photograph.

A young Julian stood beside a woman.

"My sister."

"What happened?"

"She wanted to sing."

Julian paused.

"She never got the chance."

The twins were quiet.

Julian looked at their faces.

"I don't want fear, poverty, or greedy people to decide whether you get yours."

Malcolm nodded.

"We won't forget that."

But they didn't know that Victor Lane had already started making calls.

And one of those calls would eventually put their entire future at risk.

Victor Lane didn't give up.

He began spreading rumors.

The twins were difficult.