Denise was obsessed with maintaining the Westman family's power, wealth, and public image. She actively suppressed Carol's writing ambitions, treating her like a pawn to be married off to the highest bidder.
During Carol's twenty-third birthday party, Denise orchestrated a plot to drug Carol and Daniel Ulrich, placing them in bed together to force a beneficial marriage. This callous act shattered the family, causing Carol to flee and triggering harsh consequences from Denise's own father-in-law.