Chapter 7

Sienna's POV

I stood there, my hand in Max’s iron grip, as he delivered his glowing speech to the crowd. Every word felt like a knife twisting deeper into my chest.

Love? Forgiveness? Redemption? What a load of crap.

I forced a smile for the cameras, but inside, I was seething. This wasn’t a celebration—it was a circus, and I was the main attraction. Max had turned my life into a spectacle for his own amusement. I glanced at him, standing tall and confident, soaking up the gasps and murmurs from the crowd. He was enjoying this.

“Smile, darling,” he whispered, his voice low and mocking.

I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to yank my hand away and storm off. Instead, I tilted my head slightly, the smile plastered on my face so fake it hurt.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur of forced grins and polite applause. As soon as we were out of the spotlight, I pulled my hand free and stepped away from Max.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his tone calm but commanding.

“Away,” I snapped, not bothering to look at him. “You’ve had your fun, Max. I need air.”

Before he could respond, I walked off, weaving through the crowd of guests.

The garden was packed with people, all of them watching me like I was some kind of exotic animal on display. My parents were huddled in a corner, whispering furiously. Edwina and Ethan stood nearby, their smug faces making my stomach churn.

I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact, and headed toward the far end of the garden. Maybe if I stayed out of sight long enough, I could get through this night without another confrontation.

But of course, I wasn’t that lucky.

“Sienna,” a familiar, sickly-sweet voice called out behind me.

I froze, my heart sinking. Not now. Please, not now.

“Sienna, darling!” Edwina said again, her voice louder this time.

I turned slowly, forcing myself to face her. She looked immaculate, as always, her blonde curls perfectly styled and her dress hugging her petite frame. Her smile was wide, but her eyes were cold.

“What do you want, Edwina?” I asked, my voice low.

“Oh, just to congratulate you,” she said, stepping closer. “I mean, I had no idea you were capable of landing someone like Maxwell Hollandale. What a surprise!”

“Thanks,” I muttered, turning to leave.

But she wasn’t done.

“I have to admit,” she continued, blocking my path, “I didn’t think you had it in you. After everything that happened, I thought you’d finally crawl back to your little hole and disappear. But here you are, playing the perfect bride. It’s... impressive, really.”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “I don’t have time for this, Edwina.”

“Oh, come on,” she said, her tone dripping with mockery. “Don’t be like that. We’re sisters, remember? We should be celebrating together!”

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “Sisters? That’s funny coming from you. You’ve done nothing but tear me down my entire life.”

Her smile faltered for a moment before she quickly recovered. “Tear you down? Don’t be so dramatic, Sienna. I was just... helping you see your place.”

“My place?” I repeated, my voice rising despite myself.

“Yes,” she said, her smile widening. “You were always so desperate to outshine me, to prove you were better. But look where that got you. You’re nothing without this sham of a marriage.”

I felt the anger bubbling inside me, but I forced myself to stay calm. “You don’t know anything about my life, Edwina.”

“Oh, I know plenty,” she said, stepping closer. “I know you’re only here because Max felt sorry for you. I know he’s using you just like everyone else did. And I know that deep down, you hate yourself for being such a pathetic little pawn.”

That did it.

“Enough,” I said, my voice shaking.

Edwina raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying my reaction. “What’s wrong, Sienna? Did I hit a nerve?”

I took a step forward, my gaze locking with hers. “Listen to me, Edwina. You might think you’ve won, that you’ve destroyed me, but you’re wrong. I’m still standing, and I’m not going anywhere.”

She laughed, a cold, hollow sound. “You’re delusional.”

“Maybe,” I said, my voice steady now. “But at least I’m not a bitter, insecure little girl hiding behind Daddy’s approval. You can try to tear me down all you want, but I promise you, I’ll rise. And when I do, you’ll wish you’d never crossed me.”

Her smile disappeared completely, replaced by a glare. “You think you’re better than me?”

“No,” I said, stepping past her. “I know I am.”

Before she could respond, I walked away, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel her eyes on me, burning with hatred, but I didn’t look back.

I found a quiet corner of the garden and leaned against a tree, taking deep breaths to calm myself. My hands were still shaking, but for the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of strength.

Max might have dragged me into this circus, but I wasn’t going to let him or anyone else control my life anymore.

“Enjoying the party?”

I turned to see Max standing a few feet away, a glass of champagne in his hand. His expression was unreadable, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“It’s fine,” I said flatly.

He smirked, stepping closer. “You handled yourself well back there.”

“What are you talking about?”

“With Edwina,” he said, taking a sip of his drink. “I saw the whole thing. She didn’t stand a chance.”

I frowned, crossing my arms. “Were you spying on me?”

“Hardly,” he said, shrugging. “I just wanted to see how you’d handle the pressure. And I have to say, I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be,” I said, glaring at him. “This is all your fault.”

“Maybe,” he admitted, his smirk widening. “But you’re stronger than you think, Sienna. You’ll survive this. Trust me.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “I don’t trust you, Max. And I never will.”

“Fair enough,” he said, finishing his drink. “But whether you like it or not, we’re in this together. So you’d better get used to it.”

I didn’t respond, turning away from him and staring out at the crowd. How was I to survive in a world where everyone was after eating me alive…

A world where all that kept me alive was the baby in my womb?