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Chapter 21: A Slip of Emotion
Last Updated:
2025-03-13 09:15:09
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Hate You, Love You Chapter 22: A Night of Vulnerability
The mansion was silent, save for the soft crackling of the fireplace in the grand sitting room. Outside, the night stretched endlessly, the moon casting a pale glow over the manicured estate. It was late—too late for either of them to still be awake—but neither Sienna nor Grayson seemed willing to retreat to their rooms. Sienna sat curled up on the plush leather couch, a cup of tea in her hands, while Grayson sat across from her, his fingers loosely wrapped around a glass of whiskey. His posture was tense, his gaze distant, staring at the amber liquid as if it held all the answers he refused to acknowledge. She had never seen him like this. Grayson Pierce was a man of control, of rigid discipline, of impenetrable walls. But tonight… tonight, there was something different about him. Something raw. Sienna hesitated before breaking the silence. “You look like you have something on your mind.” His gaze flickered to her, dark and unreadable. “I always have something on my mind.”
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The storm from the night before had passed, but the weight of their conversation lingered in the mansion like an unshakable presence. Sienna couldn’t stop thinking about the way Grayson had looked at her, the raw emotion in his voice as he spoke about Evelyn. For the first time since she had met him, he had let his walls crack—just enough for her to see the man underneath the cold, untouchable exterior. But come morning, it was as if it had never happened. Grayson was back to his usual self—detached, composed, unreadable. If it weren’t for the flicker of something in his gaze whenever their eyes met, she might have convinced herself that she had imagined the entire thing. But she hadn’t. And neither had he. ---The Kitchen EncounterSienna was in the kitchen when it happened. She had woken up early, intending to prepare breakfast for Lily before Maria, the housekeeper, arrived. She didn’t know why—maybe it was her way of trying to bring some warmth into the house. Ma
Last Updated : 2025-03-13Hate You, Love You Chapter 24: A Storm Within
The mansion was silent, but the air inside was anything but calm. It was thick with unspoken words, heavy with tension that neither of them had the courage to acknowledge. Grayson had always prided himself on control. Control over his company, control over his emotions, control over the way he interacted with the world. It had always been easy—compartmentalizing, keeping things in neat, separate boxes. But ever since Sienna walked into his life, those walls had started to crack. And after last night—the touch that lingered longer than it should have, the way his body had frozen instead of pulling away—he knew he was on dangerous ground. So, he did what he had always done when faced with something he couldn’t control. He buried it. He buried it beneath distance, beneath coldness, beneath an indifference that he knew would hurt her. Beca
Last Updated : 2025-03-13Hate You, Love You Chapter 25: Sienna Fights Back
The next morning, Sienna woke up with a renewed sense of purpose—and frustration. She had spent half the night tossing and turning, reliving every moment of her confrontation with Grayson. The way he had looked at her, the way his voice had been cold but his eyes had burned with something else entirely. He wanted her. He was fighting it. And he was punishing **her** for it. Well, if he thought she was just going to roll over and take it, he had another thing coming. She had been through too much in her life to let some emotionally constipated billionaire push her around. If Grayson thought he could ignore her, freeze her out, and make her feel small—**he was wrong**. And today, she was going to prove it. ---**Breakfast Tension** The moment she entered the dining room, she felt it. The weight of his
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The house was quiet.Not the cold, suffocating silence that usually filled Grayson’s estate, but something… softer.He stood just outside Lily’s bedroom, watching through the slightly open door as Sienna tucked his daughter into bed.She moved with an ease that baffled him.Lily, who had spent so long retreating into herself, now giggled as Sienna fluffed her pillows, dramatically pretending to wrestle them into the perfect shape.“There we go,” Sienna declared, placing her hands on her hips. “The comfiest pillow fortress in all the land.”Lily grinned, snuggling under her blankets. “It’s perfect.”Sienna sat on the edge of the bed, brushing a stray lock of blonde hair from Lily’s forehead. “Did you have fun today, sweetheart?”Lily nodded eagerly. “Yes! The puzzle was hard, but we finished it!”“That’s because you’re a genius,” Sienna teased, booping Lily’s nose.Grayson felt something shift inside him—something foreign.A warmth he didn’t know what to do with.For so long, this hous
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The morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of the mansion, casting golden hues across the marble floors. It was a rare peaceful morning, the kind Grayson was usually too busy to notice.But today, something was different.Something had been different ever since last night.Ever since he had stood outside Lily’s room, watching Sienna bring warmth and safety into his daughter's life. Ever since she had looked at him with those fiery eyes and challenged him—again.Grayson wasn’t a man who allowed emotions to dictate his actions.Yet, as he stood in his study, flipping through a contract he had read twice but still couldn't focus on, he realized something deeply unsettling.He was thinking about her.The way she had gently soothed Lily.The way she had held his gaze, unafraid, calling him out on the things he never allowed himself to admit.The way her voice lingered in his mind, whispering truths he wasn’t ready to face.He needed distance.The Sound of Her LaughterGrayson
Last Updated : 2025-03-17Hate You, Love You Chapter 28: The Dinner Date
Sienna stood before the full-length mirror in her room, smoothing the fabric of her emerald-green dress. It was elegant yet simple, hugging her curves in a way that was neither too revealing nor too modest. She had debated whether or not to wear it, knowing that this wasn’t a real date, merely a dinner. But as she looked at her reflection, she realized something—she wanted to look good. Not just for herself, but for him.Grayson Pierce.The man who had made her job as a nanny both impossible and exhilarating. The man who had spent weeks pushing her away while simultaneously drawing her closer.And now, he had invited her to dinner.His reasoning? A test.Sienna didn’t know if she should laugh or be offended. He was testing himself, seeing if he could control whatever it was that had been building between them. It was almost amusing—Grayson, the all-powerful billionaire, struggling with his emotions like a man afraid of his own heart.A soft knock at the door pulled her from her though
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The evening air was thick with anticipation as the soft hum of music filled the ballroom. The event was yet another high-society gala, another night filled with glittering chandeliers and people dressed in their finest, whispering about business deals and legacies.Sienna had spent most of the evening keeping to herself, sipping champagne and observing the kind of world Grayson Pierce belonged to. It was all polished smiles and calculated conversations—a world where emotions were locked behind steel doors.And yet, she felt his presence before she even saw him.Grayson.It was as if the air shifted whenever he was near. A heavy pull, an awareness she couldn’t ignore.She turned just as he approached, looking devastatingly handsome in his tailored black suit, his sharp gaze unreadable.“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, his voice smooth, yet carrying an edge.She raised an eyebrow, swirling her champagne. “I didn’t realize we had an appointment.”He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening
Last Updated : 2025-03-18
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Hate You, Love You Chapter 45 – The Distance Between Us
The silence in Grayson Pierce’s car was heavier than words could fill.Sienna sat beside him, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, staring out the window at the passing city lights. Her heart was pounding from the argument they’d had in his office — sharp words, stubbornness, emotions neither of them wanted to face.And yet here they were.Both pretending that kiss never happened.Both pretending the tension between them wasn’t unbearable.Grayson’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. His jaw was clenched so hard it ached.He didn’t want to feel this way.Didn’t want her to make him feel this way.But the echo of her voice — her fire, her defiance — still lingered in his mind like a melody he couldn’t shake.“I’ll never let you treat me like I’m disposable,” she had said back there.Not with fear.Not with anger.But with hurt.That had undone him more than anything.He pulled the car to a slow stop outside her apartment — the one he insisted she stay in for safety — and killed
Hate You, Love You Chapter 44 — The Breaking Point
The house was unnaturally quiet.Sienna stood in the kitchen, her fingers curled tightly around the edge of the marble counter as she replayed Grayson’s words over and over in her head."This can’t happen again.""I don't mix business with...whatever this is."She could still feel the press of his lips on hers — burning, unforgettable — only to be crushed under the weight of his rejection minutes later.A bitter laugh escaped her lips.How foolish she’d been.She didn’t notice Lily standing in the doorway until her tiny voice broke through the storm in Sienna’s mind."Aunt Sienna? Are you sad?"Sienna blinked hard, forcing a smile. "No, sweetheart. Just...thinking."Lily padded closer, wrapping her small arms around Sienna’s waist. It unraveled her completely.She sank to her knees and hugged Lily tightly."You know what?" Sienna whispered against the little girl’s hair. "No matter what happens...I’ll always be here for you."Behind them, unseen, Grayson lingered in the hallway — watc
Hate You, Love You Chapter 43 — Walls of Glass
Sienna stood by the large window in the living room, arms folded tightly against her chest, staring out at the dark sky smeared with streaks of orange from the setting sun. Her mind was chaos — swirling memories of the kiss she swore she wouldn’t think about again.But how could she not?Grayson Pierce — infuriating, cold, impossible Grayson — had kissed her like he couldn’t help himself… and then acted like it hadn’t happened.Coward.She heard his footsteps behind her. She didn’t turn.“I thought you had a rule about silence being golden, Mr. Pierce,” she said coolly.There was a beat of hesitation. Then his voice — deep, rougher than usual. “Grayson.”That made her turn.“What?”He raked a hand through his hair — he looked exhausted, like sleep hadn’t touched him since that kiss either.“You’re right to be angry.”She raised her brows. “Congratulations. Self-awareness looks good on you.”His jaw clenched. “Sienna…”There it was again — her name on his lips. Like velvet. Like sin.S
Hate You, Love You Chapter 42 — The Space Between Us
The silence after their kiss was deafening.Sienna stood frozen, her heart still racing from the way Grayson Pierce had crushed his mouth to hers in a moment of raw desperation — only to pull away just as quickly, as though it burned him to feel anything at all.His chest heaved, eyes dark and conflicted, like he was waging war within himself.“Grayson…” Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, afraid that if she spoke too loudly, this fragile moment would shatter.But his reaction cut deeper than any sharp word.He took a step back — physically distancing himself from her like proximity alone was dangerous.“This…” His voice was low, rough with restraint. “This shouldn’t have happened.”Sienna’s chest squeezed painfully. “You kissed me.”Regret flashed in his eyes, not for the act itself — but for what it revealed. For what it meant.“I made a mistake,” Grayson said tightly, the walls already climbing back around him like armor. “And I don’t have the luxury of making mistakes.”Si
Hate You, Love You Chapter 41: A Kiss Born from Anger
The tension had been building for weeks, simmering beneath the surface, unspoken but undeniable. Sienna had done her best to ignore it, to pretend that she didn’t notice the way Grayson looked at her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention.But tonight, she was done pretending.He had been cold all day, avoiding her as much as possible, barely speaking a word unless it was about Lily. It was infuriating, especially after everything that had happened between them. The near-kisses, the charged moments, the way his eyes darkened when she was too close.And worst of all—the kiss.The one that had shattered everything.The one he had walked away from, leaving her standing there like it had meant nothing.She stormed into his office, her fists clenched at her sides. He was seated behind his massive desk, reviewing some documents, his posture stiff and controlled.
Hate You, Love You Chapter 40: The Walls Begin to Crumble
Grayson had spent years perfecting the art of control.Discipline, precision, and emotional distance had built his empire. They had kept him sane after his wife’s death, ensuring that no one could ever get too close, that no one could touch the raw, broken pieces of him.But Sienna was chipping away at that foundation, and he didn’t know how to stop her.And worse—he wasn’t sure he wanted to anymore.The house was quiet that evening, save for the soft hum of classical music drifting from the speakers in the living room. Lily had gone to bed hours ago, and Sienna was curled up on the couch, flipping through a book she had found in the library.Grayson had been watching her for the past ten minutes.He told himself he had just happened to pass by. That he wasn’t here because of her.But he knew better.She was wearing one of those oversized sweaters that always seemed to swallow her frame, her legs tucked under her. A strand of hair had fallen over her cheek, and she absentmindedly tuck
Hate You, Love You Chapter 39: Cracks in the Armor
The night had been long, but the thoughts in Grayson’s mind were longer.After putting Lily back to bed, he had returned to his office, but sleep eluded him. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Sienna—her fiery defiance, the softness in her touch, the way Lily had melted into her arms like she belonged there.It was dangerous.Sienna wasn’t supposed to belong here.And yet, she did.Now, as the morning sun streamed through the large windows of his office, Grayson sat at his desk, staring at his laptop screen without seeing the words in front of him.He wasn’t sure how much longer he could fight this.A soft knock at the door made him look up.Sienna.Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, a few strands falling around her face. She was wearing a simple fitted sweater and jeans, yet she looked more stunning than any woman he had ever seen at his corporate events or high-end parties.Grayson’s fingers twitched, but he kept his expression neutral. “Something you need?”Sienna arched
Hate You, Love You Chapter 38: A Battle of Willpower
Grayson sat in his office, his fingers steepled together as he stared at the untouched glass of whiskey in front of him. His mind was a storm—one he had been trying to contain for days.It wasn’t working.Sienna’s words still echoed in his head, haunting him like a melody he couldn’t shake."Only if you keep pretending it doesn’t exist."He clenched his jaw, gripping the glass and taking a slow sip, as if the burn of alcohol could drown out the fire she had ignited in him. It didn’t.She had gotten under his skin in a way no one ever had.And that was the problem.Grayson Pierce didn’t lose control. He didn’t allow himself to want things he couldn’t have.Yet, here he was, craving her like an addiction.The way her eyes flashed with defiance when she challenged him. The softness in her voice when she spoke to Lily. The way she looked at him, like she saw through all his walls and wasn’t afraid.He exhaled sharply, setting his glass down with more force than necessary.This needed to
Hate You, Love You Chapter 37: A Crack in the Armor
Grayson wasn’t avoiding her.At least, that’s what he told himself.The truth, however, was harder to swallow.Ever since their conversation in the garden, he had been on edge. Sienna’s words lingered in his mind, looping over and over, refusing to be ignored."I’m not going to keep pretending. You care about Lily, but you also care about me."He hated how easily she saw through him.How effortlessly she peeled back the layers he had spent years fortifying.So, like any man who was too much of a coward to face his feelings, he buried himself in work, using meetings and contracts as an excuse to avoid unnecessary interactions with her.Unnecessary, as in anything that didn’t involve Lily.It should have been easy.It wasn’t.—Sienna noticed the shift immediately.For the past two days, Grayson had been more distant than usual—not in his usual brooding way, but deliberately.He left early, returned late, and when he was home, he kept their conversations minimal, his words clipped and p
