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Chapter 38: A Battle of Willpower
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-21 05:51:35
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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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21Hate 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21Hate 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.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22Hate You, Love You Chapter 1: A Job She Can’t Refuse
The sound of raindrops hitting the windowpane echoed through the dimly lit apartment as Sienna Carter sat at her small kitchen table, staring at the stack of unpaid bills. Her fingers tightened around the coffee mug, though the liquid inside had long gone cold. The numbers on the paper blurred together, but the reality was clear—she was running out of time and money. Sienna had always been independent, always believed she could make it on her own. But reality had a cruel way of breaking that confidence. Her teaching job had been her passion, but passion didn’t pay rent. When budget cuts hit the school district, she and several other teachers had been let go without so much as a severance package. It had been two months since then, and despite relentless job hunting, nothing had worked out. Now, she was down to her last hundred dollars, and desperation was creeping in. Her best friend, Ava, had been pushing her to take a temporary job—something to keep her afloat while she figure
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Hate You, Love You Chapter 2: Meeting the Ice King
Sienna adjusted the strap of her bag as the butler led her through the grand halls of the Pierce Estate for the second time in two days. The sheer luxury surrounding her was overwhelming, from the towering chandeliers to the priceless artwork hanging on the walls. But none of it intimidated her as much as the man she was about to meet. Grayson Pierce. She had seen his name in business magazines, heard stories of his ruthless dealings, but nothing compared to standing in his presence. As the butler stopped in front of a pair of dark mahogany doors, he gave a brief nod before pushing them open. “Mr. Pierce will see you now.” Sienna took a deep breath and stepped inside. The office was massive, lined with bookshelves, expensive leather furniture, and a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the sprawling estate. And at the center of it all, behind a sleek black desk, sat the Ice King himself. Grayson Pierce didn’t look up immediately. He was scanning a document, his expression
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Hate You, Love You Chapter 3: A House Without Warmth
The Pierce Estate was magnificent, a sprawling architectural masterpiece that could have been pulled straight from the pages of a luxury magazine. But despite its grandeur, Sienna had never stepped foot in a place that felt so utterly lifeless. She walked through the long, silent corridors, her footsteps muffled by thick Persian rugs. The chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting soft golden hues across the marbled floors, but the light did nothing to warm the atmosphere. Everything was pristine, carefully curated, and impersonal. It was a house meant to be admired, not lived in. The absence of warmth wasn’t just in the decor—it was in the air, in the silence that clung to every corner like an unshakable shadow. There was no laughter, no background hum of life, no warmth that made a house a home. It was a museum of wealth, cold and uninviting. Sienna exhaled softly. She had worked in wealthy households before, but this was different. There was something profoundly lonely about the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Hate You, Love You Chapter 4: Clashing Over Rules
Sienna paced in Lily’s bedroom, her thoughts churning. It had been three days since she started working at the Pierce estate, and while she had made slight progress with Lily, there was an even bigger obstacle in her way—Grayson Pierce himself. He treated his daughter as if she were an appointment in his packed schedule, something to be handled efficiently but with little personal investment. Lily wasn’t just shy—she was **withdrawn**, locked inside a shell built from years of emotional neglect. And Grayson, despite his wealth and power, seemed utterly lost when it came to fixing it. Sienna found Lily sitting cross-legged on the carpet, clutching a stuffed bear in her small hands. The girl barely reacted when Sienna sat beside her. “I was thinking we could go outside today,” Sienna suggested, keeping her voice light. “Maybe take a walk in the gardens? There’s a whole world out there, waiting to be explored.” Lily hugged the bear tighter but remained silent. Sienna smiled sof
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Hate You, Love You Chapter 5: Sienna’s Defiance
Sienna knew she was breaking the rules. **His** rules. But for once, she didn’t care. The sun shone warmly overhead, filtering through the lush greenery of the Pierce estate’s private gardens. A soft breeze carried the scent of fresh roses and jasmine, rustling the leaves as Sienna led Lily down the stone pathway. The little girl’s small fingers clutched Sienna’s hand, her grip hesitant but present. Lily had barely spoken in the past few days, but Sienna had noticed the way her eyes lingered on the window, staring longingly at the open world just beyond the cold, glass barriers. Grayson had made it **very** clear that Lily’s routine was non-negotiable. That her schedule was carefully structured to ensure stability. That there was no room for disruptions. But Lily wasn’t thriving under that rigid structure—she was suffocating. Sienna crouched beside Lily as they reached a small pond, where koi fish glided gracefully beneath the water’s surface. “See that one?” she asked, pointi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10
Bab terbaru
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
Hate You, Love You Chapter 36: A Reluctant Truce
Sienna wasn’t sure how much sleep she got, but it wasn’t enough.Her mind had been a whirlwind ever since last night’s conversation in the kitchen. She kept replaying Grayson’s words—his confession, his raw vulnerability, and the way he had shut down as soon as he realized how much he had let slip.The man was impossible.One minute, he was letting her in, and the next, he was slamming the door in her face.By the time she made her way downstairs the next morning, she expected things to be back to normal—meaning Grayson would pretend last night never happened.She wasn’t wrong.She found him in the dining room, reading the morning paper while sipping his coffee. His expression was unreadable, his posture stiff, as if the man from last night had been a figment of her imagination.Lily sat at the table too, idly stirring her cereal, humming soft
Hate You, Love You Chapter 35: Cracks in the Ice
Sienna should have known that last night’s laughter wouldn’t last.The next morning, Grayson was back to being the cold, composed man she had met on day one. He was distant, buried in his work, and barely acknowledged her presence.If she hadn’t witnessed him sitting on the floor, covered in paint, with his daughter giggling in his lap, she might have believed it was all a dream.But it wasn’t.She had seen him soften. She had felt the shift.And now he was pretending it never happened.Well, two could play that game.She wouldn’t push. If he wanted to retreat behind his walls, fine. But she wouldn’t pretend she hadn’t seen the man behind them either.—The tension simmered throughout the day.Sienna spent most of her morning with Lily, reading to her in the sunroom while Grayson took work calls in his of
Hate You, Love You Chapter 34: A Tension That Won’t Fade
Sienna had had enough.Enough of the push and pull. Enough of the way Grayson looked at her like she was the only woman in the world, only to turn cold the next moment. Enough of pretending she wasn’t affected when she very much was.After the kitchen encounter, she made a promise to herself: she would not let Grayson Pierce get under her skin.But it was easier said than done.The following morning, she was in the playroom with Lily, setting up an art station when she felt his presence before she even saw him. A rush of awareness prickled along her skin, and she straightened her shoulders, refusing to acknowledge him first.Lily, however, had no such reservations.“Daddy!” she called out, waving a tiny paintbrush in excitement.Grayson stepped into the room, his gaze sweeping over the scene. His eyes softened—just barely—when they landed on Lily, but whe
Hate You, Love You Chapter 33: A Moment Too Close
The silence between them stretched for days.Grayson kept himself locked away in his office, throwing himself into work as if it could erase the memory of her lips, the warmth of her body pressed against his. His schedule became even more rigid—meetings back-to-back, conference calls late into the night, and strict avoidance of any moment where he might be alone with Sienna.It was childish.He knew that.Yet every time he looked at her, he could still feel the ghost of her touch, the taste of her lips lingering like an unshakable addiction.Sienna, on the other hand, refused to let his cold behavior affect her—at least, that’s what she told herself. She wasn’t the type to sit around pining over a man, especially one as emotionally unavailable as Grayson Pierce. If he wanted to pretend their kiss never happened, fine. She wasn’t about to beg for his attention.But t
