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Chapter 44 — The Breaking Point
Huling Na-update:
2025-04-07 14:43:16
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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
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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
Huling Na-update : 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
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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
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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
Huling Na-update : 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
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The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of fresh-cut grass and blooming gardenias as Sienna made her way to the breakfast room. She had barely set foot inside the estate when Dawson, the ever-efficient butler, informed her that breakfast was already being served. She wasn’t sure what to expect today. After yesterday’s incident—the heated confrontation with Grayson and Lily’s barely-there laughter—she had been left wondering if she had overstepped. Maybe she had pushed too hard. Maybe she had broken something fragile. But when she stepped into the breakfast room and saw Lily sitting at the table, something inside her softened. The little girl wasn’t curled in on herself like before. She wasn’t staring blankly at her plate. Instead, she was watching the steam curl from her bowl of oatmeal, her small fingers fidgeting lightly on the table. It wasn’t much. But it was something. Sienna slid into the chair beside her. “Morning, sweetheart,” she greeted softly. Lily’s hands
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Sienna had felt the tension brewing all morning. It was there in the way Grayson’s gaze lingered on her whenever she interacted with Lily, the sharp edge of his posture, the way his jaw tightened ever so slightly whenever Lily responded to her with even the smallest hint of warmth. She had known this confrontation was coming. It was only a matter of when. And that moment arrived just after lunch. Sienna had taken Lily outside again—not defying Grayson’s orders this time, since she had kept them within the gardens of the estate. The little girl had hesitantly taken to drawing with chalk on the stone pathway, sketching soft, delicate swirls of color. It wasn’t much, but compared to the silent, withdrawn child she had first met, it was another step forward. Grayson, of course, didn’t seem to see it that way. “Miss Carter,” his voice was sharp, slicing through the quiet afternoon. Sienna turned, finding him standing just beyond the garden archway, hands in his pockets, expression li
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-11
Pinakabagong kabanata
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
