“Noah, please—stop!” she screams again, her voice breaking as she kicks against him. Her knee connects with his side, but it barely fazes him. His fingers dig into her skin as he presses his body closer, his need overpowering any sense of restraint. Tears blinds her vision as she fights, but it’s like pushing against a wall. He’s too strong, too driven by something dark and uncontrollable.
Sienna’s breathing grows ragged, her chest rising and falling rapidly as her panic turns into full-blown terror. “Noah, no—stop!” she gasps, struggling harder. She kicks again, this time with more force, her heel connecting with his shin. It’s enough to throw him off balance for a moment, but his hands are back on her in an instant, rough and demanding as they move up her leg again.
But then her body betrays her—her breath comes in quick, shallow bursts, her chest heaving uncontrollably. She’s hyperventilating, her vision darkening at the edges. Noah pauses, his hands freezing as he looks down at her, his face unreadable.
Sienna looks hurt and that breaks a part of him. Seeing her trembling on the floor, covered in bruises caused by him made him feel like a monster. His heart wants to pick her up, carry her to the bathroom and wash her up. But, his mind tells him that she deserves the pain that might become scars. Just like the one he has in his heart.
Slowly, he stands, stepping aside. Sienna is still breathing hard becoming pale by the minute. Glancing one more time at her, Noah turns and leave.
As the first light creeps into the room, Sienna slips out, her gaze cast downward. She smoothens her rumpled gown, the chill of the marble floor biting into her bare feet as she pads noiselessly downstairs. All she wants is to disappear.
Getting down, she notices that the house isn’t empty. There are servants in everywhere, going about their duty without acknowledging her presence. They were tactically avoiding her.
Did no one hear all the noise last night?
Shaking her head in disbelief, she walks out the door, her eyes maintaining the path she was dragged through last night. She keeps walking across the gravel path, glancing around the property. That’s when Sienna observes that the villa is in the middle of a land-field with captivating lawns stretching far as the eyes can see. There’s nothing beyond the beauty—just isolation.
Her feet aches with each step but she continues walking. Sienna has no idea how long she’ll have to walk before seeing a means of transportation home.
Lost in thought, Sienna barely notices how far she’s walked until she sees a bus up ahead. She feels people’s eyes on her—how could they not stare? A girl with no shoes, messy hair, swollen eyes, and injuries all over isn’t exactly easy to ignore.
A worried elderly woman passing by walks up to here. “Are you alright, dear? Do you need help?”
Sienna shakes her head, “No,” she mumbles, the lie tasting bitter on her tongue. “I’m fine.”
But deep down, she wishes someone will come rescue her.
Weakly she gets in, securing her seat at the corner of the back seat, hoping to disappear. She needs to be left alone. Her body trembles as she keeps replaying last night over and over again in her head. Noah had leaned in close, his voice soft in her ear. “Do you know? I’ve been waiting for you to grow up for so long. All these years, and you finally show up, but you forgot me. Do you know how sad that made me? I’ve waited, hoping you’d remember me. You were right there, but I couldn’t get close. I missed you every day, and it hurt. But now, you say you remember everything.”
Sienna couldn’t believe it. He thought about her after all these years, but his actions only showed he was determined to hurt her. How could she forget the times she’d begged him to stop, calling out his name, but he never listened? He was selfish, making it clear she was something he could break whenever he felt like it. He’d marked his territory with those chilling words: “You’re mine now. If you don’t want to hear it, I’ll keep saying it. You’re mine, always mine, and you’ll never leave me.”
What confused her the most was that even when Noah was acting unhinged, he was gentle whenever he kissed her. But he didn’t care that her body was covered in bruises. How could that even make sense?
She hated the feeling of helplessness as Noah dragged her across the villa and Noah’s cold, unrelenting grip. The terrifying truth—the one that claws at her insides—is that no one would’ve stopped him. Noah is untouchable. She’s vulnerable, with no protection, no one to shield her from him.
Sienna stares out of the bus window, her face resting against the cool glass as her nails dig into the fabric of the seat. Her eyes are empty, bruises hidden beneath her clothes, and the ache inside runs deeper. It’s like a heavy knot in her chest that makes swallowing difficult. She’s barely aware of the people around her—passengers coming and going, their lives normal and detached from the nightmare that now consumes her.
She bites her lip, forcing herself to stop thinking. She straightens up as the bus nears her stop. Stepping down, the harsh daylight blinds her causing Sienna to blink.
In no time, Sienna reaches the apartment. When she opens the door, the sound of a TV playing softly in the background telling that Mia’s home.
Mia’s eyes widen the moment she sees her. The bruises, faint but unmistakable, the raw look of pain still written across her face. She doesn’t say anything, doesn’t ask the questions that are clearly burning in her mind. Instead, Mia steps forward, gently guiding Sienna to the couch.
“Let me take care of you,” Mia let out.
She fetches a small first-aid kit and begins treating the bruises with delicate hands. The silence between them is heavy, but it’s what Sienna needs right now. No words. No explanations. Just the quiet support of someone who’s always been there.Sienna winces as Mia dabs at a particularly dark bruise on her wrist, the spot where Noah had gripped her the hardest. Mia’s hand hesitates, her jaw clenching, but she still doesn’t ask. She doesn’t need to.Sienna leans back against the couch, so tired as her mind finally replayed everything like a broken record. She can barely keep her eyes open, but before she can drift off, her phone buzzes on the coffee table. The sound jolts her, pulling her from the edge of sleep.Mia glances at the phone, then back at Sienna. “Do you want me to get it?” she asks softly.Sienna doesn’t answer, her eyes fixed on the screen, but she doesn’t move. The caller ID flashes Noah King in bold letters. Shaking her head, she turns her face away. She can’t deal wit
“I don’t bite—what are you so afraid of?” Ethan’s voice is light, casual, as he releases Sienna and returns to his seat, settling in like he’s got all the time in the world. He gestures to the sofa across from him. “Come on. I’d like the company. Sit down.”Sienna stays planted where she is, suspicious. There’s no telling what he’s really after. Throwing his hands up in mock surrender, he grins. “Just sit and relax. You look like you could use it. I swear, I won’t do anything. If I do, feel free to kick me where it hurts.” His laughter softens the edge of his words.She considers his offer. Her feet ache in the stilettos she’s been wearing, reminding her how much she misses her sneakers and jeans. She’s never felt so out of her element.Finally, she gives in, setting her tray down and moving to the sofa. She eases herself onto it, crossing one leg over the other and meeting his gaze.Ethan leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You know,” he says, studying her, “you’re real
Sienna skips breakfast, rushing to class bright and early after waking up late. Just as her stomach begins to growl, a message pings on her phone—a summons to the school’s office. Something about her scholarship. She barely waits for class to end before slipping out, her heart thudding with hope and dread. But as she rounds the corner, she stops cold. Standing in her path, looking every inch like royalty, is her half-sister, Nylar.Nylar’s skin glows in the morning light, hair spilling in dark, perfect curls, lips painted a bold red. Everything about her screams money and confidence. Sienna’s instinct is to look away, avoid her entirely, but it’s too late. Those raven eyes are fixed on her, not about to let her escape.“Sienna,” Nylar calls out.Sienna’s steps slow, wary but determined not to let her discomfort show. “Nylar.”“I need to talk to you.” Nylar gestures toward a nearby café, her eyes narrowing as if testing how much control she still has. Sienna knows she should walk away,
It’s Sienna’s 19th birthday, and she doesn’t expect much. She spends most of the day on campus attending lectures, then rushes through a shift at the nightclub where she works as a waitress. But today feels different, as if the universe is finally cutting her a break.After clocking out, her phone rings. It’s her best friend, Mia Carter, insisting that she come over."I’ve got a surprise for you, birthday girl!" Mia teases.Mia’s vibrant presence always chases away Sienna’s darkest moods. Her chestnut-brown hair falls in effortless waves, framing bright green eyes that sparkle like emeralds. Living together in their cozy downtown apartment, they’ve forged an unbreakable bond over late-night laughs, inside jokes, and endless shifts at KAYOL, where they juggle trays and dreams as waitresses while Sienna continues her studies.Sienna smiles, already imagining what Mia has up her sleeve.As she pushes open the door to their apartment, the sweet scent of frosting reaches her before she eve
Sienna hesitates, weighing the pros and cons of confiding in Mia. Their friendship is built on trust and honesty, but this situation is a tangled complication of emotions and secrets. She worries that Mia, with her black-and-white perspective, will struggle to grasp the nuances. The fear of being judged or misunderstood keeps Sienna's lips sealed"Does it matter? If it does, I found it in the trash. What’s it for?"“I can’t explain right now.”“You even know what that means?” Mia asks, her voice tight with disbelief.“Mia, it’s not what you think,” Sienna whispers, running a hand through her hair. “He just... wanted to talk.”“Talk? And he sent you that much? Sienna, wake up. Noah King doesn’t ‘just talk.’ He’s up to something. He wants something. You need to get away from him before it’s too late.”Sienna’s stomach twists. Mia is right, of course. But how can she explain the impossible? That refusing Noah isn’t just hard—it’s dangerous. “You don’t understand, Mia,” she whispers. “If
The car glides smoothly along the busy streets of Washington D.C., the engine's hum a soft backdrop to the thoughts swirling in Sienna’s mind. She sits by the window, her eyes following the blur of buildings and city lights outside, but her mind is stuck in a place she can’t escape—two weeks ago, back in the chaos of the nightclub.The memory grips her as she casts a sideways glance at the man sitting next to her. He’s engrossed in his phone, fingers moving swiftly across the screen, probably handling one of his multi-billion-dollar deals with ease.Noah King. Impossibly handsome, with a sharp jawline, defined by the faintest shadow of stubble that adds to his rugged authority that’s hard to ignore. His dark hair is impeccably styled, though a rebellious strand has fallen across his forehead tonight.His intense blue eyes, currently focused on his iPad, make it easy to imagine how they could freeze someone when they finally land on them.Dressed in a suit that hugs his broad shoulders
Sienna blinks away the memories, pulling herself back into the present. It’s been two weeks since Noah King stepped into her world like some kind of savior—a knight in shining armor, or so it seemed at first. But now, she’s not so sure. There’s no such thing as debt-free salvation with men like Noah. He saved her that night, but his presence in her life afterward feels like shackles she can’t escape. And the chains are tightening.Noah has taken her out to dinner more times than she can count since then. Each time, she waits for the moment he’ll demand something in return. That’s how it works, right? Men like Noah always want something—always feel owed. But strangely, he hasn’t asked for anything. Just dinner. That’s all. He makes sure she’s fed, then either escorts her home himself or sends his driver to drop her off.It should comfort her, but it doesn’t. The small acts of kindness only deepen her unease. It’s like standing beneath a guillotine, waiting for the blade to drop. She kn
The next day at the nightclub, Sienna is wiping down the bar, trying to lose herself in the rhythm of work, when Mia approaches, her eyes narrowing as she studies Sienna. “Has Noah done anything to you?” she asks in a low voice, ensuring it’s just the two of them who hear. “Did Ethan hurt you or threaten you in any way?” The genuine concern in Mia’s voice tinges with an urgency that makes it clear she won’t let this go until Sienna gives her something.Sienna hesitates, but she can’t avoid it forever. “No, nothing like that,” she replies, shaking her head. “It’s just… weird.”Needing to escape the conversation, Sienna grabs a trash bag and heads for the back door. The alley is cold and empty as she tosses the bag into the dumpster, the sound echoing off the walls. She pauses for a second, pulling out a cigarette—not to smoke, obviously, but as a distraction.Before she can even light it, someone snatches it right out of her fingers. She spins around, startled, and there he is—Osborne