CHAPTER ONE: SAD BIRTHDAY.

Sienna wakes up on her 19th birthday with low expectations—just the way she likes it. No fanfare, no balloons. Just another Tuesday. Classes, lunch on the go, and then the late shift at the club. She’ll keep things low-key, like always, blending into the usual rhythm. Nothing special. Just her, the day, and whatever it throws at her.

The only thing breaking the monotony is the thought of Ackworth tonight. She lets herself smile at the idea of seeing him. He’s been her favorite part of the last few months—unpredictable in the best way, always popping up when she least expects it, with that goofy grin that makes her feel like the world is a little more bearable. He promised he’d come by her shift tonight, and she’s already looking forward to it. 

It’s not much. But it’s enough. 

After class, she hurries through her routine, stuffing her notebooks into her bag with the automatic precision of someone who’s done it a thousand times. The phone in her pocket buzzes—a brief interruption to the numbness of the morning. 

She pulls it out, glancing at the screen. 

It’s Mia.

“Birthday girl, get home NOW! I have a surprise for you!”

Mia is her lifeline in this city—her best friend, the one who fills the silence of their tiny apartment with laughter, the one who knows the most about the pieces of Sienna’s life that she doesn’t share with anyone else. They’re an unlikely duo, but they’re inseparable. 

She smiles and continues her day. After her last class, Sienna hurries home, her heart picking up a little. She walks in and is instantly hit with the smell of frosting, the unmistakable sign of a homemade cake. Mia has gone all out—far beyond their budget, but that's just how Mia operates. She pours herself into everything, even the small things.

“Happy birthday!” Mia sings, bouncing from behind the counter, holding a cake that’s extravagant.

Sienna laughs, taking in the candles and streamers. "Mia, you went way overboard! You didn’t have to—"

“Oh, please,” Mia cuts her off with a grin. “You only turn nineteen once! Now, make a wish!”

Sienna closes her eyes, her chest tightening, a fleeting hope rising up. She wishes for the one thing that feels like a lifeline—a scholarship. Something to take the pressure off. To keep her dreams of school alive without drowning in club shifts. She blows out the candles, and for just a moment, her heart whispers that quiet wish.

Mia watches, her eyes hopeful. "Ackworth must have made your day special," she says.

Sienna hesitates, then shakes her head. “Not yet. But he’ll probably surprise me later.”

Mia narrows her eyes. “Hmm. Fishy.”

Sienna laughs weakly, brushing it off. “Nah, he’s probably planning something big.”

But just as she says it, her phone buzzes again—this time, a message from Ackworth.

Sienna’s heart skips, her pulse picking up. She swipes it open, expecting something sweet, maybe even a heartfelt “Happy Birthday” text. But instead, she’s met with the cold words that feel like ice on her skin:

“Hey Sienna, I think we need to talk. I’ve met someone else. Someone who can give me the life I want. I’m sorry, but I can’t settle with someone like you. Take care.”

The words sting like a slap to the face. Sienna blinks, hoping the screen is broken, or that her eyes are playing tricks on her. But no, it’s real. He’s done. On her birthday, no less. She stares at the message, trying to steady her breathing. Her vision blurs. 

She tries to call him, her fingers trembling, but the call won’t go through. She tries again. And again. But it’s the same—blocked. He’s erased her, wiped her off like she never mattered. 

Mia’s face shifts, a frown pulling at the corners of her lips as she moves closer. She pulls Sienna into a tight hug. “He’s an idiot, Sienna. Seriously. You’re worth so much more than this. For him to do this on your birthday, that's so low of him."

But before Sienna can fully soak in the comfort of Mia’s words, her phone chimes again. Another message. This time, it’s from the university. She wipes at her eyes, hoping for something, anything to break the weight on her chest. 

She reads the words, blinking in disbelief: 

“Congratulations! You have been awarded a full scholarship.”

For a brief moment, everything else falls away. Her chest loosens. It’s not the end of the world, after all. It’s a lifeline. 

Mia grins at her, her face lighting up with pride. “See? Told you, today isn’t all bad. That’s huge, Sienna. You deserve this.”

But just as Sienna starts to let herself feel the warmth of the moment, her phone buzzes again. Another message. 

Her stomach drops. It’s from her boss at KAYOL.

“Need you to come in early  for a shift. The client in VIP requested you specifically. No questions.”

Sienna frowns, glancing at Mia. “I've to head to work now”

Mia raises an eyebrow, not hiding her disapproval. “On your birthday? Arden didn't even give you a day off. And, of all places, the VIP? Who could be this important guest making Arden shit his pants?

“No idea,” Sienna says, forcing a small smile. “Arden said they paid a ridiculous amount for me.”

With a sigh, Sienna changes into her work clothes. Her chest feels heavy, but she pushes the sadness away. She’s been through worse. She’s been through a lot. 

Tonight, it’s just another shift. 

***

The VIP section always makes Sienna uneasy. The dim lighting, the high-end drinks, the way the air feels thicker like everyone’s trying just a little too hard to prove something. She walks through the maze of tables, her nerves prickling, a tray of drinks in hand. She reminds herself to smile. Fake it until she makes it. She’s done this a thousand times before.

But when she reaches the farthest table, her heart gives a violent lurch. Could it be? No. No way.

There, sitting in the soft pool of light, is Noah King. Her Noah. The boy who used to laugh so hard it made everyone else laugh, too. The one she used to ride bikes with until the sun dipped beneath the horizon. The one who vanished without a word all those years ago, leaving nothing but questions. 

But this man? This isn’t the boy she remembers. This isn’t the boy who had a carefree laugh that made her forget everything else. This is a stranger—taller, sharper, colder. He looks like he owns the room like the air itself shifts when he speaks. His eyes catch hers, and for a second, it’s as if the world holds its breath.

Sienna freezes. There’s a part of her that wants to run. There’s a part of her that wants to scream at him for all the years she spent wondering why he left, why he didn’t even bother to say goodbye. But she can’t. Not yet. Not now. 

He catches her eye, his lips curling up ever so slightly. “Sienna.”

His voice. It’s a whisper of the past, but it’s so different now. There’s a coldness to it, something calculated. It leaves her speechless, frozen in the moment. 

“Noah,” she manages to choke out. It feels foreign on her tongue. She doesn’t know whether she’s happy to see him or furious. Maybe both. 

His gaze locks onto hers, and for a brief second, the noise of the club fades away.

“I never thought I’d see you here,” she says, though the words feel hollow. 

He raises an eyebrow. “Well, here I am, in flesh and blood," he briefly smiles.

The distance between them stretches. It’s a start. But it’s not enough. Not nearly enough.

Noah doesn’t smile or explain. He just watches her—like a predator studying prey. Sienna stands before him, a shadow of the carefree girl he once knew. Her dress clings to her, accentuating curves that stir memories he’s long tried to bury. His gaze flickers over her legs, then back to her face, where those familiar defiant eyes now show a flicker of fear.

She’s changed, yet the fierce determination in her expression hasn’t faded. Noah’s spent weeks observing her from the shadows, learning every detail about her life—the college classes, the late shifts at the nightclub, the rundown apartment. She has no idea how much he knows, how close he’s been. The boy she remembers is gone, replaced by a man fueled only by revenge.