CHAPTER SEVEN: UNQUIET HEARTS.

All night, Sienna can’t sleep, and this morning starts off rough. Her mind is fixed on one person: Noah King. Even in his absence, he fills up her mind.

Sienna’s fingers instinctively wander to the necklace draped elegantly around her neck, the cool metal like an electric shock waking every nerve. The delicate platinum chain holds a stunning diamond solitaire, accompanied by a vibrant peridot – her birthstone – and surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds that sparkle like whispers.

Her mind is a jumble of emotions as she thinks about Noah gifting it to her. She can’t shake off the feeling that there’s more to this gesture than meets the eye. Is it a genuine attempt to connect or a clever manipulation? Sienna’s thoughts swirl, replaying their encounter in vivid detail.

As her fingers trace the pendant’s curves, she feels an unsettling sense of vulnerability. This beautiful necklace, meant to adorn her, now feels like an invisible thread binding her to Noah. The peridot, once a symbol of her individuality, now seems tainted by his intentions.

Sienna’s gaze drifts, lost in the whirlpool of her thoughts. What does Noah truly want from her? Is this a declaration of interest or a calculated move? And why does she care so deeply?

Her fingers slip away from the necklace, but her mind stays, fighting with the unpredictable bond forming between her and Noah.

She leans back on the bed’s headboard, exhaustion creeping over her. Last night’s lack of sleep finally catches up with her as her eyelids flutter shut. She slips into an uneasy doze, her mind dragging her into a hazy dream.

She’s a little girl again, standing in a sunlit field.In the dream, Sienna twirls in a sundress that flutters in the warm breeze, the fabric soft and light as it dances around her legs. The dress is a pale shade of yellow, delicate daisies embroidered along the hem, making her look like she’s part of the field itself.

Her bare feet sink slightly into the grass, and she feels the cool earth beneath her toes, the scent of wildflowers surrounding the environment. Her laughter rings out, pure and carefree, as she spins, her long hair catching the sunlight. Everything feels perfect—like the world is just as It should be, untouched by the complications and shadows of adulthood.

She turns, and there he is, standing not far from her. The boy watches her, his own grin wide and unburdened. He’s dressed in simple clothes—a white cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up, slightly oversized but comfortable, and a pair of soft brown shorts.

His hair, dark and messy, falls into his eyes, and he pushes it back with a playful flick. His cheeks are flushed from running, and his eyes, wide and bright, sparkle with joy. There’s no hint of the man he’ll become, no responsibility or revenge—just a boy who is happy, without a care in the world.

Sienna rushes toward him, closing the distance between them. As they meet, he grabs her hand, pulling her into a twirl of their own, and she laughs again, breathless with happiness. The boy laughs too, his voice light, full of innocence, like the very idea of sadness or anger is a distant concept neither of them could ever understand.

Together, they run through the field, hand in hand, their small bodies cutting through the tall grass as the sun beats down from above. There’s no urgency, no fear—just the bliss of being young, of being free, with nothing in their lives but this moment.

They stop eventually, breathless and smiling, and the boy turns to her, his expression softening. He holds her gaze, his hand still clutching hers, like he never wants to let go. “You must grow up quickly,” he says, his voice steady but filled with a kind of longing she doesn’t yet understand. “And marry me.”

Sienna smiles at him, the words filling her with a warmth she can’t explain. In this perfect moment, under the golden sky, it all seems so simple—like there’s nothing in the world that could ever tear them apart. They stand there, side by side, as if they have all the time in the world, not knowing that everything would change, that the innocence of this moment would be lost.

Sienna blinks, frozen in place as the words hit her like a wave. Before she can respond, the scene shifts, and the boy begins to fade, the edges of his form blurring like smoke. The warmth of the sun cools, and suddenly she’s alone again, reaching out for something she can’t quite grasp.

Her eyes snap open, and she’s back in the apartment. Her breath comes out in shaky gasps, and she quickly wipes at the dampness on her cheeks.

The dream clings to her like oxygen, its sounds refusing to fade. The voice in her ears, a haunting melody that’s both familiar and elusive. Sienna’s mind conjures Noah’s face, and she’s arrested by the uncanny resemblance to the boy in her dream. The same piercing eyes, the same chiseled jawline, but softer, more vulnerable.

A pang of nostalgia stirs within her. This younger version of Noah, frozen in time, bears little resemblance to the man who now dominates her every waking moment. The one who’s stolen her sleep, hijacked her thoughts, and left her questioning everything.

As she lies there, suspended between reality and the dreamworld, Sienna feels the boundaries dying. Past and present collide, and she’s struck by the realization that her connection to Noah runs deeper than she ever imagined.

Sienna sits up, rubbing her temples. “It was just a dream. Get it together.”

But her heart tells her otherwise. They’ve all grown up, but everything has changed. The boy in her memory—so sweet, so full of hope—is a world away from the man Noah has become.

Her phone buzzes on the table, jarring her out of her thoughts. It’s her alarm blaring, reminding her about another dinner. Noah had invited her once more, and she agreed out of habit more than anything else. She swallows, still shaken by the dream, and forces herself off the couch. There's no time to dwell on the past.