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
Mia is barely conscious when Osborne guides her through the door of his apartment. She stumbles, leaning heavily on him as they make their way inside. The soft click of the door shutting behind them seems distant, muffled by the haze of alcohol clouding her senses. Her eyes flutter, half-closed, but she still notices the familiar sharpness of his space—the black couch, the spotless countertops.Everything here is always too perfect, too untouched, as if Osborne just passes through his own life without bothering to leave a mark.Osborne kicks off his shoes, half-dragging her to the bedroom. "Come on," he mutters under his breath, not with annoyance, but with that same casual tone he always uses, like none of this really matters. He pushes her onto the bed, and the mattress dips beneath her weight.She lets out a soft sigh, sinking into the cool sheets. His fingers work quickly, tearing open a condom wrapper, the sound slicing through the room like a blade.But then, he pauses.Osborne
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