Chapter 26 Sienna’s Pov For the first time in what felt like forever, Daphne was smiling at me. It wasn’t just a small smile either, it was bright, genuine, the kind that made me feel like everything wasn’t completely falling apart. We had spent the last hour laughing, talking about her day, and even though it was simple, it was enough. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this, how much I needed it. “Thank you, Mama,” Daphne said softly as she leaned against me, her little arms wrapped around my waist. “For what, baby?” I asked, running my fingers through her hair. “For saying sorry to Lucas” she murmured, her face buried in my side. “I didn’t want him to hate me.” I froze for a moment, my heart catching in my chest. It was like a knife to the gut, hearing her say that. All the fighting, the tension between me and Lucas, it had affected her more than I realized. But I forced myself to smile and hugged her tighter. “I’m glad you’re happy, Daphne,” I whispered, pressing a ki
Chapter 27 Lucas’s Pov I wasn’t expecting anyone, so when the knock came at the door, I was surprised. I swung it open and immediately exclaimed, “Ken? What the hell are you doing here?” Without waiting for an invitation, Ken brushed past me into the house, his face serious, tense. I shut the door behind him, watching as Lisa’s expression shifted. She quickly picked up on the mood, glancing between us before offering a polite smile. “I’ll give you two some space,” she said softly, touching my arm as she walked past. She headed upstairs, leaving Ken and me standing in the living room. Ken didn’t waste any time. “We bagged another contract,” he began, but there was hesitation in his voice. “But I don’t think it’s going to work out.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “It’s late, Ken. Real late. Do we really need to do this now?” Ken looked at me, his expression was flat. “Lucas, this could backfire. The client’s already shaky. We’ve been burned before, you know that.” I
Chapter 28 Sienna's Pov I stared at my phone, waiting for a voice, a sound, anything. But there was nothing. Just silence. The longer it stretched, the more it made my skin crawl. It felt intentional, like someone was on the other end, just listening, refusing to speak. Lucas? No. He’d have said something. Someone else? “Hello?” I repeated for what felt like the hundredth time, my voice shaky now, more desperate. Still, nothing. Just the eerie sound of silence, and maybe, just maybe, faint breathing. My chest tightened. Enough was enough. I hung up, the click of the call ending breaking the heavy silence that had settled around me. I stared at the screen for a moment, my fingers trembling slightly. That didn’t feel like a wrong number. It felt deliberate. I tossed the phone onto the table and took a deep breath, shaking my head. “You’re being paranoid, Sienna,” I whispered to myself, though the tension in my shoulders didn’t ease. My nerves were still shot from earlier, Lucas, D
Chapter 29 Sienna’s Pov I decided to go back to the room to get some sleep, that way I'd get my head eased off a bit before anything else popped out. I hadn’t even made it halfway to the bed when the phone buzzed again. I stopped in my tracks, staring at the screen. It was the same unknown number. My pulse quickened, and for a moment, I thought about letting it ring. But curiosity, no, frustration, got the better of me. I answered it, my voice sharper than before. “Hello?” This time, a voice replied. “Sienna.” The breath I didn’t realize I was holding rushed out of me, but it wasn’t relief. I recognized the voice, it was him. The man I had been working with. “What do you want? Is there any problem?” I asked, pressing the phone to my ear, already irritated. “I’ve got something,” he said, his tone casual, as if this was just business as usual. “Another secret about Lucas. Something big. I could send out a new news flash tonight. What do you say?” I froze. Another secret? T
Chapter 30 Lucas’s POV I couldn’t find anything on that company name. No records, no mentions, nothing. It was as if the email had come from thin air. After spending what felt like hours searching, I finally gave up, convincing myself it was just some prank, someone trying to mess with my head. With everything going on, it wasn’t hard to imagine. Maybe I was overthinking it. The next morning, I dressed for work, hoping for a normal day, one without drama, without complications. It was always one everyday. I needed to focus on the company. When I got to the office, the atmosphere was surprisingly good. People were busy, heads down, working like they had a purpose. For the first time in a while, it felt like things were going smoothly. Ken was standing by his desk, grinning like an idiot. He looked over at me, gave a thumbs-up, and went back to whatever he was doing. I nodded, feeling really good. I started walking toward my office when I heard commotion near the entrance. At
Chapter 31 Sienna’s Pov “Here’s your order, ma’am,” a voice said, almost too calm, too steady. I opened the door expecting to see the delivery guy, but the moment I looked up, my stomach tightened. It wasn’t who I was expecting. The man standing there had the uniform and the delivery bag, but something about him felt wrong, off. His eyes were too focused, too intense, and he didn’t look like someone who was just here to drop off food. “We need to talk. Privately,” he said, his voice low, as he pushed the bag toward me. I froze for a second, my mind racing. “Excuse me?” I managed to say, glancing at Daphne who was still in the room behind me. The man didn’t move, just stood there, watching me carefully. “Not here. Outside.” Daphne, sensing something was off, looked up from the bed. “Mama, where are you going?” I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice light. “Just going to meet a friend for a few minutes, sweetie. I’ll be back soon. Enjoy your food, okay?” Daphne tilted her h
Chapter 32 Lucas Pov “You’re leaving already?” Lisa murmured without looking at me, her voice barely a whisper as she stirred beneath the sheets. “Yeah,” I replied, leaning down to kiss her cheek, but she didn’t turn to meet me. “I’ll see you tonight.” “Mm-hmm. Be safe,” she muttered, still facing away from me. I stood there for a second, waiting for her to look at me, maybe give me one last glance before I left. But she didn’t. I sighed, grabbed my keys, and left the house. Things with Lisa had been tense lately,like something was off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Or maybe I just didn’t want to. The drive to work was quieter than usual. Too quiet. The thoughts in my head were louder than the world outside the car, and none of them were good. As I pulled into the company parking lot, a part of me was bracing for disaster. But when I stepped into the office, everything seemed normal. People were working, the buzz of phones and keyboards filling the air. It was business
Chapter 33Sienna's Pov"Mama, why did you say I can go out with Lucas now?" Daphne asked, her small voice breaking through the morning quiet.I looked at her, trying to hide the conflicting emotions swirling inside me. I had just told her not to follow strangers, but when it came to Lucas, I hesitated. Why did I still trust him with her after everything? I brushed the thought aside, trying to focus on Daphne."You like him, don’t you?” I asked, forcing a smile. “And if you’re happy, I don’t have a choice, do I?"Daphne beamed, her eyes lighting up. "So, does that mean I can go out with him again?"I hesitated for a second before nodding. “Yes, sweetheart. But only if I know where you're going.”Her smile widened. "What about you, Mama? Will you come out with me today? Can we go somewhere fun?"I smiled softly, glad to see her excitement. It had been a while since we’d spent time together like this, and after everything, I owed her more than just apologies."Of course! How about we g
Chapter 107 Sienna’s Pov“Let go of me, Lucas,” I said firmly, jerking my hand out of his grip. He stood there, his eyes searching mine as if looking for something, but I refused to meet his gaze. “It’s none of your business,” I said sharply. “Stay away from me. Stay away from Daphne.” His shoulders slumped slightly, and he sighed, but he didn’t respond. That was fine with me. I didn’t need to hear anything else. Turning on my heel, I marched toward my car, feeling his presence like a weight on my back. As I reached for the door handle, I felt his hand on mine again. “Let me go, Lucas,” I said without looking at him. His grip loosened slightly, but his voice was low and heavy. “Why do you keep running, Sienna? Why won’t you just tell me everything?” I pulled my hand free and finally looked at him, my tone cold. “I’m not holding you back, Lucas. I never was. If you think I am, that’s on you. Now, let me live my life and leave me alone.” Without giving him a chance to r
Chapter 105Sienna’s Pov“Ryan, you can’t keep putting your life on hold for me,” I said, my voice quiet but firm. Ryan stared at me, his expression conflicted. “Sienna, I’m not putting my life on hold. I just… I want to be here for you and Daphne. You know that.” I shook my head, taking a step back. “And I appreciate everything you’ve done. But you have your own responsibilities, your own dreams. You can’t stay here forever.” For a moment, he said nothing, his hands resting on his hips as he struggled to find the right words. “You’re sure about this?” “I am,” I replied softly. “I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.” After a long pause, Ryan sighed, nodding reluctantly. “Alright. I’ll go. But I’ll be back sooner than you think, Sienna.” I forced a smile, watching as he gathered his things and left. The door closing behind him felt like the end of a chapter, a bittersweet one, but I knew it was the right decision. A few days later, the morning sun streamed through the windows as I
Chapter 105Sienna’s Pov“Ryan, you can’t keep putting your life on hold for me,” I said, my voice quiet but firm. Ryan stared at me, his expression conflicted. “Sienna, I’m not putting my life on hold. I just… I want to be here for you and Daphne. You know that.” I shook my head, taking a step back. “And I appreciate everything you’ve done. But you have your own responsibilities, your own dreams. You can’t stay here forever.” For a moment, he said nothing, his hands resting on his hips as he struggled to find the right words. “You’re sure about this?” “I am,” I replied softly. “I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.” After a long pause, Ryan sighed, nodding reluctantly. “Alright. I’ll go. But I’ll be back sooner than you think, Sienna.” I forced a smile, watching as he gathered his things and left. The door closing behind him felt like the end of a chapter, a bittersweet one, but I knew it was the right decision. A few days later, the morning sun streamed through the windows as I
Chapter 104 Sienna’s Pov. "I don’t know how to say it," Ryan’s voice drifted through the partially closed door, low and tinged with nervousness. I paused in the hallway, balancing a tray of food for him. He wasn’t talking to anyone, just pacing in his room, his words tumbling out in a stream of anxious soliloquy. “I mean, how do you tell someone you love them without sounding desperate? She probably doesn’t even feel the same. What if I ruin everything?” My heart clenched, and I instinctively held my breath. He was talking about me. I didn’t know what to do. Should I walk away and pretend I hadn’t heard anything? Or should I go in and act like I hadn’t been eavesdropping? Before I could decide, he spoke again, quieter this time, almost to himself. “She’s been through so much already. Maybe it’s better if I keep quiet…” I knocked softly on the door, pushing it open before he could respond. Ryan spun around, startled, his face going pale for a second before he forced a s
Chapter 103 Lucas’s Pov“I cannot believe you, Lucas!” Lisa’s voice rang through the house, loud and sharp, as she paced back and forth in front of me, her friends sitting awkwardly on the couch nearby, pretending not to listen but clearly enjoying the drama. I rubbed my temples, already exhausted by the conversation. “Lisa, I told you, I’m not spending another dime on something as ridiculous as matching gold napkin rings for the rehearsal dinner,” I said, trying to keep my tone calm. She whirled around, glaring at me like I’d just insulted her entire existence. “It’s not just about the napkin rings, Lucas. It’s about you not taking this wedding seriously! You’re acting like it’s a burden instead of a celebration of us!” I took a deep breath, counting to five before responding. “Lisa, I am taking this seriously. I’m funding the entire thing, aren’t I? But there has to be a line somewhere. We don’t need to go overboard.” Her friends exchanged glances, barely stifling their s
Chapter 102 Ryan’s Pov“Sienna,” I began, my voice faltering as I stood on her porch, staring into her tired but beautiful eyes. The words were on the tip of my tongue, desperate to escape, but my courage wavered. “What is it, Ryan?” she asked, tilting her head slightly, her tone soft but curious. I glanced down, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I… uh… I was wondering if you and Daphne would like to go out today. You know, just to get some fresh air. I thought it might be nice for all of us.” Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she was trying to figure out what I was really asking, but then she nodded. “Daphne could use some fun,” she said. “It’s been a tough few weeks for her.” Relief washed over me, though part of me felt like a coward for dodging what I really wanted to say. But this wasn’t the right time, I told myself. Sienna had enough on her plate already without me adding more complications. By the time we left the house, Daphne was bouncing with excitement. She
Chapter 101Sienna's Pov "Mommy, why are you so quiet?" Daphne's voice broke the stillness of the room as she tilted her head, her curious eyes searching mine. I smiled weakly, brushing a strand of her hair back. "I'm just thinking, sweetheart. Nothing for you to worry about." But my heart was heavy. Ryan’s recent kindness lingered in my mind, and Lucas’s sudden reappearance only added to the chaos. It felt like my life was caught between two storms, both threatening to unravel everything I’d worked so hard to hold together. I reached for Daphne’s hand, squeezing it gently. "How about we bake something today? Cookies, maybe?" Her face lit up, and she nodded eagerly. “Yes! With chocolate chips!” “Chocolate chips it is,” I said, standing and leading her into the kitchen. The sound of Daphne’s laughter filled the kitchen as we rolled dough and pressed cookie cutters into the soft mixture. Flour dusted her cheeks, and her giggles grew louder when I smeared a bit of it on her
Chapter 100Lucas’s Pov"Mr. Lucas, I see you’ve arrived." The deep, commanding voice greeted me as I stepped into the lavish private dining room of The Green Ivy.The air smelled of exotic spices and freshly grilled meats, but my focus was immediately drawn to the long dining table in front of me. It was covered in an array of dishes that looked too extravagant for a simple meeting. From roasted duck and stuffed lobster to delicate pastries and expensive wines, the table was practically groaning under the weight of excess. I paused, uncertain if I was in the right place. “This is… unexpected,” I muttered under my breath. Before I could overthink it, a tall, sharply dressed man emerged from the shadows of the room. He exuded power, his every move deliberate and commanding. His dark suit fit him perfectly, and his silver watch glinted under the dim lighting. “Mr. Monroe,” he said, extending a hand as he approached. “I’ve been looking forward to this meeting. Please, sit.” I
Chapter 99Sienna’s PovI sat on the couch, my knees pulled tightly to my chest, tears streaming silently down my face. The house was quiet except for Ryan’s soft voice as he tried to soothe me. “Sienna, you’ve been through so much already. You can’t keep blaming yourself for everything,” he said gently, sitting down beside me. “It’s not just about me,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Daphne’s been through so much because of me. I thought I could give her a stable life, but I’m failing her. I don’t even know how to fix this anymore.” Ryan sighed, reaching out to place a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You’re not failing her, Sienna. You’re a good mother, and she knows it. She adores you, and it’s obvious. You’re doing everything you can.” I couldn’t respond, the lump in my throat making it hard to breathe. Just then, Daphne’s weak voice called from her room, breaking the silence. I shot up instantly, rushing to her side. Her small body was curled up under the blankets, bu