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 34 Lucas’s Pov“Lucas, what are we going to do?” Lisa’s voice had cracked with frustration earlier that morning, but now, as I stood in my office staring at the latest email, everything had changed.I was reading the confirmation over and over, not fully believing it. After so many losses, it felt surreal to finally have something solid.It had all started with a single email that caught my eye. The offer wasn’t massive, but it was enough to keep us afloat, to keep the company going. I could still hear the faint ping of my inbox, the subject line reading: Urgent Project Proposal – Immediate Attention Required.I opened it cautiously, half-expecting another hoax, but as I read through the details, my heart began to race. This was it. A real chance. The company was legitimate, the project clearly defined, and they were offering a contract that we desperately needed.I didn’t waste a second. I quickly sent a message to Ken…“Ken, we’ve got a new project. Start preparing the team
Chapter 35Sienna’s Pov“Daphne! Daphne!” My voice cracked, hoarse from hours of yelling, searching, running from one corner of the park to the next. The carousel, the rollercoaster, the stalls, none of it mattered anymore. Nothing but finding her. It had been hours since she disappeared, and every passing minute made my heart race harder. I had searched everywhere, asked every parent, every child, every worker. But no one had seen her. She was just... gone.Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t have time to cry. I had to think, to keep moving. The sun was already setting, casting long shadows over the park, making it harder to see clearly. My stomach twisted in knots. Where was she?I knew what I had to do, even though the thought of leaving the park terrified me. I had to go to the police. I had to get help.I jumped into the car, my hands trembling as I gripped the steering wheel. The drive to the police station felt endless, every second ticking by like an eternity. My mind raced wit
Chapter 36Sienna's PovAs soon as we got home, I locked the door behind us, letting out a long breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I knelt down in front of Daphne, gently brushing her hair out of her face.“Sweetheart, how did you end up there? With that family?”Daphne blinked sleepily, rubbing her eyes. “I don’t know, Mama,” she mumbled. “I was on the horse ride, and then... I don’t remember. I just wanted to sleep. Can you sing me a song?”Her innocent words tugged at my heart, making it ache. She didn’t even realize how scared I had been, how close we came to losing each other. Tears welled up in my eyes before I could stop them, my emotions crashing down all at once.“Mama, why are you crying?” Daphne asked, her small hand reaching up to touch my face.I tried to smile, but the tears kept falling. “Oh, baby... don’t you know how worried I was? I couldn’t find you. I thought... I thought something bad had happened.”Daphne tilted her head, confused. “But I’m here now, Mama.”I
Chapter 37Lucas’s Pov“Here’s your phone,” I said, stretching it toward Lisa, who grabbed it quickly, almost too quickly. “Thank you,” she muttered, not even looking me in the eye before disappearing upstairs to get ready for her night out. I watched her leave, feeling a strange unease settle in my chest. Lately, something about Lisa felt off. She seemed distant, jumpy even. I couldn’t understand why. She said she was going to a friend’s place, and I believed her, but the way she clung to her phone and avoided me... it just didn’t sit right. I sighed, sinking into the couch, letting my mind drift. Maybe it was just the stress of everything, the company, the money, our strained relationship.The silence was broken by the buzz of my phone. I picked it up, noticing the familiar number from Men, our senior project manager.“Lucas, we’ve just bagged another contract,” Men’s voice came through, sounding excited but trying to keep his composure.A smile broke across my face. Finally, som
Chapter 38 Lucas’s PovI stared at the screen, Daphne’s face still plastered across the news report, that awful word missing glaring back at me. My stomach twisted in knots. I couldn’t believe it. How could this have happened?Ken leaned over my desk, glancing at the TV. “Lucas, relax,” he said, his voice steady. “The kid’s been found. It’s old news. They just haven’t updated the broadcast yet.”I blinked, trying to process what he’d just said. “She’s been found?” My voice came out shakier than I intended.“Yeah, man. I read it in the police report this morning,” Ken replied, giving me a reassuring look. “She’s fine. There’s no need to worry. They’ll pull the story down soon enough.”I let out a long breath, feeling a weight lift off my chest, but only slightly. I needed to know for sure. Without thinking, I quickly shot a message to Sienna.“Is Daphne okay?”Her response came almost immediately, short and sharp.“She’s fine. Don’t bother caring. She’s not your child.”The words stun
Chapter 39 Lucas's Pov I stared at my phone, waiting for any sign from Lisa. It had been hours since I tried calling her, and still, nothing. No calls, no texts, not even a missed notification. I tried to push away the growing worry gnawing at me, but it was getting harder. *Maybe she’s upset,* I thought. After Ken had stupidly told her I didn’t want to see anyone, it wasn’t unreasonable to think she was pissed off. Hell, I would be too if I were in her shoes. I sent a few more texts, each one sounding a little more desperate than the last. “Lisa, where are you? Call me.” “Look, I didn’t mean to ignore you. Can we talk?” “Please, just text me back.” Still nothing. I wanted to leave the office, to drive home and check on her, but I couldn’t. The day was a mess of meetings, project briefings, and constant back-and-forth emails. I was swamped with work, and as much as I wanted to drop everything and go, I knew I couldn’t. Not today. The company was hanging by a thread, a
Chapter 40Sienna's Pov“Daphne, can you pack up those toys? The floor’s a mess,” I called out, watching her from across the room. Daphne glanced up at me, then down at the scattered toys around her. “Okay, Mama!” she chirped, hopping off the couch to start gathering her things.As I watched her, I couldn’t help but feel a strange satisfaction bubbling up inside me. Everything was falling into place, at least for now. I’d started assigning companies to work with Lucas’s business, building him up, letting him taste success again. But it was only temporary. He didn’t know what was coming. Soon enough, I’d take it all away, just like he took everything from me.*Let him enjoy it while it lasts,* I thought. He had no idea what was waiting for him on the other side.The thought made me smile, but it was a cold, calculated smile. I wanted Lucas to feel the way I did, miserable, trapped, and helpless. He thought he could escape me, but I was always a step ahead. He’d regret making me love
Chapter 110 Lucas’s PovI didn’t know what to say. Ryan was doing most of the talking, though it was clear he was struggling to string a proper sentence together. His words came out jumbled, stammered, and frankly, they didn’t make much sense. Sienna just stood there in the doorway, arms crossed, staring at the three of us like we were a group of misbehaving children. Her eyes flicked over our bruised faces, and I could tell she was holding back her temper. When I opened my mouth to say something, she raised a hand to stop me. “Enough,” she said sharply. “All of you, stop talking. You’re grown men. Handle your injuries yourselves.” She turned around without waiting for a response, scooped Daphne into her arms, and carried her inside, shutting the door firmly behind her. I let out a long sigh, my shoulders slumping. This wasn’t how I wanted things to go. I’d hoped, naively, that seeing me in such a state would tug at Sienna’s soft, merciful side, the one I knew so well. Bu
Chapter 109Ryan’s PovI wanted to punch Lucas right there in Sienna’s living room. The smug look on his face, the way he acted like he had a right to be here, made my blood boil. But I kept my fists clenched in my pocket. Starting a fight wouldn’t help Sienna, and it would only make things worse for Daphne. So, I sat back, my jaw tight, and kept my focus on Sienna, who was doing her best to keep the situation calm. “Why don’t I cook something for everyone?” she said, her tone overly cheerful in an attempt to cut through the tension. “The three of you can go to the supermarket and get me what I need.” Lucas frowned. “The three of us?” “Yes,” Sienna replied quickly. “You’ll all need to get along sooner or later, so this is a good start.” David gave her a small nod. “Sure, if that’s what you want.” I shrugged, hiding the smirk forming on my lips. If I couldn’t hit Lucas, I’d enjoy making him uncomfortable. “Alright. Let’s go.” It took longer than it should’ve to decide wh
Chapter 108 Sienna’s Pov“Mommy!” Daphne’s voice echoed from the living room as I heard her small footsteps shuffle around. Panic gripped me. I’d left her alone for just a few minutes while I cleaned up in the bathroom. Throwing down the towel, I rushed out to see what had happened. The sight of David sitting at the dining table with Daphne by his side caught my eye. Her small hand was wrapped in a makeshift bandage, and tears glistened in her eyes. “What happened?” I asked, my voice trembling as I hurried over to them. David looked up, his expression calm but concerned. “She tried peeling an orange on her own,” he explained, gesturing to the knife on the counter. “She cut herself before I could stop her.” “Oh, Daphne…” I knelt beside her, gently taking her hand and examining the injury. The cut wasn’t deep, but seeing her hurt like this made my heart race. “I’m okay, Mommy,” Daphne said, her voice wavering. I felt a so much guilt for leaving her unsupervised. “I should
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 106 Lucas’s Pov “You weren’t even patient enough to wait? Is that how you always are, Lucas?” The voice, sharp and tinged with sarcasm, stopped me in my tracks. I turned slowly, my frustration bubbling under the surface, only to see Sienna walking toward me. She was as composed as ever, her bag slung over her shoulder and her expression unreadable. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming,” I replied, my tone clipped. “I’m here, aren’t I?” she shot back, pulling out the chair across from mine and sitting down gracefully. I sat down as well, running a hand through my hair as I tried to collect myself. “Why were you late?” Her lips twitched, as though she was suppressing a smirk. “Because, Lucas, unlike you, I’m not in the habit of making my life revolve around other people’s demands. I’ll show up when I’m ready.” I exhaled slowly, deciding not to take the bait. “Let’s get to the point,” I said, leaning forward slightly. “I called you here because I need answe
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