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 41Lucas’s Pov“Where the hell have you been, Lisa?” I asked the moment she answered my call, my frustration spilling out as soon as I heard her voice.There was a pause on the other end, long enough for me to start regretting my tone, but then she finally responded, her voice quieter than usual. “I told you, Lucas. I was at Jessica’s. Why are you freaking out?”I let out a breath, trying to reel in my temper. “I’ve been calling and texting you all day, Lisa. You could’ve at least let me know you were okay.”Another pause, and this time, when she spoke, there was a hint of annoyance. “I didn’t think I had to check in every five minutes. I’m fine, Lucas.”I could feel my grip tightening on the phone. “It’s not about checking in every five minutes. You didn’t come home last night, and then Ken tells me you stopped by the office and didn’t even bother saying anything to me. What’s going on with you?”“I didn’t want to interrupt your work,” she said flatly. “And honestly, Lucas, I
Chapter 42 Sienna's Pov“Mama,” Daphne whined, tugging at my arm as I sat at the dining table, reviewing a few things on my laptop. “Can we see Lucas? Please?”I frowned, trying to focus. Daphne had been bringing Lucas up more frequently, and each time she did, it unsettled me. I didn’t know how to explain to her that Lucas wasn’t part of our lives anymore, at least not in the way she wanted.“Sweetheart,” I started, choosing my words carefully. “Lucas is busy, you know. He’s working.”Daphne pouted, her eyes wide with that innocent look she always used when she wanted something desperately. “But I miss him, Mama. Can we please invite him for dinner? Just tonight?”I sighed, knowing how persistent she could be. The thought of having Lucas here again, sitting at the same table, stirred something in me, something I wasn’t ready to deal with. But seeing Daphne this sad… I couldn’t say no. Not to her.“Fine,” I relented, grabbing my phone. “I’ll call him. But no promises, okay?”Daphne’s
Chapter 43Lucas's Pov"Why haven’t you been picking up?" Lisa’s voice was sharp through the phone, jolting me from my thoughts as I drove home.I sighed, glancing at the dashboard. It was late, and I was exhausted, mentally and physically. The dinner with Daphne had stirred emotions I didn’t even know I had buried, and now Lisa’s irritation was the last thing I wanted to deal with.“I’ve been busy, Lisa. A lot’s going on at the company right now. I didn’t have time to call earlier.” My voice was tight, and I knew she could hear the frustration behind my words.“Busy?” Lisa repeated, her voice dripping with skepticism. “You’ve been saying that a lot lately, Lucas. What’s really going on?”I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, forcing myself to stay calm. “We’ve got a major project, one that could save the company. I’m under a lot of pressure right now.”There was a pause on the other end, and I could feel the tension building. “Is that all it is? Work?”I frowned. “What do y
Chapter 44 Sienna's Pov“Lucas isn’t my daddy,” Daphne’s voice echoed in my mind, the words stabbing at me as I sat at the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wall. She had cried herself to sleep after the dinner, her little heart broken by the truth I had to force on her. A truth that, even for me, was hard to accept.The evening had been a disaster, and as much as I wanted to pretend that everything was going according to my plan, Daphne’s words haunted me. The way she had looked up at Lucas, her innocent hope shining in those wide, brown eyes, only for me to shatter it by telling her he was married. I hadn’t meant to be so cold, but I had to. I couldn’t let Daphne live in a fantasy. Lucas wasn’t her father, and he never would be.Still, I couldn’t help but wonder what could have been. If things had gone differently. If Lucas hadn’t walked out of my life the way he did. Would we be a family? Would Daphne be calling him daddy, and would I be waking up next to him instead of sit
Chapter 45 Lucas’s Pov“I’ll have to tell Lisa sooner or later,” I muttered to myself, pacing the length of my office. The thought had been disturbing me for days now, Sienna was back, and sooner or later, Lisa would find out. But how could I explain it? How could I tell her that the woman I’d once loved, the woman who had turned my life upside down, was now dragging me back into her web of deceit?I sat down at my desk, trying to focus on the project in front of me. This was my priority right now, saving the company, ensuring that we hit our deadlines, and avoiding another crisis. I needed to deal with this first, before anything else. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, my thoughts kept drifting back to Sienna, to the way she’d casually re-entered my life and to Daphne’s innocent plea from the night before.*“Be my daddy.”*Her words haunted me, replaying in my head over and over again. She had looked up at me with so much hope, so much trust, and I hadn’t known what to say. I
Chapter 46 Sienna's Pov“Lucas always thinks he can get the last word,” I muttered to myself, pacing the room after leaving the cafe. My mind was still buzzing from our conversation. The nerve of him, coming here and demanding answers like he had some right to know everything about my life, about Daphne’s life. The fact that he even asked if Daphne was his? That was laughable. Lucas never really understood me, and now, he was playing catch-up in a game I had been controlling all along.I paused in front of the mirror, catching a glimpse of myself, my reflection was calm, composed, but beneath the surface, I felt the familiar current of anger swirling. Lucas had gotten under my skin more than I’d like to admit. Why did he care so much? I had told him the truth, Daphne wasn’t his, but still, he kept hovering around her, around me. He couldn’t let it go. I needed to regain control, to remind myself why I was doing all of this. Everything had been calculated. Every move I made was meant
Chapter 47 Lucas's Pov“We’re almost there,” I muttered to myself, staring at the glowing numbers on my screen. The deal we had been working on for months, the one that was supposed to save the company, was finally coming to a close. The final payment was supposed to come in today, a large sum that would pull us out of the hole we’d been stuck in for far too long.But something felt off. I had been glued to my phone all morning, waiting for confirmation that the payment had been processed, but nothing had come through yet. I checked the time again. It was already past noon, and I should have heard something by now.Just as I was about to make a call to check on the status, Ken barged into my office, his face pale, worry etched into every line. My stomach dropped. “Lucas, we’ve got a problem,” Ken said, his voice tense.I stood up, my heart racing. “What kind of problem?”Ken hesitated, looking down at the file in his hands. “The payment. It’s... stuck.”I blinked, not understandin
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
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