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 48 Lucas's Pov“I’m done with this,” I muttered to myself, gripping the steering wheel as I drove toward Sienna’s place, my mind racing. I couldn’t take it anymore, the constant sabotage, the twisted games, the manipulation. If Sienna wanted me out of her life, she should have just said it years ago, instead of this endless back-and-forth of tearing down everything I tried to build. If she was intent on ruining me, fine. I’d let her know exactly how I felt about it.When I finally arrived, I barely registered my own footsteps as I stormed through the hallways until I reached her door. I didn’t even knock. My mind was a blur, my heart pounding with the frustration I’d buried for far too long. I pushed the door open, and there she was, sitting with Daphne, the two of them playing with some toys on the floor.“Sienna!” I barked, causing both of them to look up in surprise.Daphne’s eyes widened, and she instinctively moved closer to her mother. But my focus was on Sienna, and I
Chapter 49 Sienna’s Pov This wasn’t the Lucas I’d loved, the one I’d given my heart to without question. I could feel the sting of betrayal under my skin, his accusations cutting me deeper than he realized. But as much as it hurt, I knew I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. He was the one who’d kept me in the shadows, who had chosen a path that forced me to survive without him. I had loved him unconditionally, and this was the thanks I got. Lucas left as abruptly as he’d come, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding. I took a deep breath, then forced myself to focus on Daphne, who was waiting for me in the next room. My anger softened as I walked over and gently picked her up, cradling her as she gazed up at me with wide, curious eyes. “Mommy,” Daphne whispered, curling into me, “I don’t want to sleep until I know Lucas is fine.” My chest tightened at her words. She was too young to understand the depth of what was happening between Lucas and me, bu
Chapter 50Lucas’s Pov“Where… where am I?” I mumbled, trying to sit up, the room slowly coming into focus. Every inch of my body ached, a dull throbbing in my side pulling me back to reality. Beside me, Lisa’s face came into view, and she smiled, though something guarded behind her eyes.“You’re in the hospital,” she replied softly, reaching for my hand. “I found you lying at home, covered in blood. You scared me half to death.”The memory rushed back, jagged fragments of pain and darkness. “Someone stabbed me,” I whispered, still trying to piece together what had happened....Lisa’s expression turned, then hardened. “Why does it even matter who did it?” she snapped, a touch of resentment in her voice. “You should be more careful about where you go… and with whom.”I took a steadying breath. “Lisa, just… please call the doctor. I need to leave here. There’s something I have to do.”“What, so you can run back to Sienna?” she demanded, her tone rising. “I can’t believe you went craw
Chapter 51 Lucas’s PovThe hospital room was quiet, save for the occasional beep of the monitor next to my bed. I was sore, exhausted, and filled with an overwhelming urge to get out of here. The last thing I wanted was to lie around, useless, when I knew the company was in such a fragile state. I needed to be back at work. And, as much as I hated to admit it, I wanted to put some distance between me and the last few days, the stabbing, the mess with Sienna, and the horrifying way things had unraveled in front of Daphne.Just as I was contemplating how soon I could leave without causing suspicion, the door creaked open, and Dr. Hayes walked in, clipboard in hand. He glanced up, and the knowing look in his eyes told me he wasn’t going to be easy to convince.“Mr. King,” he said, his tone as steady as ever. “We need to go over your recovery plan. You suffered a serious wound, and the last thing we want is for you to rush out of here and end up back in the same spot.”I nodded, tryin
Chapter 161 Lucas's PovI knew. I knew it was Lisa behind everything that had happened. The attack, the ambush, the entire ordeal, it all pointed to her. I didn’t need to be a detective to connect the dots. After all, Lisa had never been the type to let go of something she thought was hers. She wasn’t done with me, she never would be. But I was done with her. And this time, I wasn’t going to let her hurt Sienna or Daphne. I wouldn’t let anyone harm my family again.The doctors had discharged me from the hospital earlier that morning. I’d been lucky, too lucky, if you asked me. I still had a gash in my side, a bruise on my jaw, and the aches that came with a fight I hadn’t been prepared for. But I was alive. And more than that, I was determined to protect my family. I couldn’t let them be vulnerable, not when Lisa was out there somewhere, lurking in the shadows.So, I’d arranged for a high-security detail to watch over Sienna and Daphne. I knew Sienna was strong, but I couldn’t bea
Chapter 160 Lucas's PovI could feel it. Every time Sienna looked at me, the warmth in her gaze, the way her smile lingered just a little longer than it used to. It was subtle, but it was there. The walls she'd built around her heart were slowly crumbling, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief, and a little fear too. I hurt her more than once, and though I could sense she was falling for me again, I knew I had no right to ask for forgiveness. But I couldn’t help myself. I wanted this. I wanted us again.Today, I wanted to show her just how much I cared. It was a rare thing, this peace, and I wasn’t going to let it slip away. So, I took them both, Sienna and Daphne, out for the day. We spent the morning at a park, just the three of us. No drama, no complications. Daphne was full of energy, running around and laughing, and Sienna… Sienna was more relaxed than I had seen her in a long time. She was smiling, her eyes lighting up every time Daphne pulled her into some new adve
Chapter 159 Sienna’s PovThe atmosphere was with an air of curiosity as Lucas followed me to David's house. I hadn’t expected him to insist on coming along, but he seemed adamant about tying up any loose ends. I agreed, hoping the visit would go smoothly. David was gracious as always, hosted us with a warmth that made me question if he truly was okay with everything that had transpired between Lucas and me. He offered us tea and snacks while Daphne played with some toys he had kept aside for her during our previous visits. As we sat in his cozy living room, chatting about random topics, David raised his glass. “Here’s to new beginnings, Sienna. And to both of you, may you find happiness together.” His toast felt bittersweet, and I could see the faint sadness in his eyes, but he didn’t let it show too much. He spoke with such maturity that I couldn’t help but admire how gracefully he handled everything. Lucas, sensing the sincerity in David’s words, leaned over and shook his
Chapter 158Sienna's PovLiving with Lucas again was nothing like I had expected. Despite the rocky start and all the unresolved tension between us, I found myself slowly letting my guard down. Every time he did something thoughtful, whether it was making breakfast, helping Daphne with her schoolwork, or simply looking at me with those sincere eyes, I felt the walls around my heart crumbling. It was late that night, and Daphne had already gone to bed. I sat on the couch with a glass of wine, scrolling through my phone absentmindedly. Lucas came into the room, his hair slightly damp from a shower. He was wearing a plain T-shirt and sweats, looking relaxed and more like the man I fell in love with years ago. “Still awake?” he asked, sitting down next to me. “Couldn’t sleep,” I admitted. For a moment, we sat in comfortable silence. Then, out of nowhere, Lucas reached for my hand. “Sienna,” he said softly, “thank you for giving me another chance. I don’t deserve it, but I’m going
Chapter 157Sienna's PovI sat on the couch, staring at my phone as if it held all the answers to my chaotic life. Daphne was in her room, probably playing with her toys, completely unaware of how exhausted I felt. Lucas had texted earlier, saying he was taking Daphne for ice cream. A part of me was relieved—Daphne needed time with her father, and I needed time to think. But no amount of solitude seemed to ease the heavy burden pressing on my chest. My life felt like it was spinning out of control. Between Lucas’s attempts to re-enter my life, Ryan’s unexplained departure, and David’s quiet yet persistent care, I felt torn in too many directions. Just as I began to organize my thoughts, the doorbell rang. ---I opened the door cautiously and wasn’t surprised to see David standing there with a warm smile on his face. “Hey,” he said, holding up a small bag. “I brought some snacks. Thought we could talk.” I stepped aside and let him in, trying to muster a smile. “Thanks, David. B
Chapter 156 Lisa’s PovI couldn’t believe it. I stood outside the grocery store after that humiliating encounter with Lucas and Sienna, trembling with rage. A child. They had a child together. How had I never known? All this time, I’d thought Sienna was just some shadow of Lucas’s past, someone he pitied or felt guilty about. But no, she had a child, a child who was Lucas’s. The thought burned in my chest. He had lied to me, omitted the truth, and now he was playing house with her. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Lucas belonged to me. I had stayed with him through everything. I had invested my time, my energy, and even my reputation into him. And now, he was discarding me like I was nothing. I wasn’t going to let Sienna win. The next day, I made my move. I knew that little girl, Daphne, would be going to school. Lucas wasn’t the most punctual, and he had a habit of being distracted by work or other things. It was the perfect opportunity to approach her, t
Chapter 155 Lucas’s Pov The way Sienna moved around the house, so calm and composed, made me question everything. She wasn’t the fiery woman who used to shout and hurl sharp words at me. She wasn’t the cold, unrelenting ex-wife I had imagined all these years. Instead, this version of Sienna was sweet, calm, and, if I dared to admit, somehow even more beautiful than before. I couldn’t stop staring at her. It wasn’t just her physical beauty, though that certainly hadn’t faded. It was her grace, the way she cared for Daphne, the way her laughter sounded when she thought no one was listening. Everything about her seemed effortless, as though she had finally become the woman she was always meant to be, without me. When I woke up the next morning, the smell of something warm and delicious wafted into the bedroom. I sat up, groggy, only to hear the faint clatter of dishes. Was she… cooking? I quickly got dressed and headed to the kitchen, and there she was, flipping pancakes as
Chapter 154 Sienna’s Pov“Maybe I should give him a chance,” I whispered to myself while brushing Daphne’s hair in front of the mirror. It wasn’t like I wanted Lucas back in the romantic sense, at least not entirely. But I couldn’t deny how hard he was trying. For Daphne, for me… for us. The thought unsettled me because it forced me to confront my emotions, which I preferred to keep locked away. But as I prepared to make things easier for Lucas, the thought of David and Uncle Max made my stomach churn. Both of them had been acting like hypocrites, constantly preaching about what was best for me while putting me in complicated positions. It was frustrating and exhausting. I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Daphne, sweetie, do you want to help Mommy make breakfast?” I asked, trying to shake off the lingering negativity. “No, I want Daddy to make it!” she exclaimed cheerfully. I smiled at her enthusiasm and nodded. “Alright, go tell him then.” After seeing Lucas interact with Daphn
Chapter 153Lucas's PovI sat across from Jenny at a quiet café, my coffee untouched as I poured out my frustrations. “I just don’t understand what’s going on,” I said, gripping the edge of the table. “My uncle is getting way too involved with Sienna, and it’s driving me crazy. And Sienna, she’s avoiding me no matter how hard I try to get through to her.” Jenny leaned back in her chair, her eyes thoughtful as she sipped her tea. “Lucas, have you considered that maybe you’re trying too hard? She might need some space to figure things out.” “I can’t just stand by while my uncle pushes his way into her life,” I countered. “It’s not right. He’s supposed to be family, but it feels like he’s competing with me.” Jenny set her cup down and gave me a soft smile. “Here’s what I think. Stop forcing it. Let her come to you on her own terms. Show her that you’ve changed, but don’t pressure her. She’ll notice the difference and reach out when she’s ready.” I frowned, unsure. “And what if