Chapter 73Lucas’s POVThe wedding was approaching faster than I’d anticipated, the days slipping by in a blur of details and obligations. Every time I turned around, Lisa had something new to show me, a seating chart, flower arrangements, the latest set of menus she’d had printed.But no matter how much she insisted this would be the event of the year, my mind kept drifting back to the mess my company was facing. It felt like everything was spiraling out of control, and all I could do was hang on and hope the chaos would settle.The headlines were relentless. Rumors swirled about my company’s instability, about mismanagement and pending lawsuits. News outlets speculated about internal conflicts, and investors were panicking. Everything I’d built, every ounce of credibility, was slipping through my fingers. And in the middle of it all was one name I couldn’t shake, Sienna.I didn’t want to believe she had anything to do with it, but the timing was impossible to ignore. Ever since she’
Chapter 74Lucas’s POVSienna was lying, I could see it in the way her jaw tightened, the way her eyes flickered when I questioned her. She was hiding something, and I wasn’t about to let it go. My frustration surged, twisting into anger as I reached forward, my hand closing in on her phone. Maybe if I saw it for myself, I’d finally have the proof I needed.“Sienna,” I growled, my fingers inching toward her hand. “If you’re not behind this, then you shouldn’t have anything to hide.”“Lucas, don’t,” she warned, pulling back, her voice sharp and unyielding. “You have no right to…..”Before she could finish, my hand shot forward, grabbing the phone. But before I could even begin to pull it away, a shadow blurred in my peripheral vision. Suddenly, a fist collided with my face, hard and fast, sending a jolt of pain through my skull. The impact was like a hammer, knocking the breath out of me as my legs gave way.I staggered, the room spinning as I tried to steady myself, but my balance sli
Chapter 75Ryan’s POVI never thought I’d feel this way about Sienna. I’d tried to convince myself, even told myself a hundred times, that I was just being polite, just helping her settle in. But that lie wore thin pretty quickly. The truth was, ever since I’d found out she had a child, something in me had shifted. I thought the news would make me pull back, make me rethink things. But instead, I found myself thinking about her more, losing focus at work as her face kept flashing through my mind.It was the quiet moments that got to me, the way she smiled when she thought no one was watching, the way she’d look at her daughter, Daphne, with a tenderness that made me question everything I thought I knew about love. She was a mother, someone with responsibilities far beyond what I could even imagine, yet she carried it all with a quiet resilience that drew me in.I glanced down at the report on my desk, barely seeing the words. The numbers blurred, and my mind drifted once again to her.
Chapter 76Ryan’s POVI knew it was reckless, ignoring my manager’s warning. “Stay focused, Ryan. We’ve got too much on the line,” he’d told me. But I couldn’t focus, not when all I could think about was Sienna. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face, heard her laughter. It had been days since our last conversation, and each day had stretched painfully long, my concentration fraying more with every minute. I had to see her, and had to hear her voice again.Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed my keys and left, ignoring my manager’s calls as I headed out. The city streets passed in a blur as I searched for her, checking the usual spots where I knew she might be.After a while, I found myself near the park where we’d met once before. My heart leapt when I saw her in the distance, but something was wrong. She was with a man, and from the look of it, it wasn’t a friendly encounter. The man had his hand on her arm, gripping it tightly as he leaned in, his face inches from he
Chapter 77Ryan’s POVThe night was still, the streetlights casting a soft glow over us as I watched Sienna’s face, searching for any sign that she was okay. She stood beside me, her shoulders tense, her gaze fixed on some invisible point in the distance. Her usual resilience seemed to have crumbled, leaving her vulnerable in a way I’d never seen before.“Sienna,” I said gently, stepping closer. “Are you okay?”She didn’t answer right away, and I could see the hesitation in her eyes, as if she was debating whether or not to let me in. Finally, she took a shaky breath and nodded, though the movement was barely convincing. I reached out, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder, hoping to offer some reassurance.“What… what was that about?” I asked, my voice soft. “That guy, why was he bothering you?”She looked away, her expression strained, as if the weight of everything she’d been holding back was finally pressing down on her. Then, without warning, her eyes filled with tears, her c
Chapter 78Sienna’s POVThe decision to stay in Paris wasn’t one I’d planned, but after everything with Lucas, the pressure from Lisa, and the constant uncertainty, I knew I needed to make a change. Somewhere away from the memories that had been haunting me.So, when I found a small apartment nestled in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of the city, I took it as a sign. Daphne and I could start fresh here, away from the noise, away from everything that had been weighing us down.After a few days of searching and paperwork, we packed our things and left the hotel. Daphne was practically bouncing with excitement, her small suitcase trailing behind her as we made our way to our new home. She’d been talking non-stop about the “big move,” her eyes wide with wonder as I unlocked the door and we stepped inside.The apartment was cozy, with tall windows that let in the morning light, casting a warm glow over the wooden floors. It was a modest space, a living room, a tiny kitchen, and two
Chapter 79Sienna’s PovThe morning light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the apartment as Daphne and I went about our new morning routine. She was humming happily in her room, still buzzing with excitement from the previous night’s dinner with our neighbors.It was one of those rare mornings where everything felt calm, and I let myself savor the moment, the simplicity of being in our own little world.Then, a knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and my mind briefly ran through the possibilities. Camille, maybe, or someone delivering something for the apartment. But as I opened the door, I felt my breath catch.Standing before me was a man I’d only ever seen from a distance, someone who I admired far more than I’d ever admit out loud. Tall, with a relaxed stance, his presence radiated calm and confidence. He wore a simple yet elegant outfit, a dark jacket over a crisp white shirt, his posture graceful, as if he belonged on a
Chapter 80Sienna's PovThe morning sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting a soft glow over the cozy apartment. I was halfway through making breakfast for Daphne and me when another knock sounded at the door. Thinking it might be Camille or Adrian, I brushed my hands on a dish towel and went to open it.Standing there was a man I hadn’t seen before, though he seemed vaguely familiar. He was a bit older, perhaps in his early fifties, with streaks of silver in his dark hair and a warm, friendly expression that put me at ease.He wore a well-tailored jacket, casual yet elegant, and his posture was relaxed, though he held himself with a quiet dignity. Despite his age, he had a youthful glint in his eye, a spark that made him look very much in his prime.“Bonjour, mademoiselle,” he greeted, his accent rolling smoothly off his tongue. “I hope I’m not intruding. I wanted to introduce myself properly.”“Not at all,” I replied, smiling as I held the door open. “Please, come in.”