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.”
Chapter 81Sienna’s POV After the chaotic encounter with Lucas and his friend Ken, I decided I was done with that entire mess. I didn’t want their troubles anywhere near Daphne or me. All I needed was to focus on my daughter, on making sure she felt loved and secure.So, the next few days, I did exactly that. I took Daphne out whenever I could, long walks, parks, small cafes. She loved every moment, and watching her smile and laugh made me feel like I was doing something right, like I was giving her the stable life she deserved.This afternoon, the air was crisp and cool, and we decided to take a stroll through the small streets near our place. Daphne held my hand, skipping along as we passed shop windows and street vendors. She pointed excitedly at everything, chattering on about anything that crossed her mind. Her joy was infectious, and I found myself smiling, forgetting all the stress that had been weighing me down.But then, out of nowhere, I felt a tug on my shoulder. I turned
Chapter 82Lucas’s POVI wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened. Sienna hadn’t kicked me and Ken out the other night, though I was braced for it. Instead, she had looked at us with something more like quiet disappointment than anger and left us standing there. As Ken helped me into the car, I kept replaying her expression in my mind, cool, almost resigned. It left me with a sliver of hope that maybe, somehow, there was still a chance to talk things out, to set things right. I hadn’t yet had the chance to explain everything, especially about my upcoming wedding. That night, back at my place, the words played over in my mind, “I just need things to work out.” I wanted to make my marriage work and not bring Sienna’s chaos into Lisa’s life, or mine. Everything had gone so far off track, and I had to fix it, somehow. I couldn’t keep walking around feeling like a shell of who I used to be. I needed closure with Sienna, if only for my own sanity.Just as I was about to drift off, my
Chapter 83Sienna’s PovI sat beside Daphne’s hospital bed, watching her chest rise and fall with each soft, steady breath. The doctor had assured me she’d be fine, that it was just a mild concussion. But the sight of her lying there, so small and vulnerable, tore at something deep inside me. How had things come to this? My little girl, caught up in a whirlwind of drama that had nothing to do with her.As I held her small hand, my mind kept drifting to Lisa and, inevitably, to Lucas. I’d always known that Lisa’s jealousy and possessiveness were a problem, but today she had crossed an unforgivable line. And Lucas… well, I knew this mess wasn’t entirely his fault, but that didn’t make it any easier to swallow. They had both brought chaos into our lives in ways I hadn’t anticipated, and I wasn’t sure if I could ever forgive them.After a while, I couldn’t stand sitting there any longer. The sterile hospital walls were closing in on me, the sounds of beeping monitors and distant footstep
Chapter 84.Lucas's Pov I watched Sienna storm out of the hospital room, her shoulders tense, her face a mixture of anger and something deeper, something I couldn’t quite place. Guilt, maybe? Or frustration? Whatever it was, she didn’t stop, didn’t look back. It was as if the weight of the entire situation had finally cracked whatever strength she’d been holding onto. I wanted to go after her, to say something that might ease things, but I knew better. Sienna had built walls over the years, walls I’d only made stronger by the choices I’d made.I lingered outside Daphne’s room, glancing in to make sure she was still resting peacefully. The sight of her lying there, so small and innocent, sent a pang through me. None of this was her fault, yet here she was, caught in the middle of the mess Lisa and I had created.I was still standing there, lost in thought, when Lisa appeared at the end of the hallway. Her expression was unreadable, but as she got closer, I saw the flicker of resentm
Chapter 85Lucas’s PovThe slap still stung, both physically and emotionally. I hadn’t meant for it to happen, hadn’t meant for things to escalate the way they had. I glanced over at Lisa, her face set in a hard line, arms crossed as she looked away from me, clearly unwilling to accept any apology.“Lisa,” I said softly, breaking the silence between us. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you like that. Things… they just got out of hand.”She scoffed, not even sparing me a glance. “An apology? Now, after all this? That’s what you think will fix this, Lucas?”I swallowed hard, trying to keep my frustration in check. “Look, I understand you’re upset, but you need to understand that this situation with Sienna and Daphne…”“Oh, I understand perfectly, Lucas,” she snapped, turning to face me with anger flashing in her eyes. “You’re still hung up on her, aren’t you? We’re supposed to be getting married soon, and yet here you are, caught up in her life as if you never let her go.”“It’s not a