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
Chapter 86Sienna’s Pov“Daphne, sweetheart, how are you feeling?” I whispered, brushing a lock of hair from her face as her eyes fluttered open.Daphne blinked a few times, looking around the room in confusion before her gaze settled on me. A small smile formed on her face, and I felt my heart lighten. She was awake, she was okay, and that was all that mattered.“Mommy, I’m hungry,” she said in a soft voice, her hand reaching up to touch my cheek. I let out a small laugh, feeling the tension of the past hours begin to melt away. “Of course, love. I’ll get you something to eat.” I quickly gathered an assortment of fruits, crackers, and juice from the little table by her bed, offering her a strawberry first.She took it happily, nibbling on it with a content expression. I watched her, feeding her small bites, and feeling incredibly grateful for each smile, each laugh, every little sign that she was alright.After a while, the doctor came in, checking Daphne over one last time. “Every
Chapter 87 Lucas's Pov The idea of traveling had been brewing in the back of my mind for a while now. There was someone I needed to see, someone from my past who might hold the key to untangling the mess that had become my life. It wasn’t Sienna, I was trying my best to stay out of her world, just like she had asked, especially after everything that happened with Daphne. No, this was someone else entirely, someone I hadn’t spoken to in years. The thought of reaching out to them again felt like both a risk and a relief.I knew that I needed to satisfy Lisa’s worries if we were ever going to make it to the altar without completely falling apart.The rumors and the way Sienna’s name kept popping up were fueling Lisa’s doubts, and if I was being honest, it was starting to wear on me too. There was a lot we needed to address, but maybe this trip could help bring clarity.I sat down with Ken later that night, after a long day at the office, hoping for some honest advice. He was the one
Chapter 88Lucas’s Pov“Ken, you don’t have to know that,” I said, a hint of frustration creeping into my voice. “The past is the past, and I’m not interested in digging it up again. It’s not… relevant.”Ken leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he studied me with that unyielding gaze of his. “Not relevant? Lucas, you need to make peace with it, whether you want to or not. Sienna isn’t your responsibility anymore, and as for Daphne, she’s not your child. That’s why she’s keeping her distance.”I opened my mouth to argue, but Ken cut me off, his voice calm yet firm. “Think about it, Lucas. If Daphne were your child, there’s no way Sienna would deprive you of that relationship. She would have made sure you were a part of her life. But you’re not, Sienna has her reasons for keeping you at arm’s length.”I clenched my jaw, trying to suppress the frustration building inside me. “But she’s never kept me from Daphne,” I countered. “Anytime Daphne has asked to see me, Sienna lets her
Chapter 89 Sienna’s Pov“Good morning, my love,” I whispered, gently brushing Daphne’s hair out of her face as she stirred awake. Her small face broke into a sleepy smile, and she stretched, wrapping her little arms around my neck. Moments like this, the quiet, simple love between mother and daughter, made everything worth it.“Mommy, are we staying home today?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.I kissed her forehead, nodding. “Yes, sweetie. Today’s all about you.”The day flowed peacefully. After the stress of the hospital, I wanted her to feel safe and at ease, so I made her favorite breakfast and spent time playing with her. We built towers out of blocks, painted a little, and watched her favorite cartoons together. Her laughter filled the house, washing away the anxiety that had been lingering in the back of my mind.Later in the afternoon, while Daphne was taking a nap, I checked my emails. One message immediately caught my eye. It was a new partnership opportunity for my company,