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,
Chapter 90 Sienna’s POV"Thank you so much for handling that," I said to the restaurant staff as I gathered my things. They gave me sympathetic nods, a few of them murmuring words of support as I left. I was relieved to be done with that strange man and his audacious proposition. Daphne wasn’t anyone’s bargaining chip, and I’d made that clear.The walk home was refreshing, and I took a few deep breaths to steady myself. But as I turned the corner to our building, my heart skipped a beat. There he was, the same man I’d noticed in the neighborhood a few times now, the one who always seemed to be lingering just long enough to catch my attention.He caught my eye and smiled, taking a step toward me. “Ms. Bennett, right?”I nodded slowly, instinctively pulling my bag closer to me. “Yes, that’s right.”“Hope I didn’t startle you,” he said smoothly. His voice was warm, with a hint of an accent I couldn’t quite place. “I was actually hoping to catch you. I wanted to see if you’d be open to
Chapter 91Lucas’s PovI sat in my dimly lit apartment, my mind racing with thoughts of Lisa, the wedding, and the mess that seemed to be growing around me. I was trying to hold everything together, but it was like sand slipping through my fingers. Lisa’s impatience was wearing thin, and I could tell she was beginning to doubt the life we’d planned. She was starting to feel like I wasn’t fully committed, and maybe she was right. As if my thoughts summoned the universe’s response, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. I glanced at the screen, it was my uncle. I hesitated before answering, already feeling the tension growing in my chest.“Lucas!” he boomed as soon as I picked up. “I got Lisa’s message about the wedding. She says you two are getting married soon. Why haven’t you said anything? I thought I’d hear it from you!”I felt my jaw clench as I listened to his words. He sounded both thrilled and slightly reproachful, and I couldn’t think of a single thing to say to ease the te
Chapter 92Sienna’s Pov“Mommy, I like this place,” Daphne whispered excitedly as she looked around the restaurant, her wide eyes sparkling as she took in the elegant lights and the cozy ambiance. Her small hand clutched mine tightly, and I smiled down at her, feeling a warmth in my heart that was rare these days.“Yes, it’s lovely, isn’t it?” I replied, squeezing her hand gently as I looked across the table at Ryan. He was sitting across from us, watching Daphne with a fond smile, his presence calm and reassuring. Tonight was different. I wasn’t used to feeling at ease in a place like this, especially with someone I didn’t know well, but Ryan had a way of making everything feel simple and safe. He’d been kind enough to invite Daphne along without hesitation, and I couldn’t deny the comfort I felt seeing him interact with her so naturally. But underneath that comfort, I could feel the exhaustion tugging at me, my body worn from the stress of recent days. I’d brushed it aside, telling
Chapter 93 Lucas's Pov I barely registered the blur of movement across the street, just a hazy figure that looked a lot like Sienna. But I was far too drunk to care, too drunk to even think clearly. The bar was loud, the dim lights seemed to pulse with each beat of the music, and the clinking of glasses around me felt muffled. I was buried in the weight of my own thoughts, drowning in frustration, stress, and alcohol. The thought of the wedding, my job, the dwindling state of my career, all of it spiraled around me until the drink in my hand was the only thing keeping me grounded.Somewhere in my intoxicated mind, I realized that if I didn’t act fast, I’d lose everything. I needed money, not only to keep Lisa but to make this wedding happen, to prove that I still had everything under control. I fumbled with my phone, scrolling through numbers and contacts, and eventually made the rash decision to request a loan from the bank.The next morning, I woke up to a splitting headache, m
Chapter 94Ryan's PovWhen I first met Sienna, I hadn’t expected much. A fleeting bit of fun, I’d thought, a way to break up the monotony of the same old scene. But things took an unexpected turn. It wasn’t just Sienna who captured my interest, it was Daphne, her spirited, curious daughter, with that innocent laugh and quick smile that made me feel… different. Daphne wasn’t a kid you could ignore. She had this way of worming her way into your heart, one laugh at a time.Taking them out had become my favorite part of the week, something I looked forward to. But tonight was different; we’d planned for a little evening treat, maybe an outdoor cafe or a small local diner with ice cream on the menu. Sienna, however, wasn’t as enthusiastic about the idea.“Ryan, thank you, really,” she said, her voice warm but firm. “But I think Daphne’s had too much sugar lately.” She looked down at Daphne, who was happily twirling, unaware of the conversation. “I just don’t want her bouncing off the wa
Chapter 1Sienna’s POV“What do you mean by let’s get divorced? What about our baby?” I subconsciously rubbed my tummy, looking so perplexed.I couldn’t believe my ears. Why would Lucas suddenly propose a divorce when I was finally pregnant after our two years of marriage?“Can’t you just get it, Sienna?” Lucas ran his finger into his hair, pacing around the room, looking so frustrated.And of course, I couldn’t get it. I couldn’t understand what was going on.I knew Lucas only had his eyes on someone else, but she had gotten married to someone else who was his uncle. Lucas begged me to marry him, promising me he would love me and show the whole world I was his wife. Our marriage of two years had been going perfectly well, but not until a few days ago. Lucas had been coming back home late. He had been receiving some strange calls, but I didn’t think much about them. I thought it was just business, but now it doesn’t look that way anymore.Is Lucas seeing someone?That can’t be true.