Half an hour later, Sienna saw Shelly return to the ward, but Daniel was nowhere in sight. She felt a pang of disappointment.Shelly comforted her, explaining, "Daniel just got called in for an urgent task, so he went to the police station."Sienna managed a faint smile and let out a soft hum in response. She understood the demands of Daniel's job. Even so, the way he left without a word made her feel somewhat disheartened.Shelly smiled warmly as she unpacked the food. "I got your favorite ravioli for you.""Thanks, Mom," Sienna replied, sitting up and noticing Felix engrossed in a game on the couch.Sometimes, Sienna couldn't help but envy Felix. How could he remain so carefree and untouched by the weight of responsibility or pressure?Even on the most challenging days, he seemed to float through life without a worry in the world.Approaching Sienna with the ravioli, Shelly said softly, "Let me feed you.""It's okay," Sienna replied, mustering a helpless smile as she took the
Sienna's presence transformed the living room into a warm, vibrant space. Daniel's recent somber mood dissipated instantly and was replaced by a rush of emotion.With measured steps, he approached Sienna and sank to one knee before her. His reddened eyes bore into her with an intense desire. He couldn't hide his longing and affection.Sienna lay curled on her side. Her soft, silky hair cascaded over her delicate features. Her enchanting appearance ignited an overwhelming urge in Daniel to caress her and, most of all, to kiss her.He delicately brushed Sienna's stray hairs aside and tucked them behind her ear. His face inched closer to hers, eager to feel her lips against his.His eyes narrowed, his breath quickening, and his heart pounding faster with each passing moment. Yet, just as he was on the brink of kissing Sienna, he abruptly stopped.Clenching his fist tightly, Daniel fought against the overwhelming desire and resisted the temptation to kiss her.His heart shattered int
Sienna felt a heavy sadness in her heart, making her feel a bit suffocated. Seeing that it was already 10:30 pm, she didn't want to worry Shelly, so she reluctantly gathered her things and left.Before heading home, she sent a message to Daniel."Daniel, I made dinner for you, but you didn't come back to eat it. If you're hungry when you get home tonight, just heat it and have it as a late-night snack. I'm heading home now. Let's meet when you're free."Sienna rode her electric scooter home. When she got back, Daniel still hadn't replied to her.She felt a bit hurt. But she consoled herself by reminding herself to understand he was just busy with his work.Two weeks flew by. Daniel hadn't reached out to Sienna, nor had he come to see her.She often sent him messages, and although he occasionally replied, it was usually just to say he was busy before ending the conversation.Sienna also tried calling him, but he always cut the calls short, claiming he was swamped with work. She c
Daniel no longer asked about Sienna's well-being, showed any concern, or affectionately called her Sisi. He had become noticeably indifferent toward her over the past 20 days."What?" Sienna reached for the documents and flipped through them. She found a property transfer agreement. Continuing to flip through the papers, she stumbled upon a check for 20 million dollars.Confused, she asked, "Daniel, what are these for?"Daniel stayed composed, his demeanor as calm as water. "They're for you.""Why are you giving me money and a house?" Sienna's mind refused to entertain the possibilities. She trembled as she set the documents down on the table with care.Daniel reclined on the couch with his eyes fixed on Sienna, a depth of emotion within them. He couldn't bear to continue speaking.Though unsure if Sienna would feel heartbroken, he couldn't ignore the heavy burden of his heartache, which made finding the right words incredibly challenging.After a moment of silence, Daniel doubl
"Sienna, please don't feel that way. I've never seen you as greedy or vain. Keeping this money is also a way to ensure your future," Daniel reassured her.Sienna managed a small smile through her tears and shook her head. Her eyes held a softness and affection as she looked at him. She felt reluctant to say goodbye.Yet, Sienna wouldn't hold it against Daniel regardless of his reasons for ending their relationship. She believed that spending those few months with him had been worth it."Daniel, I hope you find happiness." Sienna managed a strained smile. "Let's not see each other again."After saying that, Sienna couldn't hold back anymore. Her heartache was so intense it felt like it was going to cripple her. She quickly turned away. Tears streamed down her cheeks like a dam breaking as she walked off.As Daniel watched Sienna walk away, his fists clenched so tightly they trembled. He struggled to contain the overwhelming urge and sadness welling up inside him.His eyes were r
Sienna experienced heartbreak twice with her first love. She was surprised by how much it hurt.Every night, when the quiet settled in, thoughts of Daniel would overwhelm her. And she'd find herself crying until she fell asleep.A few days later, Sienna gathered all the gifts Daniel had given her and arranged for them to be sent back to him through a courier service. However, they were returned to her.It turned out that the address was no longer occupied. That was when Sienna realized that their relationship had finally ended.She tucked away the gifts Daniel had given her and buried the memories of their relationship deep within her heart. Only she understood the depth of her love for Daniel.Sienna harbored no resentment toward him. Instead, her heart overflowed with wishes for his happiness, peace, and joy."What's happening between you and Captain Morrison, Sienna? I heard he got transferred. What's going on?" Felix asked.Looking detached and uninterested, Sienna replied c
"I'm okay, really," Shelly snapped. The idea of spending so much money on medical care stressed her out.She insisted, "I'll be okay. I'll slowly start feeling better, and I won't cry anymore. Just ask the doctor to prescribe some sleeping pills for me."Sienna held Shelly's hand and said, "Mom, you're already suffering from severe depression. Why are you only telling us now?"Shelly lowered her head and remained silent.Ever since her husband died, she had been feeling down. She often struggled to sleep and had vivid dreams. Worry consumed her; she was afraid of losing her children and saw no hope for the future."Does my mother need to be hospitalized, doctor?" Sienna asked.Shelly tensed up, feeling the weight of the expenses. "I don't want to be hospitalized. Just give me some medication. I can take pills, but I won't stay in the hospital."The doctor, feeling helpless, could only prescribe medication for Shelly's severe depression.On the way back, Felix received a phone c
Sienna used up all her savings, and Shelly did the same. Shelly went even further by selling their corner store and borrowing money from relatives.Together, they gathered 250 thousand dollars to pay off the injured man.After that, their house turned bleak and lonely; a heavy sadness hung in the air. Shelly's illness got worse, and she stopped caring about anything.Busy from looking after Shelly and working to make ends meet, Sienna felt exhausted and drained. As time passed, she found herself unable to spare any time or energy for thoughts of Daniel. Meanwhile, Shelly was engulfed by severe depression. Her appetite vanished, sleep eluded her, and tears flowed daily as she lay in bed, devoid of motivation.She withdrew from the outside world, finding solace only in the memories captured in photos of her husband and son. She often spent hours huddled in a corner, weeping.Sienna dutifully sent a few hundred dollars to the prison monthly to ensure Felix had better meals. On visi