Sienna quickly shook her head. "I—"Before she could finish, Florence interrupted, "Yeah, that's right, stay with us. It's convenient, free, and safe. It's too dangerous for a young woman to stay in a hotel alone!""Thank you, Madam Florence, but I'll be fine at the hotel," Sienna replied. She felt a bit panicked inside.It had been a year since she had last seen Daniel. She didn't even know if he was married now. Maybe no one here knew she used to be his girlfriend. Staying here would be so awkward."Sienna, please stay here," Mila pleaded, hugging Sienna's arm. "I'm busy planning the wedding, and there's so much to do. If you're here, you can give me some suggestions, and I won't feel overwhelmed.""Wanda, I've never been married, so I don't know much about these things." Sienna felt lost and anxious as she tried to decline their kindness. Their enthusiasm overwhelmed her.Florence stood up and called to the maid behind her, "Prepare a room for Ms. Lawson.""Yes, madam," the m
Sienna found solace in the thought.The Morrisons gathered in the dining room in the evening for dinner, except for Daniel. Despite Nathan's busy schedule, he made it home to join Mila and the rest of the family for dinner.Sienna couldn't shake the feeling that Daniel was avoiding her. Their relationship was awkward, after all.The Morrisons were a big family, and Daniel had a lot of brothers. Almost all of them were married and had one or two children, unlike Daniel, who was still single.Duke had divorced a year ago and had recently tied the knot again. This time, it was with a woman named Daphne McKinley, who was already expecting a child.Amidst the bustling household of the large family, the atmosphere was genuinely lively. Sienna hadn't experienced the warmth of family or enjoyed home-cooked meals in quite some time.Every member of the family treated her with kindness and hospitality. The children were particularly fond of her and affectionately called her "Sisi". They we
"Dan's back?""Daniel, why were you so late today? Were you busy?""Daniel, would it be okay if Sienna stays at our place?""Is everything okay with you?"Daniel couldn't make out a single word amidst the noisy chatter of his family. He looked at Sienna with an intense gaze, feeling like he'd forgotten how to breathe, his heart racing.Mila leaned close to Nathan, her hand muffling her soft giggles as she whispered, "Nate, did you notice how Daniel's looking at her? It's obvious he's smitten."Nathan chuckled affectionately and caressed her head as he murmured, "Perhaps you should focus on my gaze instead of eyeing other guys.""Let's play matchmaker for them," Mila suggested."Let's leave them be. We'll see how things play out," Nathan replied."But—"Nathan gently held Mila's head, drawing her nearer as he whispered, "Forced relationships rarely end well. It seems your friend might not be as keen on him as you believe."Mila sighed with resignation, her tone tinged with bi
Sienna had just settled into her room when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it, expecting to see Mila, but was surprised to find Daniel standing there.Feeling anxious, she asked, "Do you need something?"Daniel's gaze was intense, but his tone was gentle. "My room is right next to yours. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come find me."Sienna couldn't imagine what she might need from him. She pursed her lips, feeling a bit helpless. Mila must've deliberately placed her guest room next to Daniel's; she was sure of that. Out of politeness, Sienna nodded and said, "Okay."Just as she was about to close the door, Daniel placed his hand on it, looking slightly nervous as he gazed at her."Anything else?" Sienna asked.Daniel slowly withdrew his hand. His Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke in a husky tone, "How… long will you be staying?"Sienna felt a twinge of sadness but responded casually, "You don't want me to stay here?"Daniel hurried to explain, "No, that's not
Sienna shook her head again. "No, thanks."Even though her tone was soft, she seemed distant.Daniel was the one who ended their relationship, so he had even less reason to talk to her.Despite knowing he shouldn't and knowing it wouldn't lead anywhere, he couldn't help but desperately want to be near her and be kind to her.Sensing the tension, Sienna changed the subject. "Where are your parents?""They took some of their grandkids to classes," Daniel answered promptly."Oh." Sienna smiled and politely nodded goodbye. "Then, I'll be off."With that, she turned and left.Daniel paced around the living room, feeling restless. Unable to resist, he hurried out of the house and caught up with Sienna.Sienna was strolling along the street before Morrison Residence when Daniel grabbed her arm and turned her toward him.She jumped and looked at Daniel in confusion. When she realized it was him, a wave of anxiety washed over her, and she asked, "What is it?""Ditching breakfast isn'
This time, Daniel decided not to go after her anymore. Sienna's words helped him think again. Knowing they didn't have a future together, he realized he shouldn't keep bothering her.Even though it hurt, and he desperately wanted to be with her, he had to accept it. They couldn't overcome the obstacle of Shelly between them, so why make things harder for Sienna?As Daniel watched Sienna walk away, tears filled his eyes. He realized that holding back his love was even more painful than losing her.Daniel stuck to his usual routine of going to work and returning home in the following days.Sienna made a point to steer clear of him. At home, she tried to keep her distance whenever he was around.Meanwhile, Mila and Nathan were caught up in their wedding plans. Sometimes, Mila would ask Sienna to join her in checking out things and making decisions.Despite Mila's insistence, Sienna remained firm in her decision not to be a bridesmaid as she felt it wasn't right for her. Mila respect
Florence felt even more guilty. "Daniel, please take Sienna to the hospital later."Sienna frowned and looked at Daniel. "It's not as serious as you're making it out to be."She then gently reassured Florence, "Madam Florence, I'm really fine. It'll get better after I cool it under running water."Florence was overwhelmed with guilt. She left the kitchen and asked a maid to clean up the sugar mixture on the floor.Standing before the faucet, Sienna could feel her back almost pressed against Daniel's chest. Her breathing grew a bit erratic.Daniel's warm hand held her wrist, sending an electric sensation through her skin and spreading through her whole body, making her legs feel weak."I can do it myself. Can you let go of me?" Sienna muttered quietly.Daniel's heart pounded. The refreshing fragrance of her hair made his mind wander, and he couldn't stay calm.He slowly released Sienna's wrist and advised, "Cool it under running water for another ten minutes. I'll take you to th
As the sun sank beneath the horizon, casting the sky in shades of red, Daniel stood on the balcony just off the living room, enjoying the beautiful view. He felt much better since Sienna's arrival. Nathan came down from upstairs and noticed Daniel on the balcony, looking lonely and sad. He walked over and put a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "You've been taking more breaks lately," he said. Daniel turned to him with a gentle smile but remained silent.He hadn't taken a day off in the past year. He kept himself occupied with various tasks. It was to prevent his mind from wandering to Sienna and to suppress any urge to reach out to her.Daniel even avoided learning about any news regarding her or mentioning her name, fearing he would lose control and struggle to move on."How's it going?" Nathan asked as he dropped his hand and leaned against the railing, looking at Daniel."What do you mean?" Daniel looked puzzled."She's here. What's your plan?"Daniel understood the implicatio