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
Sienna hesitated for a moment, casting a glance back at Mila.Mila pushed Sienna toward the door. "Quick. Go on.""All right. I'll leave now," Sienna said, picking up her pace to catch up with Daniel.They stepped outside and got into the car. Later, Sienna gave Daniel the address.During the drive, Sienna kept her gaze fixed out of the window. The atmosphere in the car was heavy with tension.Daniel sneakily looked at her several times, seeing how distant she seemed throughout the journey."Is there something urgent?" Daniel couldn't help but ask, his concern evident in his voice.Sienna responded with a hum."Do you need any help?" he asked again. "No, thank you."Silence settled between them once more. Eventually, the car pulled up before a large building. Sienna unfastened her seatbelt and stepped out of the car.Before closing the door, she turned to Daniel and expressed her gratitude. "Thank you. You don't have to wait for me. You can head back."She closed the door
Sienna stood up, her tone calm and resolute. "However you choose to cancel the event, it's none of my concern. I'll be there on the agreed date with the readers, even if just one shows up. I won't disappoint them." With that, she nodded goodbye and turned to leave. But Harvey hurried to catch up. "Sienna, wait. Let's talk it through and resolve this." "Your solution is for me to admit fault, offer compensation, and take down my book." Harvey walked beside her, saying, "The best approach is to handle this quietly before it becomes widely known." Standing by the elevator, Sienna pressed the button and turned to him. "Harvey, I'll say it again. I won't admit to something I didn't do." "Fine. Do you have any proof?" he asked. "Does having the draft count?" "Of course not." Sienna's face grew darker. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside. Harvey followed her, trying to reason. "Alright, I believe it's your draft, but they updated their work three months bef
Daniel didn't get the full story from Sienna; instead, he went to her company to speak with Harvey. From him, Daniel learned all the details and took Sienna's book home. For the first time, he discovered Sienna's pen name and the genre she wrote in. A man who had never read a romance novel before, Daniel hid in his room, secretly reading her words. In Sienna's book, the male protagonist bore a striking resemblance to him. He spent an entire day and night without sleep, reading the book that had been plagiarized—over two hundred thousand words, neither too long nor too short.The ending was tragically poignant, with the main characters going their separate ways, leaving a lifetime of regret. The story moved him to tears multiple times, his chest heavy with emotion. It was the serene morning of Mila's wedding eve when Sienna woke up early to accompany Mila back to Hoffis Manor. As she opened the door, she was startled to see Daniel standing there motionless.Looking at him, she a
"You're Wanda's friend. Helping you is the least I can do," Daniel said with a forced, bitter smile. "Besides, with her skills, she could help you too." Sienna felt a pang of disappointment. Deep down, she still had lingering feelings for him and held onto hope. After their abrupt breakup a year ago, she should've known her place. She wondered why she still harbored fantasies about Daniel. She wanted to slap herself for her foolishness. "Thank you," she replied faintly, then immediately shut the door. She locked it, leaned against the door, and stared ahead, her vision blurred by tears. She didn't want her troubles to dampen Mila's wedding joy. On the wedding day, Sienna couldn't resist Mila's persistent pleas and ended up being her bridesmaid. Mila, in her stunning white wedding gown and exquisite makeup, looked like a beloved princess. She walked arm-in-arm with Nathan through the romantic garden—surrounded by flowers, green trees, and a lush natural lawn—with petals danci