All Chapters of Hate You, Love You: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Sienna had never been one for fancy social gatherings, but tonight was different. Tonight, she wasn’t just an outsider looking in—she was here as Lily’s nanny, accompanying Grayson to a formal business event at one of New York’s most exclusive hotels. The grand ballroom shimmered with opulence, crystal chandeliers casting golden light over the elegantly dressed guests. Waiters moved seamlessly through the crowd with trays of champagne, and a string quartet played softly in the background. The scent of fresh roses and expensive perfume filled the air, mingling with the faint clink of glasses and hushed conversations. Sienna adjusted the navy-blue gown Grayson had insisted she wear, feeling slightly out of place among the high society elite. She wasn’t used to this world—the power plays, the subtle glances, the carefully controlled conversations. Everyone here moved with a practiced grace, each interaction seemingly part of an intricate dance of influence and wealth. Across the room,

The next morning, the air in the mansion felt lighter. After their unexpected day at the amusement park, Sienna noticed a small shift in Lily. It wasn’t drastic—Lily was still quiet, still hesitant—but there was something softer in her eyes, a little less fear and a little more curiosity.Sienna sat with Lily in the playroom, surrounded by stuffed animals and books. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Lily was clutching her favorite stuffed bunny, her small fingers tracing over its worn-out ears. “Hmm,” Sienna mused dramatically, tapping her chin. “You know, Mr. Bunny looks like he has a secret.”Lily’s eyes flickered with interest. She tilted her head slightly, waiting.“Oh yes,” Sienna continued, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I heard him talking last night. He told me he loves to dance.”Lily blinked, her grip on the bunny tightening just a little. It was the smallest reaction, but to Sienna, it was progress.Encouraged, Sienna scoope

The streets of New York were a maze of towering buildings, bustling sidewalks, and an unrelenting sea of cars honking in frustration. Sienna wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly as the evening chill settled in. She had only meant to take a quick walk to clear her mind, but somehow, she had taken a wrong turn, and now she was hopelessly lost. Her phone had died hours ago, leaving her without a GPS or any way to call for help.She exhaled, frustration creeping in as she scanned the unfamiliar streets. The people rushing past her barely spared her a glance, all too consumed with their own lives. She had tried asking for directions at a coffee shop, but the barista had rattled off a list of turns so fast that she had lost track before even stepping outside.“Great,” she muttered under her breath. “This is exactly what I needed tonight.”A gust of wind whipped through the street, making her tighten her coat around herself. The city that never slept suddenly felt too big, too

Sienna moved through the house with practiced ease, yet there was a lingering tension in the air that hadn’t been there before. Ever since the gala, something had shifted—subtle, but undeniable. She wasn’t naïve enough to mistake Grayson’s actions for affection, but she also couldn’t ignore the way he had stepped in to defend her. Or the way he kept watching her. She felt it constantly. His gaze would find her when he thought she wasn’t looking, burning into her skin like a silent brand. And yet, the moment she turned toward him, he was gone, as if the moment had never existed. Sienna tried to shake it off, convincing herself she was imagining things. It was better that way. But as she walked through the sunlit halls of the mansion, a small, amused voice pulled her out of her thoughts. “Miss Sienna, why are you smiling like that?”Sienna blinked and turned to see Lily standing by the grand staircase, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. The little girl had warmed up to her significa

 The air between them was charged, thick with an energy neither of them wanted to acknowledge. Ever since that night in Lily’s room, something had shifted. Grayson had become even more distant, yet his presence felt heavier whenever he was around. Sienna noticed it in the way his gaze lingered a second too long, the way his jaw tightened when she laughed with Lily, and the way his hands curled into fists when another man so much as looked at her. She wasn’t imagining it. She knew the signs. But she also knew Grayson was a man who thrived on control, and whatever this was—this unspoken tension between them—was something he refused to accept.Tonight, the tension reached its breaking point. A storm raged outside, rain hammering against the mansion’s windows while thunder rumbled in the distance. Sienna had been making her way to the kitchen when the power flickered, plunging the house into darkness. S