Chapter 180
Sienna's pov
"How are you driving? How do you manage to rear-end someone on the highway?"
That voice… It prickled at the edge of memory, eerily familiar.
I leaned forward and realized it was coming from right beside our car.
It was Kaia.
And to make matters worse, the driver was chatting with Harrison .
The collision of past and present felt too abrupt, too cruel.
I ducked back inside the car, heart hammering, terrified Harrison might glimpse me.
The windows were one-way glass, so he shouldn't be able to see me.
But that also meant I couldn't hear his voice.
The driver didn't talk to them for long, and soon the traffic cleared up.
I watched as the man wrapped his arm around her waist and they walked away.
They still looked so perfect together in front of others, and I couldn't help but think the same now.
If I never showed up again, they might live happily ever after.
"Let's go!"
The driver seemed to be in a good mood.
I couldn’t resist. “What were you talking about with them?”
I knew better than to ask—ignorance would have hurt less—but the question clawed its way out anyway.
“Nothing serious. Just chit-chat. They're here for someone else's wedding and decided to do some sightseeing. I gave them a few recommendations.”
His casual tone made the words sting more.
I managed a thin smile, about to reply, when he added.
“They seemed… off, though. Close on the surface, but awkward underneath.”
The driver seemed to be quite talkative, and I didn't expect him to say that.
"Why do you say that? They seemed pretty affectionate to me."
The driver scoffed. "That's because you didn't hear them talk. As a fellow man, I can tell that guy doesn't like her but is pretending to. And as for the woman, she doesn't seem to like him much either."
I twitched my lips.
Everyone had always envied Harrison and Kaia. I’d believed the myth too.
I realized Harrison loved Elena.
He said he didn't love her, but it was all an act, and I couldn't tell the difference.
Anyway, it was all in the past, so why dwelt on it?
“Let’s keep moving. I want to get home before dark.”
The driver shook his head. “Not happening. You’ll have to stay overnight in town. By the time we arrive, it’ll be dusk.”
The driver was accurate about the local travel time. By the time we reached the town entrance, it was already 4 PM.
It felt more like a quiet village than a proper town.
I only knew the name Sabrina but had no idea where to start looking.
There were many houses along the road, so I got out and asked a passing woman about Sabrina.
The instant I said “Sabrina,” suspicion tightened her features.
"Who are you? Why are you looking for her?"
There was a hint of hostility in her eyes.
It was my first time here, so it was understandable that I wasn't welcomed.
I gave her a concise, honest explanation.
The woman's expression softened a bit, but she still didn't offer to help me find Sabrina.
“Odd,” she muttered. “It’s usually Milo who comes for her. Why send someone new this time?”
I had mentioned Milo during our conversation, but the woman still didn't trust me.
I took out my phone, intending to call Milo to confirm my identity, but then I realized there was no signal in this town.
I couldn't make the call.
Frustration escaped in a sigh. “What will it take for you to help me find her?”
The woman's eyes shifted to the documents I was holding, her gaze deepening. “Simple. Hand those over. I’ll deliver them to her myself. I’ve lived here for years—you can trust me.”
My heart tightened, and I immediately took two steps back.
Milo’s instructions had been explicit: the documents went to Sabrina alone. No one else.
This woman was clearly after the documents.
“I’m sorry,” I said, voice steady. “Mr. Moretti was very clear—I have to place them directly in Sabrina’s hands. No intermediaries.”
The woman's attitude changed instantly.
"Oh, I see. Then I'm sorry, so I can't take you to her. There have been a lot of people causing trouble for Sabrina lately, and I don't trust you."
Was it really distrust, or was she after the documents?
"Looking for me? Come with me."
A woman’s voice cut through from nearby. I turned to see her standing about fifteen feet off.
And this woman looked very familiar.
I must have seen her before.
“Don’t worry,” she added calmly. “Milo sent her.”
The woman took my hand and led me into the town.
Questions burned on my tongue, but the moment felt too fragile. I followed in silence.
The driver remained in the car.
As I watched her retreating back, a memory surfaced.
the second-floor hallway of the Moretti family home, a woman’s shadow etched against the wall…
This woman was Josephine!
She led me through narrow lanes without a word.
She didn't ask, and I didn't speak.
Until we entered a modular building.
When the door closed, I couldn't contain my excitement. "Are you..."
Sabrina shook her head gently, eyes warm. “You don’t need to say it. I already know. Milo arranged this so we could meet.”
I handed over the documents, stunned.
I had so much to say, but where to start?
Should I have exchanged pleasantries, spoken of the hardships I had endured, or mentioned what Nora had done years ago?
After I thought it over, it was best not to bring it up.
Sabrina accepted the papers. “Come. I’ll show you to your room.”
This modular building was a research base, and at the deepest part... was a suite.
It had a living room and a bedroom.
Once she locked the door, I asked hesitantly, “How should I address you now?”
Seeing my mother again after so long, the simplest question felt impossibly heavy.
This town wasn't completely safe either.
Sabrina’s laugh was soft, fond. “Silly girl. In here, call me whatever feels right. Outside these walls? Be careful. Eyes are everywhere.”
"Like that woman earlier?"
What kind of person was my biological mother?
“Spies are scattered through the town. I don’t know their faces or how many. That woman was one of them—and you just helped me mark her.”
Sabrina said, then suddenly chuckled. "She moved here a year ago, had a bad relationship with her husband, divorced, and planned to retire here. She seemed honest and simple, but her intentions were far from it."
"No wonder Milo emphasized that I must hand the documents to you personally."
No wonder he’d promised I’d understand the moment I arrived.
How could a mother and daughter fail to recognize each other?
As soon as I saw Josephine, everything became clear.
“Yes,” Sabrina murmured, voice thickening with quiet regret. “I’ve burdened him for years. Because of me, he should be with his real family.”
Sabrina shook her head. "Sienna , you need to leave immediately. Staying here is dangerous. Don't come here alone again, and never mention to anyone that I'm still alive, not even your other relatives."
Only Milo knew her whereabouts, not even Theo.