Chapter 190
Sienna's pov
As soon as I got in the car, I couldn't shake off what Wilder had said.
If she knew about it, how could Harrison not?
After slipping into my dress, I spotted Harrison among the guests.
He was alone, without Kaia or his son.
The tension in the hall was thick.
"Sienna , when the ceremony starts, don't come out unless I call you."
Julian wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. "Be good, okay?"
I lowered my eyes and replied, "Okay."
I had no choice but to go along with him.
The more he insisted I stay hidden, the more it felt like something big was about to go down.
I didn't ask about the gunpowder, pretending not to notice.
But if I could feel it, how could Harrison not?
Why was he still here?
"Come on, I'll take you back to the lounge."
Julian took my hand and led me down the hallway. I glanced back at Harrison one more time.
His head was down, making it impossible to read his expression.
At that moment, Harrison seemed so lonely and defeated.
My heart hurt for him again.
So... why did he come?
If he didn't care about me, he wouldn't have walked into the trap Julian set for him.
But I turned away and followed Julian back to the lounge.
Harrison didn't deserve pity, and I didn't need to feel sorry for him.
He treated me badly. If he died because of me, it would just be a settling of scores, not a betrayal on my part.
"Sienna , why is your hand shaking?" Julian held my hand firmly. "Don't you want to get engaged to me?"
What a pointless question.
If I could, I wouldn't want to, but I couldn't say that to Julian.
"It's nothing, I'm just a little nervous. You know, I'm... a dead person."
Most of the people Julian invited had seen me before.
If I showed up, the place would likely descend into chaos.
"It's okay. I said you're my fiancée, and no one will dare say a word against you."
It sounded like I was the focus, but it only made me more afraid.
"Are you... planning to kill him today?"
As soon as I asked, the door to another room opened.
A woman holding a child walked out.
Kaia, she came after all.
"Go inside and wait for me."
Julian wouldn't answer my question.
I entered my lounge and closed the door, planning to eavesdrop on their conversation. But to my surprise, someone else was in the room.
"Sienna , what were you doing in the hallway with Julian? I've been waiting for you forever."
Why was Zach here?!
I grabbed my chest, trying to calm down. "You scared me to death. Where's Luna? Isn't she with you?"
"I sent her back. It's dangerous here today, you know that."
Zach pointed to the door, and I immediately leaned in to listen.
"Are you crazy? Go back!"
"Does he have to die? There must be another way. Dustin has done so many experiments; isn't there something that can make someone lose their memory? Ask him."
"Kaia, do you remember why you got close to him in the first place? And now you want him to live? Are you insane?"
"But... I've fHayes in love with him."
Harrison was quite the lucky one; every woman seemed to love him, including me.
Yet I wanted him dead, and at the same time, I didn't.
Their voices faded, yet I stayed leaning against the door.
"He knows Julian wants to kill him today, but he still showed up."
I turned my head stiffly. Zach was holding a letter I hadn't noticed before.
"He knows he owes you too much but doesn't know how to keep you because he's done everything, and you still want to escape him."
I forced a smile. "Are you saying I should thank him? Or forgive him? There's a life between us; I can't forgive him! Even if he dies today, I won't forgive him!"
Zach shook his head and handed me the letter. "I'm not explaining anymore. Read it yourself. I think you're both torturing each other. I tried to talk him out of it before he came, but he said it was something he owed you."
I trembled as I opened the letter.
Damn Harrison , I shouldn't feel sorry for him.
[Sienna , it's been a long time since I called you that. We've known each other for years, but there have been so few happy moments. I'm sorry for all the hurtful things I've said. When I'm with you, I can't control myself and end up hurting you. But maybe this way, you'll always remember me. Fifteen years ago, I accidentally stumbled into a castle and met you. Maybe you don't remember, but over the years, you've changed. I mistook someone else for you until we met again. Elena was my mistake, Kaia is Julian's person, and Julian... is actually my father's son. He and Rachel had an accident back then, so Julian hates me... So much has happened, and we've ended up like this because I didn't trust you.]
I turned the letter over; there was nothing on the back, and no other papers in the envelope, just a ring.
Our wedding ring.
I tore the letter to shreds.
"Bastard!"
So what? After all that explanation, what did he mean?
I was about to open the door when Zach stopped me, shaking his head.
"Don't go out, it's too late."
Too late?
The next second, a loud boom came from the hall, followed by gunfire.
"Going out won't help; it's too late to stop it. Think about your child. She needs her mother."
I still opened the door.
How couold it was too late until the last moment? Even if it truly could not be stopped... at least let me see him one last time.
"You... I'm speechless. I've never seen anyone so reckless."
Zach eventually followed me.
"Stop following me. This has nothing to do with you. The Blackwood family still needs you."
The closer we got to the hall, the stronger the smell of gunpowder and the thicker the smoke.
Was Julian planning to take all the guests down with him?
"I won't get hurt, but my job is to make sure you don't get hurt. You have to survive."
Zach caught up with me, blocking my path just as we reached the entrance to the hall.
Suddenly, another gunshot rang out.
"Even if I die here, the Vane family won't come back. Theodore is in prison, Rachel committed suicide, the Vane Group's assets are being liquidated, and Alexander will take over. If you return to the country now, you'll be taken in for questioning immediately. What are you still holding on to?"
Harrison seemed injured, his words punctuated by groans.
With such a big explosion, Julian couldn't be in great shape either.
"Stop speaking foolishly. The Vane family means nothing to me. I just want you dead!"