Chapter 27
Sienna‘s pov
If there ever came a day when I found myself willing to side with Julian Vane against Harrison Blackwood, it would only be because Harrison had done something unforgivable.
Luna insisted on coming along with me to Vane Sound. When Julian spotted her, he gave her a polite nod, then turned and led me toward the recording studio.
I gave the script a quick skim.
"The script is pretty short today. Mr. Vane, could you arrange it so I can record a bit more while I'm here? It hasn't exactly been easy for me to make the trip lately."
Julian was already adjusting the recording equipment and didn’t respond.
"Ms. Price, let's go ahead and get started. We can sort out the rest afterward."
Something was off, but I didn’t press it. I shifted straight into work mode.
Most voice acting gigs don’t give me much trouble. If it weren’t for marrying Harrison, my career might’ve gone even further.
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been able to pay off your debts in this lifetime. So how could you turn around and betray me like this?"
The line was straight from the script, but it still pulled tears from my eyes.
In the story, the heroine paid off her lover’s debts and married him, only to be betrayed after three years.
And me?
If it weren’t for Harrison, I would’ve drowned in debt. He made my sincerity a joke, the kind New Haven repeats with a smile. But when collectors were at my throat, he pulled me out—gave me a home—then tore it apart himself.
"Ms. Price, are you alright?"
Julian extended a tissue toward me. "Do you need to take a break?"
"No." I wiped my face and shook my head. "Let's keep going. My emotions are in the right place now. The performance will be better for it."
I wrapped up the rest of the recording in under half an hour.
"Today's script was a tough one." Julian’s tone stayed even. "I know it's nothing you can't handle, but I figured you'd get deep into it. That's why I only planned for this portion."
He set a cup of water on the table in front of me. "If we keep going, you won't be in the headspace I need."
"Mr. Vane, it seems you know me better than I give you credit for."
I picked up the cup and drank most of it. "You could've just told me that when I asked."
"Ms. Price, you read through the script beforehand." He leaned back slightly. "Did you really expect to end up in this state?"
I couldn’t argue. I was out of character, but not completely. Actors get swallowed by roles, and voice actors aren’t immune. I’d had moments like this before, just never with emotions this sharp.
"Well then, thank you for being so thoughtful on my behalf."
My smile came out thin. "Is there anything else you'd like to say to me, Mr. Vane?"
Whether it was Harrison or Julian, I always met them the same way—guarded, braced for impact.
"There's a banquet coming up in two weeks, and it includes a dance segment." Julian’s gaze didn’t waver. "Will you be attending, Ms. Price?"
There it was again.
I thought about it for a beat and answered honestly. "Harrison will be taking me."
"If Ms. Price finds herself available at some point during the evening, might we share a dance?"
I stared at him, disbelief tightening my throat.
His smile was soft and unhurried, but the words felt like a lure. Sweet on the surface, lethal underneath.
"I'll be attending as Mrs. Blackwood."
Did he really think Harrison was someone you could just push around?
With all the prominent families of New Haven in attendance, Julian inviting me to dance would become the talk of the night.
"I know that." Julian rested his chin in one hand, his gentle exterior barely masking the ambition underneath. "Don't you want to get back at him?"
I rose to my feet, startled by the audacity of it.
"Besides, it's just a dance," he went on, calm as ever. "He went out and found himself a mistress—and even has a child with her. Compared to what he's done, you wouldn't be overstepping in the slightest."
His voice slid in smooth, almost persuasive.
I held my ground.
"Even if I do want to get back at Harrison, that's my business and mine alone. Mr. Vane, you're overstepping your bounds."
"If your aim is to deal with the Blackwood family, Mr. Vane, you've come to the wrong person."
I finished the last of the water. "See you next time."
As I pulled the door shut behind me, I thought I caught the faint sound of Julian’s soft chuckle from inside.
Whatever game he was playing, I wanted no part of it.
"Let's go."
I called out to Luna, who’d been waiting in the lounge, and we headed out. My pace kept picking up.
It wasn’t until we stepped off the elevator that I finally let myself breathe.
"Sienna, what did he say to you?"
Luna looked at me with concern and brushed the hair off my forehead. I was drenched in sweat.
I drew in a slow breath, my heart still hammering. "He invited me to dance with him at the ball."
One after another. Every last one of them was out of their mind.
If I agreed, I’d be complicit.
"What?" Luna climbed into the driver's seat but didn’t start the car. "How could he drag you into something like this? What on earth is he thinking?"
"He just wants to stir up trouble for the Blackwood family. My well-being doesn’t factor into it at all." I kept my tone light, because the alternative was shaking. "And besides, even if I turn him down, I don’t think he’ll leave me alone at that ball."
After everything he’d gone through to cure Nora Everly, Julian would find a way to collect.
This was the price.
"It's okay." Luna’s hand closed around mine. "I'll be right there with you that day. I won't let anyone give you a hard time."
Luna drove me home.
Sometimes I wondered if I would’ve made it this far without her. She’d listened when I had nothing worth saying, and she stayed.
When we pulled up to the Blackwood Estate, Luna wanted to come inside with me, but I turned her down.
"I can handle it."
"Promise me you'll let me know if anything happens!"
She was just about to leave when we both noticed a car pulling up along the road.
Harrison stepped out and opened the door for Elena Whitmore and Adrian, his expression soft and gentle.
"Daddy! Hug me!"
Adrian clung to Harrison’s arm while Elena stood close, watching.
"What a happy little family," Luna said loudly, mockery sharp in every syllable. "But mistresses never come to a good end. Just you wait and see!"
Elena startled and shrank behind Harrison.
"Harrison, maybe it's best if I don't stay here anymore. Adrian is doing better now, and I'm sure Sienna will take good care of him."
I felt Harrison’s cold gaze land on me. I met it without flinching.
As usual, his eyes were loaded with mockery and disdain.
"Ignore her. Let's go."
Harrison scooped Adrian up with one arm and guided Elena with the other, walking straight past me and into the villa without a second glance.
As Elena passed, I caught the faint sound of a smug little hum.
I stood there watching them walk away, my heart numb.
"This is absolutely too much!" Luna was fuming as she grabbed my arm and tried to pull me along. "Come stay at my place tonight. You don't have to put up with any of this!"
I took a step forward—then a strong, sudden force yanked me back.