Chapter 90
Sienna's pov
Harrison had been standing there a long time.
Our eyes met. He gave me a faint smile but didn’t move, as if he were waiting to see what I’d do next.
“What’s going on?”
Julian must have caught the fear in my expression, because he turned and stepped in front of me at once. “Didn’t expect Mr. Blackwood to have a peeping-Tom hobby.”
Vanya looked just as stunned. She hurried to Julian’s side, nearly blocking my entire view.
“And you’re no better,” Harrison said, his voice drawing closer. “Enjoying your date with my wife?”
I didn’t dare look at his face. We had an agreement—so why was he here?
“Thanks to you, Mr. Blackwood,” Julian shot back. “If you hadn’t cheated on Elena and ignored Sienna, I wouldn’t have had a chance.”
“Julian,” Harrison said, the mockery in his tone sharp enough to sting, “do you really think taking her from me means you’ve won?”
I lifted my hands to my ears out of instinct, but it didn’t help.
“A woman who fakes a pregnancy, loves money, and can’t stay loyal—she’s trash I threw away. And you treat her like a prize.” His contempt was effortless. “Your taste is terrible.”
I forced myself to raise my head. Through the narrow gap between Julian and Vanya, I caught Harrison’s expression—cold, controlled, and certain I would break.
“If you came all the way here just to say that,” Julian said, voice tight, “then get lost.”
Vanya, nearly shaking with fury, leaned forward. “Julian will cherish what you don’t. Sienna has suffered enough because of you!”
Her voice yanked me back into my body. I reached out and patted both their shoulders, then made myself smile as if this were nothing more than an interruption. “Don’t waste your breath. Let’s go.”
If I gave him a reaction, he’d keep pressing until he got what he wanted. So I didn’t look back. I turned and walked away, not waiting to see whether Julian or Vanya followed.
Vanya caught up first, still fuming. “Why are you avoiding him? He came here asking to be yelled at, and I didn’t even get to finish.”
“I’m in my final month,” I said quietly. “I don’t want trouble.”
We waited by the car until Julian joined us. His jaw was set in a way that told me he’d said something to Harrison—or wanted to.
“Tonight was full of surprises,” Julian said as he opened the door for us. “This dinner doesn’t count. I’ll make it up to you another time.”
“I’m fine,” I said, meaning only that I was tired. I declined his offer to drive me home and took a cab back to Blackwood Estate.
The spot on my back where Theodore had hit me earlier started to ache the moment I settled into the seat. By the time I got upstairs, the pain had spread into a dull throb.
I fell asleep as soon as I got into my room, and I didn’t wake until Martha knocked and called me down for dinner.
“Mrs. Blackwood,” she said, hesitant, “Mr. Blackwood called. He said he won’t be home for the next two weeks.”
I paused, then nodded. “Good.”
At least I wouldn’t have to see him.
Martha’s eyes softened. “Mrs. Blackwood…”
“Don’t,” I cut in. “If you try to persuade me again, I’ll get angry.”
I barely ate a few bites, then went back upstairs to work. I pulled up my project files and voice-over notes, forcing my attention onto schedules and deadlines.
That was when my phone rang.
Luna Reed.
She hadn’t replied to any of my messages since last night.
When I answered, I heard loud music and the clink of glasses. My stomach tightened.
“Luna?”
No response.
I called her name again until she snapped, irritation slurring at the edges of her voice. “Stop yelling. I’m fine.”
“How much did you drink?”
“Send me your address,” I said, already grabbing my bag. “I’m coming to get you.”
She wouldn’t give it, so I headed to her usual place, keeping the line open.
“Sienna,” she said, words tumbling out now, “I found out yesterday that Alexander—that jerk—already has a fiancée. And he still kept me hanging around, wouldn’t let me date other men. Who does he think he is? My parents don’t even care what I do. Why should he, an engaged man, get to control me?”
Heat crawled up my neck.
“Sienna, you should divorce Harrison,” she went on, voice thick with misery. “Let’s leave the country together. I’ve got nothing left here. My family’s a mess, and Alexander keeps making it worse…”
I opened my mouth to comfort her, but the words stuck. My own life was too tangled to offer anyone a clean way out.
When I reached the bar, I spotted Luna immediately. She was surrounded by bartenders, all leaning in with eager smiles.
“Luna,” I said, pushing in close, “stop drinking.”
I sat beside her and wrapped my fingers around her wrist. “I’m here. If you’re sad, I’ll stay with you.”
Her eyes cleared by degrees as she focused on me. Then she crooked a finger at the nearest bartender and pointed at me.
“You,” she said. “Make her happy.”
He slid closer with a practiced smile. I looked back at Luna. “All right. I’m fine,” I told her, gently but firmly. “Next time you drink, call me. Aren’t you afraid of men with bad intentions?”
Luna waved a hand. “Whatever. No one cares anyway.”
Then she dropped her head onto the table and closed her eyes.
“Luna?” I shook her shoulder. Nothing.
She was out.
I couldn’t leave her here, so I slid an arm around her and started figuring out how to get her out the door and back to Blackwood Estate.
That was when a voice cut through the noise, slick with familiarity and malice.
“Isn’t this Mrs. Blackwood?” it said. “Out at a bar at night, ordering a whole lineup of bartenders. Is Mr. Blackwood not enough for you?”
My blood went cold.
That voice had haunted me for a long time. And after marrying Harrison, I’d thought I’d never have to deal with people like this again.