Chapter 1 Sending Her Abroad

"Help! It hurts so much!" Yvette Young screamed, her piercing voice echoing through the lavish Flynn residence.

Within moments, guests surged toward the sound, their expressions a chaotic mix of shock and concern.

At the top of the staircase on the second floor, Sienna Shaw stood frozen, her gaze darting between Yvette, now crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, and her own trembling hands.

"How could this happen?" she murmured, her face blank as her mind struggled to process what had just occurred.

Today was a big family gathering for the Flynns, with a ton of guests around. Everyone was now huddled around Yvette, chatting away.

"What's going on?"

"How did she fall?"

"She..." Yvette struggled to get the words out, wincing in pain as she glanced up at the second floor.

Instantly, everyone caught on, and the murmurs turned into shouts.

"It was Sienna who pushed her!"

"Oh my God! Sienna, even if you don't like Yvette, you can't do that. She's pregnant."

"Exactly! You might be spoiled and stubborn, but there are boundaries."

"No, it's not me..." Sienna's face turned pale. She shook her head, desperate to explain. But no one was willing to listen.

"Move aside!" A deep voice sliced through the chaos. It was Josiah Flynn, who had been married Sienna for less than two months, finally showing up.

"Josiah." A wave of relief washed over Sienna as she looked at him, hoping for support.

But Josiah tilted his chin, glaring at her, his eyes like daggers. "How dare you!"

"No. it wasn't me." Sienna gasped, shaking her head.

"Then who was it?" Josiah didn't believe her at all. His handsome face twisted with disgust. "Yvette fell on her own? How many times have you bullied her? Should I list them all out for you?"

Sienna was at a loss for words, her mouth opening and closing without making a sound.

Yvette winced in pain, clutching her stomach and collapsing against Josiah, her voice trembling. "Josiah, it hurts... it hurts so much."

"Yvette, what's wrong?" Josiah looked frantic.

Just then, Miranda rushed over. "What happened?"

"There's blood!" someone screamed suddenly. "She's bleeding!"

Everyone turned to see a puddle of crimson spreading beneath Yvette, its size increasing rapidly.

Terrified, Yvette buried her face in Josiah's neck, sobbing. "Josiah, my baby..."

"Stay calm. We're going to the hospital right now," Josiah reassured her, though his face showed a different story.

He picked up Yvette, cradling her in his arms, and shot a fierce look at Sienna. "You better pray the baby's okay. Otherwise..."

Without finishing his sentence, he turned and rushed out—Yvette and her baby were his main concern now.

Miranda glanced at Sienna and shook her head with a frown, struggling to find the right words. "Sienna, you... how could you..."

"Miranda," Sienna called out, trying to explain, but Miranda simply turned and walked away.

In an instant, the guests dispersed, leaving her surrounded by silence.

Sienna felt dazed and could barely recall how she made it back to her room. She waited anxiously for Josiah to return, wanting to explain that she hadn't pushed Yvette.

Time dragged on, and as night deepened, Josiah still hadn't returned. Before dawn, Sienna finally heard a noise downstairs.

"Josiah!" She jumped off the sofa and rushed out. But as she reached the stairs, she froze in her tracks at the sound of Josiah's icy voice—"Grandma, I want a divorce."

"Stop!" Miranda grabbed Josiah, her tone sharp. "What are you talking about? I promised Fiona I would take care of Sienna.

"You two just tied the knot, and now you're thinking about splitting up? She's only twenty years old! Are you trying to push her over the edge?"

Josiah let out a cold laugh, his eyes blazing with fury. "Grandma, Yvette lost her baby—the child she had with Howard. And Sienna? She's just fine. Who's really pushing who to the brink here?"

Miranda paused, the words catching in her throat.

"I never wanted to marry her. You pushed me into it," Josiah said, frustration seeping into his voice, as if he couldn't take his marriage for one more second.

After a moment, he went on, "If she makes you happy, then I guess I can live with that. But now, I just can't have a woman like her as my wife anymore.

"If this keeps up, I'm worried I won't be able to control myself. I don't even know what I might end up doing to her."

"No!" Miranda exclaimed, panic setting in as she held onto Josiah tightly. Thinking of the grandchild she just lost, she made a hard choice. "How about this? I'll send her overseas, far away from you."

After a moment of silence, Josiah chose to back down. "That's fine with me."

Sienna hurriedly turned and dashed back to her room. Once she closed the door, her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the floor, tears poured down her cheeks.

"Josiah..." She whispered bitterly, finally realizing that he truly despised her and had only married her under duress.

Sienna's parents had passed away when she was young, and her grandmother, Fiona Shaw, raised her. After Fiona died in a car accident when she was fifteen, she became an orphan. Since Fiona and Miranda were close friends, Miranda took her in.

Miranda loved her like family and had often said, "Sienna, how about you marry Josiah when you grow up?"

Sienna would always respond with a sweet smile, "Of course."

Ever since, marrying Josiah had been her dream. She studied for him, dressed up for him, and followed him everywhere, making sure no other women got close—she was his fiancée, and he was hers.

'But it turned out to be all one-sided. He said I was too controlling and didn't want to see me anymore.' Sienna covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and Miranda's voice floated in, "Sienna, you up?"

"Yeah, I'm awake!" Sienna quickly wiped her tears, scrambled up off the floor, and smoothed her hair before opening the door with a forced smile. "Morning, Miranda."

Miranda noticed the red, puffy eyes that told of Sienna's all-night crying but chose not to mention it. Sienna's mistakes made it hard for her to forgive right away. She headed straight to the sofa and sat down. "Sit."

Sienna knew what Miranda was going to say. Plus, she could tell that Miranda's attitude towards her had shifted, different from how it used to be.

"Didn't you always talk about wanting to study abroad? How about this? I'll arrange for you to leave as soon as possible," Miranda said.

'She's really going to send me away.' Sienna's gaze fell, and tears began to fall once more.

Miranda looked at Sienna, a pang of sympathy hitting her. She loved Sienna like family, but Yvette was still in the hospital, and she had to make things right.

Taking a deep breath, Miranda began, "You really need to work on your temper. Every time a girl gets close to Josiah, you go off the rails.

"I've let a lot slide, but how can you be jealous of Yvette? She's engaged to Howard."

"I..." Sienna opened her mouth, but the words got stuck in her throat—even Miranda didn't believe her?

"Pack your things and get ready to go." Miranda stood up, giving Sienna one last look. "Once you've changed, I'll send someone to bring you back, okay?"

"Take care," Sienna said, standing up and offering a slight bow as Miranda left. Even after Miranda was out of sight, Sienna stayed there, utterly lost.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit her, and she felt like she might throw up. She quickly covered her mouth and hurried to the bathroom.

Chapter 2 Deep And Piercing

After an intense session of vomiting that felt like it was turning her inside out, Sienna found herself in the hospital.

"Doctor, what's wrong with me?" she asked, nervously waiting for the test results.

The doctor didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Are you married?"

Sienna paused and nodded slowly, "Yeah. I am."

"Congratulations, you're going to be a mom," the doctor announced.

"What?" Sienna's heart raced, her eyes wide with disbelief.

The heatwave had been brutal, and for days, she'd barely had an appetite. Occasionally, she had even experienced some nausea.

She had thought it was just the summer heat or maybe some ordinary stomach bug. But morning sickness? It would have been exciting news before last night.

Hesitantly, Sienna asked, "Are you sure? I mean, these things can get mixed up, right?"

"Mind telling me when your last period was?" the doctor asked.

Sienna did a quick mental calculation, her face turning even paler. "It's been about a week overdue."

"Then that's your answer," the doctor shrugged, placing the test results in front of her. "Look, blood tests don't lie. You are definitely pregnant."

Sienna opened the report, her heart thumping as she read the bold print, stamped with the words—early pregnancy. She abruptly shut her eyes gripping the paper tightly. "Thanks, doc."

Stepping outside the hospital, the scorching sun blared down on her, stinging her eyes and threatening to bring tears. She closed her eyes, whispering to herself, "What do I do now?"

Sienna and Josiah had been married for less than two months. They hadn't spent much time together physically, and their few encounters had been rushed.

At first, she thought Josiah just wasn't into that sort of thing. Truth be told, she wasn't a big fan either—it always ended up hurting.

Now, the truth hit Sienna like a ton of bricks. He wasn't against intimacy; he was just against being intimate with her. Those few moments they had together were probably just for Miranda's sake.

But now she was pregnant—of all times. The shock was too much, and she couldn't think straight about what to do next, or even if she should keep the baby.

Sienna was only 20, too young for such a huge decision. After hours of agonizing thoughts, she realized she had to talk to Josiah. After all, he was the father.

Josiah was at the hospital. Yvette had suffered a miscarriage and was still under observation, needing time to recover. To care for her, he had brought work into her hospital room.

When Sienna arrived, she was stopped at the entrance by Josiah's bodyguards, Chester and James Lewis. "Mrs. Flynn, I'm afraid you'll have to wait. You can't go in just yet."

"Why not?" Sienna blinked, puzzled.

"Well, it's Mr. Flynn's order," Chester replied, trying to keep his tone soothing.

'Josiah's order? Is he worried I might cause trouble for Yvette, or is he just afraid Yvette would be upset if she sees me?' Sienna lowered her head, feeling defeated and hopeless. She seemed fragile, yet there was a stubborn streak in her.

Clenching her fists, she pleaded, "I won't go in, but could you please tell him I need to see him? I have something really important to discuss."

After a quick glance at Chester, James nodded and headed inside to deliver the message to Josiah.

"Not happening," Josiah replied coldly, his indifference evident. With a sneer, he added, "Tell her to stay away from the hospital room. Don't disturb Yvette's rest."

"Okay, Mr. Flynn." James headed back out and conveyed Josiah's words to Sienna.

Sienna's face drained of color as she listened. Her hands, clenched tightly, shook uncontrollably.

"You need to leave, Mrs. Flynn. Ms. Young could wake up at any moment. It wouldn't be good if she sees you," James added.

"I'm leaving now," Sienna said, biting her lip so hard it drew blood, but she was oblivious to it.

As she stepped out of the surgical building, she hesitated—she couldn't just walk away; tomorrow, she was flying out of the country. In a foreign place, she wouldn't even know what to do.

So, she stood there waiting for Josiah, convinced he would come out eventually. Seconds turned into minutes, and before she knew it, her legs felt numb. The sky grew darker, and soon, a heavy rain started pouring down.

Just when Sienna thought Josiah would spend the night in there, he emerged. The soft glow of the lights highlighted his handsome features, making him look charming and distinguished as ever.

"Josiah!" Sienna called out, breaking into a run towards him.

Josiah frowned, "Tsk, stop her!"

"Yes, Mr. Flynn," Chester replied, stepping forward to block Sienna's path.

Unable to get to Josiah, Sienna called out, her voice tinged with urgency, "I have something really important to tell you, Josiah!"

But Josiah didn't even glance her way. The driver pulled up to the steps, and Josiah walked right to the car, opened the door, and slid in.

Sienna couldn't believe it. She yelled, "Josiah, please! I really need to talk to you!"

But Josiah ignored her completely. He shut the car door with a thud and told the driver, "Let's get going."

Sienna's eyes widened as the car pulled away from her. Suddenly, she found a burst of energy, pushed past Chester, and sprinted after the car.

"Josiah Flynn, stop! Please, just stop..." she cried, sprinting after the car with tears streaming down her cheeks. She ran so fast that the air felt like needles as it pierced her lungs.

But the car kept speeding away. When Sienna reached the entrance, her foot slipped, and she crashed to the ground hard, gasping in pain.

Inside the car, James looked back and said quietly, "Mr. Flynn, Mrs. Flynn fell."

Josiah glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Sienna sprawled on the wet ground, soaked and covered in mud. He frowned for a moment, but quickly hardened his resolve.

"It's just a fall. She's not made of glass—what's the worst that can happen? Drive faster. I don't want her to catch up and cause any trouble," he said, his voice icy.

"Yes, Mr. Flynn." James pressed down on the gas, and the car sped away.

Sienna watched in despair as the car shrank into the distance, her heart sinking with every second. She struggled to her feet, her arms and palms scraped, with blood seeping out and mixing with the rainwater.

A sharp pain hit her, like a knife stabbing through her. She closed her eyes, and her tears flowed freely, blending with the relentless downpour.

Back at Silver Beach, Sienna felt completely drained. She didn't even bother to shower; she just collapsed onto the couch, still in her wet clothes.

'What else can I do? Who can I turn to for help?' Sienna's thoughts were spinning. Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. She grabbed her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.

The ringing echoed in Sienna's ears, and she held her breath, a flicker of hope lighting up inside her.

"Hello?" a woman's voice answered on the other end.

Instantly, the spark in Sienna's eyes dimmed.

"Hello? Who is this? Speak up," the woman asked, her tone edged with annoyance. "If you don't say something, I'm hanging up." And with that, the call went dead.

Sienna gripped her phone tightly and bit her lip, tears streaming down her cheeks—she felt so foolish for making that call. In frustration, she hurled the phone across the room and buried her face in a pillow.

The entire night blurred by. Sienna lost track of when she finally fell asleep, but when she woke up, her head throbbed painfully. The doorbell rang insistently, each chime grating on her nerves.

Suddenly, the door swung open. Josiah stepped in, his handsome face shadowed with anger.

Chapter 3 Asking Him For Money

Seeing Sienna sitting on the sofa, Josiah narrowed his charming eyes, annoyed. "Why didn't you open the door?"

'Because I was weak,' Sienna thought. But she kept that to herself, just shaking her head instead. She figured any excuse would fall on deaf ears—he didn't like her, so in his eyes, everything she did was a mess-up.

Feeling uncomfortable, she cut to the chase, "What brings you here? " She had thought she didn't want anything to do with her.

"Hmph, like I had a choice," Josiah sneered, his icy gaze making his distaste crystal clear. "Grandma insisted I come and make sure you get on that plane."

Sienna's heart sank. 'What am I even expecting?'

"Where's your stuff? Upstairs?" Josiah asked, his impatience was palpable. Every extra second in Sienna's presence felt like a punishment for him.

Sienna nodded, then shook her head. "It's up there, but I haven't finished packing." She had intended to pack last night after coming back, but she felt unwell and ended up falling asleep.

"What?" Josiah's expression turned even grimmer. "You've been doing nothing all day and can't even get your bags ready?"

As he saw Sienna standing there blankly, anger flared up in him—was she trying to drag this out? He then urged sharply, "What are you waiting for? Go get your stuff packed!"

"Okay." Sienna nodded in a daze and hurried upstairs. But just those few steps had her breaking into a cold sweat. Something didn't feel right, and she raised her hand to her forehead.

It was burning hot, and even her breath felt like fire. She finally realized that she seemed to have caught a fever after getting drenched in the rain yesterday.

She hurried to her room to grab some cold medicine. Yet, as she was about to pop a pill, she stopped short—she was pregnant, and this medicine wasn't safe for her to take.

The decision on what to do about the baby was still up in the air. But as long as it was in her belly, she had to take care of it every day.

Just then, her stomach churned. She clamped a hand over her mouth and sprinted for the bathroom, hugging the toilet as she heaved violently. When it passed, she felt utterly wiped out.

She turned on the tap, rinsed her mouth, and splashed some cold water on her face, hoping to cool the fever that was cooking her alive.

"Sienna!" Josiah's low, slightly hoarse voice called out impatiently. He had run out of patience waiting and came to hurry her up. He stepped inside and found her still not ready. "Sienna, where are you? Get out here!"

"Coming." Sienna wiped her face with a towel and stepped out of the bathroom. Her complexion was ghostly, her voice barely a whisper.

"Josiah," she called out, dropping the usual affection. "Can I leave tomorrow instead?"

She was feeling pretty rough, worried she might pass out on the plane. If that happened, being all alone, she'd really be in trouble.

"What for?" Josiah frowned, suspicion etched on his face. "What trick are you trying to pull now? You tried to beg Yvette at the hospital yesterday, but I stopped you. Now you're trying to find another way?"

'Is that really how he sees me?' Sienna stared at him, her eyes welling up as she struggled to hold back the tears. "No, it's not like that. I'm really not well. I need to see a doctor."

"Cut the act!" Josiah snapped, cutting her off. He scrutinized her face for a moment, then offered a thin smile. "You're not faking sickness again, are you? You think I'll buy it?"

His voice turned icy. "Even if you are sick, how bad could it be? Yvette lost the baby and is stuck in the hospital, but you look just fine! Suck it up. It won't kill you."

Sienna paused, her voice catching in her throat as she whispered, "I..."

Josiah ignored her and strode to the closet. With a swift motion, he yanked open the doors and grabbed a packed suitcase, its handles cool against his palm.

"No need to clean up anymore. Just buy what you need when you get overseas. After all, it's all on the Flynn family. I don't have time for your drama now," he said, hoisted the suitcase, and headed downstairs.

Sienna bit her lip, her heart throbbing with pain. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, and she roughly wiped them away with her hand.

'Just go. What's the difference if I'm here or overseas? I'm alone, and nobody cares about my struggles or my life,' she thought, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.

At the airport, Josiah didn't bother walking Sienna in. Instead, his assistant, Zach Reed, handled the check-in and guided her through security.

"Mrs. Flynn, have a safe trip," Zach said, handing her the passport and ticket. "Give Mrs. Miranda Flynn a call when you land. Your living expenses will be wired every month."

"Okay. Thanks," Sienna said with a nod, then headed toward the gate.

*****

Time flew by, and soon a month had passed since Sienna settled into an apartment downtown in Fliraty.

It was late at night, but Sienna didn't dare turn on the lights. She curled up in bed, trying to stay quiet.

The door rattled as the landlord pounded on it. "Hey! Are you in there? Your rent is due. I know you're in there. Say something!"

Sienna covered her ears, shook her head, and closed her eyes, silently hoping the landlord would just leave.

After a moment of no response, the landlord gave up. "You really think hiding will save you money, sweetheart? Don't be naïve."

"She really isn't here?" he mumbled to himself. "It's so late. Oh, God bless her."

The banging stopped, and as the landlord's footsteps faded away, Sienna finally let go of her ears, releasing a long sigh.

'I managed to avoid him for another day. But what about tomorrow? What can I do then?' She wondered, fishing her phone out from under her pillow and flipping through her contacts to find Miranda's number.

It had been almost a month since she arrived in Fliraty, but her living expenses hadn't come through yet. She'd been trying to call Miranda for days, but the line was always busy.

Sienna took a deep breath and pressed the call button again. Soon, she heard the voicemail: "You have reached Miranda. I can't take your call right now. Please leave a message after the beep."

Frustrated and unable to reach Miranda, she realized she had only one person left to call—Josiah. After a moment of hesitation, she found his number and hit the call button.

The line rang, and Josiah's deep, slightly hoarse voice came through, "Hello."

"I-It's me," Sienna stammered, her mouth going dry with nerves.

"What do you want?" Josiah's tone sounded impatient, clearly annoyed.

Sienna froze, biting her lip. "I... I need to talk to Miranda. I've been trying to call her, but I can't get through."

"Hmph," Josiah replied coldly. "Why are you trying to find her? You've only been gone a few days. Are you trying to sweet-talk her into letting you come back?"

"No, it's not like that," Sienna quickly denied.

Josiah wasn't interested in hearing her out. "Stop calling Grandma. I changed her number to keep you from bugging her."

Sienna's eyes widened in shock, tears welling up. 'I know he hates me, but isn't moving away enough? Does he really need to cut me off from Miranda? I have no other family left, and she's the only person who still shows me kindness.'

"Anything else?" Josiah's patience was wearing thin. "Sending you away was supposed to help you break your bad habits. You need to learn to be independent instead of living off the Flynn family like a parasite. I'm hanging up."

"Wait, I have something to say!" Sienna quickly interrupted, swallowing her pride. "It's just the living expenses... I haven't received them yet."

Chapter 4 Not Even Qualified To Die

Josiah smirked coldly. "So it's about money. It's only been a month. Why the hurry? Don't worry, you'll get what you need—just wait. Do you think we can't spare you a dime?"

After a moment, he added, "From now on, don't call me unless it's really important. If something comes up, I'll reach out." With that, he hung up.

'He despises me that much.' Sienna stared at her phone, stunned. Her face drained of color as she realized how pathetic she must have seemed, begging him for money.

She raised a hand and rested it on her still-flat belly, letting out a cold, bitter laugh. After a while, she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.

*****

Eight months later, in Fliraty's slums, Sienna lay asleep in bed, her belly now round and swollen. Her due date was just days away, but the doctor had warned her that her baby was breech and suggested she get to the hospital early.

Sienna had only forced a smile, saying nothing—she had no money. Eight months ago, after that heartless call with Josiah, she still hadn't seen a dime for living expenses.

She had burned through her savings and could no longer afford her apartment, so she moved to the slums. She never asked him for money again—she couldn't bear to be called a parasite one more time.

After settling down, Sienna had found a part-time job, trying to balance work and school. Even though she wasn't making much, she managed to scrape by and feed herself.

Suddenly, a loud noise yanked her out of her sleep.

"Whoa, what the heck—"

"Fire!"

"Run for your lives!"

Sienna bolted out of bed and flung open the door to a scene of pure chaos—thick smoke swirled and flames shot into the sky. Right away, fear clutched at her chest.

"Sienna!" her neighbor, also an exchange student, yelled urgently. "What are you doing? It's on fire. Hurry up and get out."

"Okay," Sienna replied, panic rising as she rushed to grab her backpack.

But just as she turned, her neighbor grabbed her arm. "Are you crazy? Where are you going? Just get out."

"I can't!" Sienna screamed, her voice cracking with desperation. All her money was still inside—every penny she had saved for her unborn child, hospital bills, and everything.

"I have to go back," she said, determination in her eyes. But as soon as she took a step, a beam came crashing down right in front of her.

Sienna reacted just in time, stepping back. She was okay, but the way into her place was now completely blocked.

"Sienna, run!" her neighbor shouted.

"No!" Sienna shook her head fiercely. She yanked her arm free from her neighbor and sprinted back inside, blocking out the chaos around her.

A gust of wind drove a blaze toward her. She spun out of the way, but the flames still managed to graze her lower back, causing her to wince and cry out in pain.

"Sienna!" The neighbor pulled her back hard. "You good?"

"I'm fine," Sienna said, shaking her head, but the dense smoke had her coughing even more fiercely.

"We gotta move. No going back in there," the neighbor urged, gripping Sienna's arm firmly.

"But..." Sienna hesitated.

"This smoke isn't just bad for you—it's dangerous for your little one too. If you don't listen up, you could lose it all. Go, now!" the neighbor insisted, practically dragging Sienna away.

Eventually, Sienna escaped the fire zone. Her back was burned, and she hadn't managed to grab any cash. With a heavy heart, she watched as her worn-out house got swallowed by the flames, turning into ashes.

'What should I do after this?' she thought, feeling overwhelmed. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her stomach, causing her to wince and double over.

A crowd quickly formed around her, their voices a mix of concern and urgency.

"What's wrong?"

"She's going into labor!"

"Someone call 911. We need to get her to the hospital, stat!"

*****

"Ah!"

"Push!"

Sienna lay on the delivery bed, going through over ten hours of intense labor. Finally, she delivered her baby.

When the nurse gently laid the baby in Sienna's arms, tears of joy rolled down her cheeks—this was her baby, and she wouldn't be alone anymore. With a sigh of relief, she closed her eyes and passed out.

*****

When Sienna opened her eyes again, she found the same nurse standing by her bedside. The nurse was there to remind her about the hospital bills. Sienna had managed to cover a part, but it was far from enough.

Clutching her newborn close, Sienna's eyes were heavy with worry, and she was silent. She knew she needed to say something, but being flat broke left her speechless.

The soft-hearted nurse sighed, guessing Sienna'd been abandoned by a heartless guy. "Don't you have any family or friends? Contact them; maybe they can help," she said and then left without pushing Sienna too hard.

Sienna lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears. Family and friends? She didn't have anyone. But she was a mom now, and she couldn't leave the hospital bill unpaid.

She pulled her phone from her bag. After eight months, she dialed Josiah's number again. The phone rang and rang before finally connecting.

"Josiah—" she began. But soon her stomach dropped as she heard the familiar voice on the other end.

"Hello? Is this Sienna?" Yvette chuckled softly. "Looking for Josiah? He's not available right now, but you can tell me what's going on."

'Could she really be this nice? Doesn't she hate me?' Sienna was skeptical, but at this point, she didn't have the luxury of being choosy—she was out of options.

Swallowing her pride, she nearly begged, "I-I was wondering if he could lend me some money?"

"Please, I swear I'll pay him back. The moment I get my hands on some cash, I'll give it back," Sienna added, her voice wavering. She didn't dare ask Josiah for money directly again.

"I get it," Yvette smiled. "Alright, I'll let him know. Talk to you later."

"Thanks..." Sienna said, but the line was already cut. She clutched her phone, her heart racing. 'Josiah will lend me the money, won't he? After all, he respects Miranda, and our divorce isn't final yet.'

But two days flew by, and still no money came through. Sienna stood at the hospital entrance, bag over her shoulder and her child in her arms—with no way to pay for the hospital fees, she was forced out.

She gazed up at the sky, the warm winter sun causing her to squint. Tears brimmed in her eyes and then streamed down her cheeks.

"No crying," Sienna scolded herself through clenched teeth. "You have no right to cry. You have a child to take care of. No tears!"

But the reality was harsh. She was flat broke, and her house in the rough part of town had gone up in flames, leaving her homeless.

*****

Two weeks later, Sienna ran through the streets, her child cradled in her arms.

"Stop that thief! She stole something!"

"Someone catch her!"

The footsteps behind Sienna grew louder, and it seemed she couldn't escape. Just then, she stumbled and lunged forward. As she fell, she instinctively twisted to protect her child.

Before she could get up, a store clerk who had been chasing her grabbed her and pinned her down. "Gotcha! Where do you think you're going? What'd you steal? Give it back!"

The clerk yanked her bag away, unzipped it, and spilled the contents onto the sidewalk. The onlookers leaned in, murmuring amongst themselves.

"Baby formula? Diapers? Why would she take these?"

"Look, she's holding a baby."

Mortified, Sienna squeezed her eyes shut, wishing the ground would swallow her up—her pride was completely shattered. But with her child clutched tightly to her chest, she knew she couldn't afford to quit.

Chapter 5 Bringing Her Back

Three years flew by in the blink of an eye.

At Jeiacrity International Airport, Sienna pushed her luggage and left the security area. Her face was fresh and free of makeup, and her lively eyes scanned the bustling surroundings, reflecting a calmness that seemed beyond her years.

Finally, she spotted Zaid Herring, the Flynn family driver, in the crowd, holding a sign that read "Sienna Shaw." She approached him with a small smile.

"You're Ms. Shaw?" Zaid looked at her, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"Yep," Sienna nodded, smiling gently. She knew she looked quite different from four years ago. She had lost weight and even grown taller due to a second growth spurt.

After a brief moment of surprise, Zaid smiled warmly and said, "You've become even more beautiful."

"You're flattering me, Zaid," Sienna laughed.

"Come on, hop in the car," Zaid said, guiding Sienna out of the airport. "The car's right by the entrance. Miranda's been looking forward to seeing you. She's missed you like crazy."

After they were outside, Sienna climbed into the car. As they drove away, she finally realized the Flynn family had only sent Zaid—Josiah hadn't shown up.

Eventually, the car pulled up to the South Jeiacrity Nursing Home. There, Miranda was dealing with heart disease and was scheduled for heart surgery.

That was why Sienna had been called back after three long years—the surgery was risky, and Miranda was worried something might happen. She wanted to see Sienna before the operation.

As they reached the hospital room door, Miranda's voice came from inside. "Are they here yet? Why so slow?"

Zaid stepped forward and knocked lightly on the door.

"Come on in!" Miranda called out, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Ms. Shaw, please." Zaid moved aside to let Sienna enter.

"Okay." Sienna nodded and pushed the door open.

"Sienna?" Miranda squinted, trying to make out the figure at the doorway. She figured it was Sienna but couldn't be entirely sure.

"Miranda." Sienna strode over.

"It's really you!" Miranda's eyes lit up, and she eagerly stretched out her hand. "Come closer, let me get a good look at you."

Sienna complied, allowing Miranda to take her hand and examine her closely.

"Oh, how wonderful. You've grown up." Miranda's eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. Three years ago, Sienna still had a chubby face and a lot of childlike innocence.

After composing herself, Miranda went on, "Josiah didn't want me to stay in touch with you. He believed you needed to learn to be independent. Being on your own really does make you grow, doesn't it?"

Sienna paused but didn't argue. Instead, she nodded with a smile. "You're right."

Seeing Sienna so well-behaved, Miranda felt even more relieved. She gently patted Sienna's hand and asked, "Have you changed over these years?"

Sienna hesitated. She didn't answer directly, simply saying, "I was immature before. I'm sorry for worrying you, Miranda."

Miranda sighed. "You used to have quite the spoiled temper. But I can't blame you entirely. I spoiled you so much that you made some big mistakes."

Sienna pressed her lips together and didn't argue.

Miranda tenderly stroked Sienna's hair around her temples. "I can tell you've changed. Don't hold it against me for being tough—it's for your own good. Now that you're back, focus on living well, and you're still my favorite girl."

"I understand," Sienna nodded, clenching her fist quietly.

After chatting for a while, Miranda felt tired and figured it was time to take a break. "I won't keep you any longer, sweetheart. You just got back today. Let Zaid take you home early so you can get some rest."

"Alright," Sienna nodded and left the nursing home.

Zaid drove her to Silver Beach—the home she once shared with Josiah. "Ms. Shaw, please get some good rest. I'll head out now."

"Thanks, Zaid," Sienna replied while standing at the doorstep. After pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.

Her hand was trembling. If she had anywhere else to go, she wouldn't have stepped back into this place. But what could she do? She was broke.

Having just returned to Jeiacrity, Sienna hadn't found a place to stay. Staying in a hotel? That was out of the question. Her money was so tight she practically wanted to count every penny. She'd rather sleep on the streets than waste it.

Living in Silver Beach, she mostly had to deal with Josiah's despise. But so what? It wasn't like she was unfamiliar with that. Over the years, she'd built up a tough skin through it all.

Entering the hallway, Sienna placed her suitcase in the corner. She took out her toiletries and the clothes she planned to change into for the day, leaving the rest untouched.

She wasn't planning to stay long—just a few days until she found another place, and then she'd move out without fuss.

Sienna headed to the downstairs guest bathroom and took a shower there, washing away the dust and exhaustion from her trip.

As the sky slowly darkened, Josiah still hadn't come back.

Sienna went into the kitchen, but it didn't look like any cooking had been done, and there weren't any ingredients. After a bit of digging, she finally found an almost-expired pack of pasta and a few eggs in the fridge.

She boiled some water and got to work on the pasta. In the end, she put together a simple noodle soup with a poached egg on top, not a leaf of greenery in sight.

"Mmm, smells so good." Sienna held the bowl and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. To her, simple, clean food was already delicious.

But just as she was about to dig in, a sound from the entryway made her pause—Josiah had returned.

Chapter 6 Signing The Divorce Papers

As soon as Josiah stepped inside, he caught a whiff of something cooking. He scrunched up his nose and asked, "What's that smell?"

The lights were on in the living room and the kitchen, and Josiah thought to himself, 'Is someone home? No way. Could it be a break-in? Nah, who breaks into a place just to cook?'

After all, the security at Silver Beach was top-notch. Even a mouse from the neighbor's place would think twice before trying to sneak in.

"Who is it? Show yourself," Josiah called out, his handsome face darkening.

"Coming!" Sienna replied as she jogged into the living room. She stopped in front of him, hands clasped together, and spoke softly, "You're back."

Josiah was taken aback. Sienna was tall and graceful, though a bit too thin. She was undeniably beautiful, with large, luminous eyes that commanded attention. He didn't recognize her, but she felt strangely familiar.

Even so, Josiah remained unamused. He disliked anyone invading his space, no matter the reason. "Who are you? How did you get in here?" he demanded.

Sienna paused for a second and let out a small laugh—he really didn't remember her. She pressed her lips together and replied softly, "I'm Sienna."

Josiah nodded instinctively but suddenly froze. 'What did she just say? Sienna? Oh, right. Grandma mentioned bringing Sienna home.'

Earlier that day, Miranda had called him about it. He had agreed then, but once he got busy, it slipped his mind.

Josiah squinted as he studied Sienna. Her youthful innocence seemed gone, and upon closer inspection, hints of her younger self remained, but now she exuded a touch of feminine charm—she was more beautiful than before.

'But so what? No matter how stunning she looks, it can't mask a rotten character. Her return is perfect; some issues that have been on hold for almost four years are finally coming to a head,' he scoffed quietly.

"Wait for me here for a minute. I'll be right back," Josiah said, shooting her a cold glance before heading upstairs.

"Okay," Sienna replied, watching him go. She decided to stay put.

After a short while, Josiah returned downstairs. He settled onto the couch and casually gestured to the seat opposite him. "Take a seat."

"Sure," Sienna replied, and she sat down facing him.

Josiah opened a folder and placed it on the table in front of Sienna. "Take a look. If everything's good, just sign it."

'What's this?' Sienna glanced over and clearly saw the words written in black and white—Divorce Agreement.

"This should have been dealt with four years ago," Josiah said flatly. "But Grandma disagreed, so I went along with her. Now..."

Sienna looked up at him. "Miranda agreed?"

Josiah paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "No," he admitted.

Miranda was so stubborn. Even after four years, she still wouldn't let go. She brought Sienna back, hoping they could fix things. How could that be possible? He had already made up his mind.

"I don't like you, and you know that. This marriage was a mistake from the start. It's been almost four years, and it's time to end it," Josiah said, Josiah said, his voice firm and deep.

Sienna listened quietly, not saying a word.

Assuming she disagreed, Josiah frowned. "If you don't agree, then I'll have to file for divorce. We've been separated for over two years, so it will definitely be granted—"

"No need to make it complicated," Sienna gently interrupted before he could finish. "I agree to the divorce."

"You've agreed?" Josiah was momentarily taken aback.

Sienna nodded, "Yes, I've agreed."

This genuinely surprised Josiah. He had thought, given Sienna's obsession with him, it would take a lot more effort. But for him, this turn of events was definitely a good thing.

After the initial shock wore off, Josiah composed himself and raised an eyebrow. "In that case, let's go ahead and sign it."

"Okay," Sienna replied.

Josiah handed a pen to Sienna. She carefully looked over the agreement and shook her head. "I don't want the house or the money. Miranda raised me, and I've always owed your family."

Josiah found it amusing. "Since you stepped into the Flynn residence at fifteen, you've been supported by us, up until now."

'That even includes all the expenses for your overseas studies and living,' he added in his heart before continuing, "You don't have the ability to support yourself, so how are you going to live in the future?"

A chill crept up inside Sienna. She silently clenched her hands tight and didn't argue.

"Could it be..." Josiah narrowed his eyes and guessed, "You're thinking if things get tough, you might come back and try to bother me again?"

"I didn't." Sienna's gaze dimmed as she decisively denied it.

"If so, sign the papers quickly," Josiah said with a dismissive smile.

"Alright," Sienna smiled slightly. She held the pen tightly and signed her name on both copies.

Finally, Josiah felt relieved. "I'll arrange a time at the courthouse and inform you."

"Okay," Sienna nodded.

Josiah took the agreement and, for once, looked directly at Sienna. "Grandma is about to have surgery. Until she's recovered, we need to keep the divorce a secret. She did raise you, so can you help with this?"

Sienna was surprised. He didn't even want her, yet now he expected her to play along?

"Don't worry, you won't be left empty-handed. Once everything is settled, I'll throw in an extra payment as a bonus," Josiah sneered.

Sienna let out a quiet, cold laugh and nodded. "Alright, I get it."

"Okay then," Josiah said as he stood up. "We might need to see each other again during this time. I'll take the master bedroom. As for you..."

He paused, then added, "Just pick a room downstairs and clean it up yourself." With that, he turned and headed upstairs.

Sienna watched him leave, a faint smirk playing on her lips. 'Pick a room downstairs? All the downstairs rooms are for the staff? To him, I'm nothing more than a servant?'

Sienna blinked, yet her eyes had already gone dry—no tears left to shed. After taking a few deep breaths, she turned and walked back to the dining room.

The pasta had sat too long, turning soggy and clumped together. Sienna sat down, shoved a big mouthful into her mouth, and felt like choking. But she was starving, and she had nothing else to eat.

Suddenly, Josiah burst in. "Sienna!"

Taken by surprise, Sienna choked and couldn't stop coughing.

"Tsk," Josiah frowned, shaking his head as he glanced at the bowl in front of her. "What did you cook? Is this even edible?"

"Pasta," Sienna replied, finally feeling a bit better. "Do you need something?"

"This mess is supposed to be pasta?" Josiah sneered. "You can't even boil pasta? Looks like we really spoiled you over the years."

Sienna's lips parted slightly, hiding a smirk.

"Oh, right," Josiah remembered why he was there and pointed at her bowl, his voice cold. "Don't cook here again. The kitchen is a smoky, greasy mess because of you. Just eat at a restaurant. Got it?"

Chapter 7 The Once Foolish Self

"Got it," Sienna nodded. Noticing Josiah's disdainful expression, she added, "I'll open the windows to air it out soon, so there won't be any smell left. I'll also clean the kitchen."

"You? You can't even cook pasta properly, and you think you can clean? Just wait. The servant will be here tomorrow," Josiah scoffed, then turned and headed upstairs.

'Finally, he's gone.' Sienna sighed in relief and sat back down. The pasta was already clumpy, and now it looked even less appetizing. She blinked, picked up her fork without much expression, and not long after, she finished it off.

She then opened the window to let in some fresh air and cleaned up the kitchen. Once done, she lay down on the couch in the living room, planning to get by here for a couple of days.

There was no point in bothering with the guest room—she didn't want to leave any lingering smells that might give Josiah a reason to complain. Tomorrow, she'd start looking for a place of her own.

*****

The next morning, Sienna woke up early, well before Josiah came downstairs. She needed to find a job and a new place to live—quickly.

The night before, Sienna had mapped out her route. As soon as she stepped out, she made a beeline for the bus stop and then transferred to the subway.

She was on her way to Maze—an entertainment hotspot in Jeiacrity. Her major was modern dance, and she was there to apply as a dancer.

Everyone in Jeiacrity knows that Maze was a flashy place where wealthy folks blow their cash to have a good time. But Sienna didn't feel ashamed. She was there to make a living and besides, she was selling her skills, not doing anything shady.

When Sienna arrived at Maze, she went find the manager named Henry White, as Hannah had told her to. Since it was the daytime, Maze wasn't open yet, so she soon met Henry.

"Hello, Mr. White," Sienna greeted confidently.

"Hi," Henry replied, a faint grin on his face. "You must be the one Ms. Yates was talking about, right? What was your name again?"

Sienna smiled, "Sienna Shaw."

"Ah, that's right," Henry said, giving her a thorough look. Knowing she came highly recommended and noticing her striking appearance, he nodded, a wider smile forming. "Sienna, you're hired."

"What?" Sienna felt a mix of delight and surprise. Even with Hannah's recommendation, she didn't expect it to go this smoothly. "Thank you, Mr. White."

"You're so polite," Henry chuckled, waving his hand. "With Ms. Yates vouching for you, how could I say no? Besides, I'm sure you'll be a hit at Maze."

After a pause, he continued, "Alright, soon you'll need to get measured for your costume. We're getting everything ready for you. How about Friday? It's a busy day—great for your debut performance."

"Sounds great," Sienna nodded eagerly.

"Then it's settled."

"Thank you, Mr. White."

As soon as Sienna stepped out of Maze, she dialed Hannah. The call rang twice before it switched to voicemail. But just a moment later, her phone vibrated—Hannah was returning the call.

"Seriously..." Sienna said with a smile. "Why do you always do this?"

Hannah laughed from the other end. "International calls are pricey. You don't have much money, so I'm just trying to save you some. Isn't that nice?"

"Yeah," Sienna replied gratefully, pressing her lips together. "I know, Hannah, thank you. And thanks for the job too."

"You made it?" Hannah paused for a moment before breaking into a joyful laugh. "I told you, you'd be fine. Don't worry, I'll take care of you here."

Since international calls were expensive, they kept their conversation brief and to the point. Before long, they wrapped up the call.

Then Sienna set out to find a place to live. She checked out several apartments, but none of them felt right. The ones she liked were too pricey, and the cheaper ones made her worry about safety.

Just as she was about to move on to the next place, her phone rang, and it was Miranda. Sienna quickly swiped to answer. "Miranda?"

"Sienna, where are you?" Miranda asked.

Sienna glanced at the bustling crowd and traffic around her. "Just taking a walk. Jeiacrity has changed a lot."

"Yeah," Miranda chuckled. "Take your time. Now that you're back, just explore—you'll get used to it in no time."

Suddenly, she shifted gears and said, "You've been away from Jeiacrity for four years. I'm planning a welcome party for you."

"Huh?" Sienna was taken aback, finding it a bit over the top. "No need for that, Miranda."

"No need?" Miranda argued, "You're Josiah's wife. Now that you're back, everyone should see you. I don't want people to think Josiah is still single."

Sienna couldn't help but smirk—technically, Josiah was still single. "It's really not necessary," she refused again.

Miranda shook her head and sighed. "Fiona was worried about you on her deathbed, so she made me promise to look out for you. But I haven't been checking on you enough these past years. Are you upset with me?"

"No, I'm not," Sienna said quickly, realizing she couldn't refuse. "Alright, let's hit that party." She figured making an appearance was the least she could do to repay Miranda for raising her.

"That's my girl," Miranda said, beaming. "I'll get everything all set up for you."

"Thanks, Miranda," Sienna said. After ending the call, she let out a deep sigh, her enthusiasm for apartment hunting fading. With the day already winding down, she decided to call it quits and head back to Silver Beach.

Once she got off the bus, she grabbed a few loaves of bread at the supermarket nearby—Josiah wouldn't let her use the stove. She just felt bummed that there wasn't a market nearby to find cheaper rolls.

Back at Silver Beach, Sienna ate the bread with plain water and stored the rest in the fridge, which was enough for a few meals.

Then, she changed into her practice clothes and began dancing. As a dancer, she knew she couldn't afford to miss a day of practice—one minute on stage took years of practice off stage.

That night, Josiah didn't come home, and Sienna couldn't have been less bothered. Truth was, even during their two months of marriage, he hadn't been home every night.

Back then, she'd clung to him and asked, "Where were you last night?"

Josiah had only rolled his eyes, his voice edged with irritation. "It's none of your business. Being Mrs. Josiah doesn't give you the right to meddle in my life.

"You've got your wish marrying me, and I'll take care of everything you need. Just stick to your own affairs, alright?"

Reflecting on the past, Sienna couldn't help but acknowledge the naivety that had clouded her judgment.

A night passed without dreams, and the next day, Sienna headed out to search for a house. She browsed through countless listings on rental websites, checking each one carefully. After a long day of searching, she finally found one that caught her eye.

Just as she was about to call the agent, her phone rang, and it was Josiah. Sienna kept her face neutral as she answered. "Hello?"

"Where are you? Why aren't you at Silver Beach?" Josiah asked, his frustration obvious.

'Is he at Silver Beach now?' Sienna felt a jolt of surprise. Instead of answering, she shot back, "What's up?"

"You're seriously asking me?" Josiah replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Did you forget about the welcome party Grandma set up for you? She mentioned it, right?"

Now Sienna remembered. "That's tonight?"

"Yes! Get back here immediately!"

Chapter 8 His Back

Sienna hurried back to Silver Beach but didn't see Josiah. So, she figured she'd head to the bathroom first. But just as she opened the door, there he was—shirtless.

"Sienna Shaw!" Josiah's face darkened as he pulled on his shirt, his voice low and tense.

"Sorry!" Sienna quickly shut the door, her heart pounding. 'How was I supposed to know he was in there? And why's he using the bathroom on the first floor anyway?'

Inside the room, Josiah's face was thunderous, and he quickly looked over his shoulder. 'She didn't see anything, did she?'

Before long, Josiah emerged, now fully dressed. He pointed at a large box on the coffee table and said, "Go change into this."

Sienna figured there had to be a dress inside. The Flynn family was hosting this event for her, and they weren't the type to do things by halves. "Alright," she nodded, picking up the box.

A few moments later, Sienna stepped out wearing an almond-colored off-shoulder evening dress that flowed down to the floor. She had done a quick base makeup routine, lightly defined her eyebrows, and added some lipstick for the occasion.

Luckily, even though she was broke, for her job, she had some basic makeup supplies. Even with just a few light touches, her naturally striking features really shone through.

Josiah looked at her, narrowing his eyes instinctively. She was tall with tender skin, her long hair pulled back to reveal her delicate swan-like neck. She was breathtaking—beyond words.

For a moment, Josiah was taken aback. She had been cute, but now, in her early twenties, she had blossomed. She had swapped her girlish innocence for the charm of a sophisticated woman.

Josiah studied her and asked, "Did you see anything just now?"

"See what?" Sienna replied, genuinely confused—what was there to see?

It looked like she really didn't notice his back. Josiah turned and started walking. "Keep up."

*****

The welcome party was held at South Jeiacrity Nursing Home. Since Miranda wasn't well enough to travel, so having the gathering there was the most convenient option.

Luckily, she had a private room with a little patch of grass outside, which made it just right for a cozy family reunion.

The driver headed straight for the nursing home with Josiah and Sienna in the back. Sienna sat in silence, lost in her thoughts as she looked out the window.

Josiah was next to her, feeling a bit restless with the heavy silence. He remembered how Sienna had been around him, chattering non-stop. She always had so much to say, and it used to drive him nuts.

'Why so quiet all of a sudden? Is this some new tactic? Anyway, she's already signed the divorce agreement, and whatever games she might play, the divorce is a done deal,' he mused to himself.

When they arrived, Josiah led Sienna to see Miranda first. Unfortunately, the doctor was here to do Miranda's routine therapy session.

Miranda took Sienna's hand. "The therapy will take about half an hour. Why don't you catch up with everyone? It's been years."

"Alright," Sienna replied with a warm smile.

Still, Miranda felt uneasy. She glanced at Josiah and told him, "Stay with Sienna and keep an eye on her."

"Grandma," Josiah frowned, not pleased with the idea.

"What's going on?" Miranda's face grew serious. "I listened to you back then, so why can't you do the same for me?"

Four years ago, when Sienna was sent away, Miranda had heeded Josiah's wish not to keep Sienna around.

Josiah didn't have a comeback. As much as he wished things were different, he could only nod and say, "Alright."

"Great." Miranda sighed with relief, giving Sienna a reassuring pat on the hand. "Go ahead and follow Josiah. If you have any questions, just ask him."

"Okay," Sienna nodded, just as she had been doing since she arrived.

*****

Sienna trailed closely behind Josiah as they left the room and walked through the living room into the courtyard. She noticed many eyes on them and the whispers floating in the air.

"Hey, who's that with Mr. Flynn?"

"Is that Yvette?"

"Doesn't look like her. Yvette isn't that tall."

"Can't she wear high heels?"

Sienna couldn't help but smile to herself. She knew Yvette and Josiah were close, but mistaking her for Yvette was a stretch—they didn't look alike at all.

"Hello?" Josiah stopped to answer a call. "About the Donciral issue, here's the deal..."

It sounded like business, something Sienna didn't really understand or care about, so she just stood there quietly.

Suddenly, Josiah hurried ahead. Sienna tried to keep up, but he turned around with a frustrated look. "I have things to deal with. Stop following me," he said and walked off briskly.

Sienna stood there, a little dazed yet unfazed—it was usual for him to leave her behind. But for a moment, she was at a loss about what to do next.

She placed a hand on her stomach and rubbed it. She'd only had two slices of bread all day and was feeling a bit peckish now. So, she figured she'd go get something to eat.

Sienna wandered over to the buffet area, picked up a plate, and started filling it with food. It all looked delicious, and she hadn't tasted anything like this in four years.

Suddenly, someone gently tapped her on the shoulder. "Yvette!"

Sienna paused and turned to find Keyla Gibson, the daughter of the well-known Gibson family, someone who had been pretty keen on chasing after Josiah back in the day.

Back then, people used to say that if it weren't for Sienna, Keyla could have been the one to marry Josiah. So, Sienna and Keyla had been pretty much rivals.

"Hold on, you're not Yvette. You..." Keyla squinted, scrutinizing Sienna closely. Then, her expression shifted from confusion to realization. "Are you Sienna?"

Keyla's friends were all taken aback, and instantly, they turned to look.

"What? Sienna?"

"She was back?"

"Huh? Today's party is thrown by Miranda for Sienna. How did you miss that?"

"I had no idea! I just heard about a party and decided to stop by. Oh my! I can't believe Sienna is actually back."

The girls paused and exchanged disdainful looks.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have come. Being here for her return is just disgusting."

"Oh no! Sienna is back, and Jeiacrity is not going to be peaceful anymore."

Sienna ignored their chatter and focused on grabbing food. This chance was rare, and she was determined to make the most of it.

She picked up the tongs and reached for a tray of brownies, snatching one. Just then, another pair of tongs moved in, and she looked up to see it was Keyla.

"Oops." Keyla pulled back quickly, feigning a nervous smile. "You take it. I'm not really hungry anyway."

'Humph, like she's really giving it to me out of kindness. Same old fake act,' Sienna sneered inwardly. If it had been the past, she would've jumped at the chance to make a scene. But now...

"Thanks," she replied with a faint smile, placed the brownie on her plate, and then walked away.

Whispers trailed behind her.

"What's going on? She didn't argue with you."

"She's different now."

"Different? Come on, a leopard can't change its spots," Keyla scoffed, rolling her eyes. She gave Sienna's dress a scornful once-over, a smirk playing on her lips. "Just wait and see. This is going to be fun to watch."

Just then, Yvette made her appearance. She was sporting a flowy, almond-colored off-shoulder gown that grazed the floor. She was strolling arm-in-arm with Josiah, her face aglow with a brilliant smile.

Chapter 9 Pay Attention To Your Image

"Where did she go?" Josiah frowned, clearly agitated. Miranda just finished her therapy session, and dinner was about to start. He had only turned away for a second to take care of something, and suddenly, Sienna was gone.

"Don't worry," Yvette said with a gentle smile to ease his concern. "It's her first time here, so she's probably just a little lost."

Josiah scoffed, his voice dripping with irritation. "Doesn't she know to wait for me? What a trouble-maker."

"Okay, take it easy. I'll help you find her," Yvette said, suddenly stopping and pointing. "Hey, Josiah, is that her over there?"

Josiah looked over and nodded, "Yeah." Surprised, he added, "She looks different from before. You really have a keen eye to spot her so quickly."

"Of course," Yvette chuckled. "Women have a knack for picking up on details. Now, let's go. We can't keep Miranda waiting."

They walked over to Sienna, who had her cheeks puffed out with brownie, crumbs sprinkled around her lips. Spotting them coming, she hastily put her plate aside.

Josiah frowned in disapproval. "What's with your table manners? Our guests tonight are pretty important. Can you please pay more attention to your image?"

'Is he afraid I'll embarrass the Flynn family?' Sienna swallowed hard, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and nodded calmly without protest. "Got it."

Josiah felt like he was punching a pillow. 'What's with her attitude? In the past, she would have fought back by now, but now she's just so quiet.

It wasn't that he wanted her to argue, but seeing her look so wronged made him feel like he was the bully, which was uncomfortable. He frowned and asked, "Sienna, what's your act?"

"Did I do anything wrong?' Sienna blinked, looking puzzled—she'd followed everything he'd said.

"You..." Josiah was at a loss for words, feeling a sudden wave of frustration rising in him.

"Alright now." Yvette stepped in, trying to ease the tension. "Let's stop here. Miranda is waiting for us."

"Got it," Josiah said, trying to suppress his annoyance. He glanced at Sienna. "Just follow us. The party is starting."

"Okay." Sienna set down her utensils and stood up.

"Wait," Yvette suddenly called out, looking intently at her.

Sienna looked puzzled for a moment until it clicked—she and Yvette were wearing the exact same dress. No wonder Keyla and the others had mistaken her for Yvette.

The main issue right now was that, in a setting like this, wearing the same outfit was the biggest faux pas.

Then Josiah caught on too. Yvette had handpicked her dress, but Sienna's was chosen for her by Zach on Josiah's orders. Who'd have guessed they'd end up in matching outfits?

"Don't sweat it," Yvette said with a warm smile. "We just happened to wear the same thing. It's no big deal."

Josiah shook his head. "The Flynn family has enough gossip already. If you both show up dressed the same, by tonight, the whole city will be buzzing about the Flynn sisters-in-law secretly competing with each other."

Yvette paused to think before suggesting, "Should I go change? The thing is, I don't bring an extra dress, so I need my agent to send one over. I might not make it back in time to kick off the party with Miranda."

She reminded Josiah, "Please explain my delay to her," and then turned to leave.

"Wait!" Josiah held onto her. "You can't miss this. Have you forgotten your status?"

Yvette was one of the top classic performers in Jeiacrity and the wife of Howard, the eldest grandson of the Flynn family. If she missed tonight's event, the media would probably go wild with speculations tomorrow.

Yvette smiled casually, "It's fine. We didn't invite the mainstream media today."

Josiah still disagreed. "The internet is a big deal now. With just a phone, anyone can create news. It's better to be careful."

"You've got a point. What should we do then?" Yvette asked, looking troubled.

Josiah turned to Sienna, who had been quiet the whole time. After a moment of thought, he said coldly, "Go change your dress."

Sienna had seen this coming as she listened to their chat. She gave a slight smile and a nod, "Alright."

But she had to ask one thing. "If I ditch this outfit, what am I supposed to put on?"

Josiah finally realized that Sienna had shown up in a different outfit and didn't have a backup dress, not even a casual one. For a moment, he was stumped.

"How about this?" Yvette offered kindly. "I have some extra clothes in my trunk. If you don't mind, you can wear them for now."

'Wear her old clothes?' Sienna hesitated and didn't respond right away.

Josiah frowned, his tone neutral. "Are you not happy about it? Is it too much to ask you to wear Yvette's clothes?"

"No." Sienna shook her head. "Her clothes must be expensive, right? I'm just worried I might get them dirty or rip them." She had no money to cover it.

"Are you kidding me?" Josiah shot her a cold look. "Do you really think you'd have to pay for them? Even if so, it'd still be the Flynn family's money."

With that, Sienna stopped worrying and looked at Yvette. "Thanks, then."

"Oh, please. We're family—no need to be so formal," Yvette smiled, turning to let her agent fetch the clothes.

Meanwhile, Sienna went back to her room to wait.

Josiah squinted slightly at her retreating back. 'She seems different somehow. Is she just pretending, or is this the real deal?'

Since Miranda was waiting for them to get the party started, Josiah took Yvette over to Miranda first.

Miranda peered behind them. "Why are only you two here? Where's Sienna?"

"She..." Josiah hesitated, his brow furrowed.

Yvette quickly chimed in, bending down to clarify, "Sienna's not feeling well. She'll join us soon."

"Not feeling well? Is it serious?" Miranda frowned, concern creeping into her voice.

"It's nothing major," Yvette said with a soft smile. "Let's go ahead and start the meal. Everyone is waiting."

It wasn't right to keep guests waiting, so Miranda had to announce, "Sorry, everyone. Sienna's under the weather a bit. Let's give her some time to rest and we dig in first."

With Josiah and Yvette there, the party picked up, buzzing with energy.

When Sienna finally appeared in a different outfit, Miranda was taken aback. "Sienna, why are you dressed like that?"

Sienna's elegant formal dress was gone, replaced by a casual short skirt that highlighted her amazing legs. She stood out sharply among the other classy young ladies.

"I—" Sienna started to explain.

But Yvette quickly interrupted, "She accidentally spilled her drink on her dress, so I lent her one of my everyday outfits."

As she spoke, she winked at Sienna, signaling her to keep quiet about the spill.

Josiah caught Yvette's hint. He gently squeezed Sienna's arm and whispered in her ear, keeping his voice down so only she could hear him. "Listen to Yvette. You owe her."

Chapter 10 Where's His Sincerity?

Sienna paused. 'He's bringing up something from four years ago, isn't he? In his eyes, I'm just a terrible sinner.'

She smiled slightly and quietly pulled her arm away, deciding to meet their expectations. "Miranda, I really shouldn't have been careless."

Miranda frowned and let out a sigh. "How could you be so careless? How am I supposed to introduce you to everyone now?

"People might get the wrong idea and think the Flynn family is snubbing you or that you don't respect them. How are you going to build a connection with them in the future?"

She then turned to Josiah. "Don't you have a spare dress? Give it to Sienna. She can't wear this."

Before Josiah could say anything, Sienna smiled and said, "No worries. If it's a hassle, you don't have to introduce me."

Miranda looked surprised. "How can we skip that? This is a welcome party for you. We have to introduce you."

Josiah and Yvette were caught off guard as well, and they both turned to look at Sienna, their expressions puzzled.

Sienna ignored their looks and smiled at Miranda. "It's alright. Your kind gesture with the welcome party means a lot to me. Everything else is secondary."

"Well..." Miranda hesitated, looking like she had some reservations.

Sienna picked up on it and added, "We've got plenty of time. There'll be more opportunities down the line."

It looked like there was no other option. Miranda held Sienna's hand and gently patted it. "I'm so sorry for putting you in this position."

"Don't say that. I'm really not bothered." Sienna chuckled, pulling her hand back. "The guests are still waiting, so you should get back to them. I can't just stay dressed like this and keep you company."

"Okay." Miranda sighed helplessly and nodded. "Take care of yourself, and come chat with me later."

"Got it," Sienna smiled.

Yvette looped her arm through Miranda's, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't be down. Sienna's back now, and there'll be plenty of days for her to hang out with you. Tonight, let me be your company."

"Good girl," Miranda said, patting Yvette's hand. "I love you just as much. You're both wonderful kids."

They laughed and chatted as they walked away, with Josiah trailing behind them. After a couple of steps, he felt a strange urge to look back at Sienna.

From afar, he watched as she walked away slowly, her slim figure seeming lonely and forlorn. He couldn't help but wonder if he'd pushed things too far.

"Josiah?" Ahead, Yvette noticed he hadn't caught up and turned to look at him. She saw his gaze fixed on Sienna and pursed her lips. "Are you upset about what I said earlier?"

"No," Josiah replied, withdrawing his gaze and shaking his head. "You just didn't want Grandma to worry, and you handled it really well. I can't blame you for that."

Yvette smiled slightly. "As long as you understand me, that's what matters. Let's get going."

"Alright," Josiah nodded.

*****

Sienna's table was tucked away in a corner, surrounded by a few unfamiliar faces. But that was just what she needed—a little quiet.

However, things didn't go as planned. The girls were eyeing her outfit and whispering to each other.

"Who is she?"

"No idea. Can someone really show up at Miranda's party dressed like that?"

Sienna tuned them out and focused on her food. She still felt hungry after the appetizers.

'The soup is really good,' she thought to herself, setting her spoon down. Then she cradled the bowl with both hands and eagerly drank it down.

"Ew!"

"She's so rude!"

"Come on, let's go."

The girls walked off, clearly ticked off. Sienna gently set the bowl back down, a look of relief spreading across her face as the noise faded away.

Suddenly, someone pulled out the chair next to her. Confused, Sienna looked up and saw Josiah leaning on the table, slightly turned toward her.

'What's he doing here? Did I annoy him again?' she wondered, her voice barely above a whisper as she asked, "Do you need something?"

"Nothing." Josiah frowned as he glanced at the plate in front of her, which was now piled high with bones—he remembered she used to eat much less.

Josiah wasn't sure why he had come over; maybe it was guilt. He didn't really like Sienna, but fair was fair—this was a welcome party for her, and yet she hadn't shown up.

He cleared his throat before starting, "Well, tonight was a coincidence. Yvette is Howard's wife, and she's been struggling in the entertainment industry these past few years, so..."

He trailed off, but Sienna got the message—he was here to make amends. 'How interesting. Even with an apology, Mr. Flynn seems to be dragging his feet. Where's the genuine remorse in that?' she thought.

Unfazed, she offered a faint smile. "I know, I caught all of that just now."

Her calm demeanor made Josiah increasingly uncomfortable. He broke his usual rule and asked, "You're not upset, are you?"

Sienna was a bit surprised and found it amusing. But she figured there wasn't much point in engaging with him; they were practically strangers now. With a soft chuckle, she shook her head. "No. Didn't you say? I owe Yvette."

As Sienna genuinely didn't seem upset, Josiah nodded, "As long as you understand."

Seeing him still sitting there, Sienna was puzzled. "Aren't you leaving?"

Josiah was taken aback. 'Is she rushing me? The person who couldn't stand being apart from me every single day is actually pushing me to leave?'

"No rush," he replied. For some reason, he just didn't want to go. He glanced at the table and put a piece of king crab on her plate. "I remember you used to like this."

'Josiah actually remembers my favorite foods?' Sienna's eyes widened in surprise, and she said quickly, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Just dig in." Josiah raised an eyebrow and stood up. "Grandma and Yvette are still waiting for me, so I should head over." With that, he walked away.

Sienna watched him leave, a slight smile creeping onto her lips. Josiah's "apology" was just that—a piece of crab felt like a huge "favor."

"Tsk." She chuckled and shook her head, picking up the king crab and placing it on an empty plate next to her.

It wasn't that she was being difficult or refusing to eat what Josiah had given her. Sure, she used to love king crab, but that was in the past. People changed, and now she just didn't like it anymore.

The party was dull and tiring, but Sienna stayed until the end for Miranda's sake. The whole time, Yvette was right by Josiah's side—the spot that used to be Sienna's—chatting it up and seeing the guests off.

Sienna watched it all unfold and was cool with it. She saw it as a chance to return the favor for the five years of support Miranda had given her.

Once the last guest had cleared out, the party finally wrapped up. Miranda motioned for Sienna to join her in the room.

Miranda held Sienna's hand and sighed, "Tonight must have been tough for you. By the way, have you seen Howard since you've been back?"

Sienna paused, then shook her head honestly. "No, I haven't."

Miranda sighed again. "It's been four years. Howard used to care so much about you. You should find some time to visit him. Now that you're back, he should know."

"Okay," Sienna nodded, grateful that Miranda truly considered her family.

Miranda glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's getting late. I won't keep you. Go home early."

"Okay, goodnight, Miranda."

"Goodnight."

As Sienna stepped out of the room, she unexpectedly spotted Josiah, who seemed to be waiting for her. The moment he saw her, he turned and said, "Let's go."

"No need," Sienna instinctively refused. 'Shouldn't he be leaving with Yvette? I really don't want to get caught in the middle of that.'

Josiah's patience wore thin in an instant. "I said let's go. You came with me, and I can't just let you take off on your own. Plus..."

He glanced back toward the room. "If Grandma finds out we're leaving separately, she'll be upset."

"Come on! Quit messing around!" He reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Chapter 11 You Pushed Me Away?

"Let go!" The moment Sienna's skin brushed against Josiah's, she felt a shock and pulled away from him with all her strength.

"Sienna, did you just push me away?" Josiah froze for a second, staring at his arm with disbelief flickering in his eyes.

"I..." Sienna avoided his gaze, mumbling, "I can walk by myself. I'll just follow you."

"What?" Josiah raised an eyebrow, smirking coldly. "You don't want me to touch you?"

He stepped forward, his jaw tight as he bit out, "You think I want to touch you? If you weren't so wishy-washy, would I have even grabbed your arm? I don't have a problem touching you, but it looks like you do."

Sienna looked down, her lashes fluttering slightly, but she didn't respond.

Josiah scoffed, a cold laugh escaping him. He turned and started walking away. "Keep up."

"Okay." Sienna nodded, secretly relieved. Her reaction had been a bit much, but she just couldn't help it. When his hand had touched hers, it was like a snake slithering on her skin, which made her feel scared and queasy.

Josiah walked ahead, his tall frame putting distance between them. He glanced back, clearly annoyed. "Can you move a little faster?"

"Alright," Sienna nodded and started to jog.

Josiah halted, waiting for her, squinting slightly as he pondered, 'Sienna actually pushed me away. She used to be all over me, but now... She's indeed changed after those years overseas.

'That's good, exactly what I wanted. It seems sending her away was the right call. If she had been this mature back then, I might have been able to see her as a little sister—just like how Howard treated her.'

They walked in single file, and as they neared the garage, Josiah's phone rang. He stopped to take the call. "Hello, Yvette."

Sienna paused and stepped aside a bit to give him space.

She couldn't make out what Yvette was saying, but Josiah's expression turned serious. He urgently replied, "Stay there, don't move. I'm coming right away."

He hung up and looked back at Sienna, commanding, "Wait for me here." Then he dashed off.

"Hey." Sienna tried to call out to him but held back. Honestly, she wanted to tell him she didn't need a ride and he should just go deal with Yvette.

Now that he had asked her to wait, she figured she might as well do that. 'Josiah's temper has really changed, seeming worse than it was four years ago,' she thought.

*****

"Yvette!" Josiah rushed to the restroom. He had assumed she'd left with her assistant Janet, but to his surprise, she was still around.

"Josiah," Yvette called out, sitting on a bench outside the restroom with Janet. She waved and smiled as Josiah came closer.

Josiah strode over, concern on his face. "How are you? How did you hurt your foot?"

"I just twisted it a bit, not a big deal. I might've had one too many drinks tonight," Yvette said with a smile. "I came out of the stall, didn't see the stairs clearly, and missed a step."

"How can you say it's nothing?" Janet chimed in. "You're not being honest with Mr. Flynn. Your ankle is all swollen."

She bent down and lifted the hem of Yvette's dress. "Mr. Flynn, take a look."

Josiah noticed the swelling on Yvette's left ankle and frowned, his expression darkening. "You were hiding this from me?"

"It's my fault," Yvette replied, managing a slight smile. "I just didn't want you to worry."

"With you like this, I'm even more worried," Josiah said. Josiah said. Hesitantly, he asked, "Are you able to walk at all?"

"No way," Janet quickly answered for Yvette. "She tried to take a few steps, but it hurt too much. That's why I called you."

Josiah nodded, still frowning. "We need to get to the hospital," he said, bent down, and picked Yvette up while instructing Janet, "Go get the car."

"Sure thing, Mr. Flynn," Janet replied and dashed away.

Yvette leaned against Josiah's chest, pursing her lips. "Sorry for the trouble again."

"What are you saying?" Josiah frowned, annoyed. "Taking care of you is my responsibility."

"Got it." Yvette smiled gently and lowered her head.

*****

Sienna glanced at her phone. Twenty minutes had gone by, and Josiah still hadn't returned. She smiled and shook her head, confident that he wasn't coming back.

Josiah'd stood her up, but that was par for the course with him. He had a history of pulling stunts like this, and she'd grown accustomed to it.

Putting her phone away, Sienna decided to head out. There were no buses running this late, and a cab was out of her budget. But she wasn't bothered; she'd just walk home.

*****

Josiah took Yvette to the hospital, and the doctor found out her ankle was just sprained, nothing serious. A cast and some rest would fix it; no need to stay in the hospital. After that, he drove her back to the Flynn residence.

Yvette and Howard weren't officially married. But as she had been pregnant with his child, though she had lost it, the Flynn family had already embraced her as one of their own, treating her like Howard's wife.

For the past few years, she had been living in the Flynn residence. Miranda was getting on in years and couldn't handle all the household chores and errands at the Flynn place. So now, Yvette had taken over those responsibilities.

"Get some rest," Josiah said, helping Yvette into her room and onto the bed. "Good night."

Yvette nodded with a smile. After a moment, she called out to him, "Are you heading back to Silver Beach?"

Before Josiah could respond, she added with a hint of sadness, "It's the right thing to do. Sienna's back, and you should go be with her. If you stay out all night again, she'll probably start making a fuss."

Josiah scoffed, "What could she possibly fuss about? She's already signed the divorce agreement, and in no time we'll—"

Suddenly, he froze, a chilling realization dawning on him—he'd left Sienna at South Jeiacrity Nursing Home.

Frustrated, Josiah shut his eyes before glancing at his watch. Two hours had flown by, and he figured she couldn't be that naive to still be hanging around waiting for him.

Somehow, he couldn't shake the feeling of concern for Sienna. "Yvette, I gotta bounce," he said quickly. "Take it easy, and get some sleep, alright?"

"Hey, Josiah," Yvette tried to call after him, but he was already gone. She stared at the closed door, her heart racing.

'Did he just say Sienna had signed the divorce agreement? After four long years, are they finally getting divorced?' Yvette bit her lip, her brow furrowed as she lost herself in thought.

*****

Josiah dashed down the stairs and quickly found Sienna's number in his contacts. But when he called, he couldn't reach her—her phone was off.

He frowned but wasn't ready to give up. He tried calling again and again, but every time, it was the same disappointing result.