Chapter 175

Sienna and Josiah locked eyes. For a few seconds, the only sound was the quiet fall of snow. Josiah's face was like a storm-brewing sky—dark and heavy. He said quietly, "You weren't with him all night, were you?"

Sienna began to explain, "Yes, but—"

Josiah interrupted, his eyes hardening. "You admit it?" He grabbed her chin, his face close to hers, and gave a cold smile. "You did this on purpose, didn't you? You gave Yvette the dress to skip the party and meet your ex. Am I right?"

Sienna was taken aback by his sudden anger. Cedric, witnessing the escalating situation, tried to interject. "Josiah, don't get the wrong idea. Sienna fell off her bike last night, and I just took her to the hospital…"

"Shut up," Josiah snapped, his eyes blazing. He grabbed Cedric by the collar. "And you, staying with my girlfriend? Are you looking for trouble?"

Before Cedric could respond, Josiah threw a punch. Cedric, still unsteady from his injury, fell hard, his face paling with pain.

"Cedric!" Sienna was frantic. Seeing Cedric injured, she felt like a curse—everyone kind to her seemed to get hurt. Without thinking, she knelt beside Cedric, looking up at Josiah. "Stop it. Cedric's telling the truth." She then threw herself at Josiah's legs, hugging them. "Cedric, get out of here. Go now."

Cedric hesitated, reluctant to leave. "What if he hurts you?"

"He won't," Sienna insisted urgently. "He's a jerk, but he wouldn't hit a girl. Just go. He won't touch me. Please, go before I make things worse."

With Sienna urging him and Cedric's driver arriving to help, they managed to get Cedric away.

Josiah chuckled, a bitter sound. He looked down at Sienna, who clung to him. "Sienna, you're my girl. What's this about? You with Cedric all night? What was that?" The thought of them together, hugging and kissing, felt like a knife twisting in his gut.

"Sienna, are you crazy? Treating me like this for Cedric? If he were reliable, you wouldn't have been set up by Xenia." His disappointment was heavy, despair flickering in his eyes.

Sienna's heart skipped a beat, frightened by his accusing gaze. She grabbed his arm. "Josiah, listen. I didn't cheat. I was at the hospital all night for observation."

"Really?" he said, unconvinced.

"Yes," Sienna nodded rapidly, as if trying to convince herself.

But Josiah remained skeptical. He picked her up and carried her to the car. "I don't believe you. You're coming with me."

The car door slammed, Sienna's heart sinking. Worried, she asked, "Where are we going?"

Josiah didn't answer, starting the car and speeding off. Sienna looked out the window, confused—they were heading to Silver Beach. Despite the early hour, the clear snowy roads allowed them to arrive quickly. He slammed on the brakes so hard, the tires sparked on the pavement.

Sienna sensed Josiah's darkening mood and felt fear. She unbuckled her seatbelt to speak, but before she could, he pushed her back into the seat, reclining it until she was lying flat. He loomed over her.

"What are you doing?" Sienna's eyes widened in fear.

"I can't wait," Josiah said, reaching for her neck. "You said you and Cedric were over, right? Let me see for myself. Right now."

Sienna was shocked. She understood his implication. She shook her head and pushed against his chest. "No, don't. Get up. I don't want this."

"You don't want to?" Josiah's eyes were red with jealousy. "Why not? We've been together before. So, you met your ex-boyfriend, and now you're acting all high and mighty? Did you two get close last night? That's why I can't touch you now? Are you saving yourself for him?!"

Sienna's face paled with anger, her body trembling. She slapped him. "What are you talking about? Josiah, you're such a jerk."

"I'm the jerk?" Josiah absorbed the slap, but his anger intensified. "Yeah, I'm the jerk. To you, I'm not as good as Cedric."

"Yes," Sienna growled, her eyes blazing. "Cedric is better than you. He's a gentleman, honest and good. You can't compare to him. You're not worthy."

Josiah raised his fist, but he held it in the air, clenching it tight. He let out a dark laugh. "Yeah, I'm not worthy. I'm not as good as Cedric, but guess what? You're mine now."

He leaned down and kissed her, a rough, forceful kiss. Sienna winced. He was biting her, causing real pain. She tried to push him away in the cramped car, but she wasn't strong enough.

"Let go…" she mumbled, but he ignored her. The pain was intense, unlike anything she'd experienced before. Flashbacks of bad memories surfaced.

Sienna closed her eyes, too exhausted to fight. Josiah kept murmuring her name, running his fingers through her hair, his possessiveness evident. "You're mine; you're mine."

Chapter 176