Chapter 208

Sienna dreamt fitfully throughout the night. Waking, she felt foggy-headed and her eyes were puffy. She opened them to find her daughter, Joyce, nestled in her arms.

"Sweetheart," she murmured, kissing Joyce's head. Her phone buzzed; a message from Josiah: "Good morning, darling. Tim's heading to the office. I'll pick you up tonight at Lightning Dance."

Sienna rolled her eyes dramatically and switched off her phone without replying.

Arriving at Lightning Dance early, Rosie greeted her with an enthusiastic hug. "Hi, Sienna!"

"Hi, Rosie," Sienna replied, hugging her back tightly. "You're okay! That's such a relief."

"Yes," Rosie said with a bright smile. "I'm back at full strength now. Oh, by the way…" She then revealed that Lightning Dance would be suspending performances that weekend.

"What?" Sienna was stunned. "Stop performing? Why? How did you hear that?" She had been preoccupied with upcoming shows.

Rosie smirked, shrugging. "Didn't you check the bulletin board? It's a decision from upper management. Apparently, it was Ms. Scott's idea." Ms. Scott, of course, was Brenda.

The recent incident had significantly impacted Lightning Dance. Many performers were injured, and those like Sienna, carrying the weight of multiple routines, were exhausted. The company was stretched thin, leaving everyone drained. Management decided to pause performances to allow for recuperation.

At that moment, both Sienna and Rosie's phones buzzed simultaneously—a message in the company group chat announcing the performance suspension and outlining the next phase of work. The pause wasn't a full vacation; everyone still had assigned tasks.

Sienna carefully reviewed her assignment: supervising student practice sessions. Since the students were in school, this would only require a short period each day—a welcome respite from her usual workload.

Rosie chuckled. "You've earned it. Take a good rest. You've been pushing yourself so hard lately."

"True," Sienna admitted, smiling as they exchanged a knowing look. She then headed to the students' class.

Around noon, a security guard approached. "Sienna, someone's here to see you."

"Alright, thank you," Sienna replied, leaving the practice room. She wondered who would be seeking her out. Could it be Josiah?

She reached the lobby and spotted a familiar figure near the bulletin board. A wave of unease washed over her; her heart sank, and she let out a barely audible gasp. She turned to leave.

Chapter 208 (continued)

"Hi, Sienna!" Unexpectedly, Larry turned, catching her retreat. He hurried towards her, grabbing her arm. "Sienna, why are you walking away!"

"Let go!" Sienna snapped, yanking her arm free and glancing around. She gritted her teeth. "What are you doing here?"

Larry offered a sheepish smile, pointing to a poster of Sienna dancing. "You're incredible now. Your mom and grandmother would be so proud of you."

"Shut up," Sienna glared, her eyes blazing with anger. "How dare you mention them? Aren't you afraid they'll come back to haunt you?"

"Is that so?" Larry chuckled bitterly. "I wish they would." He added, "But all these years, your mother hasn't come looking for me. Not even once."

Sienna froze, utterly baffled. "What are you talking about? Why are you here? Spit it out and get lost."

Larry glanced nervously around, lowering his voice. "This isn't the right place. Can we find somewhere private to talk?" Sienna hesitated; this was her workplace, and she didn't want her personal matters becoming public gossip. She sighed, resigning herself. "Fine."

Larry's face brightened. "Okay, let's go."

He led her to a nearby café. "Would you like something to drink?" he asked cautiously.

"No need," Sienna's tone was sharp. "We're not here for a coffee date. Say what you came to say."

Larry hesitated, taking a long sip of lemon water. His unease was palpable. "Well… it's about the house on Welton Road. Do you remember it?"

Sienna's brows furrowed. She remembered it vaguely—her first home. "Why are you asking about this?"

Larry hesitated, his eyes reddening. "It's… it's about your brother."

Sienna stiffened. "Don't you dare. My mother only had one child, me. I don't have a brother."

Larry gave an awkward, apologetic smile. "Oh, yes, Conner. I meant Conner. Something's happened to him…" He covered his eyes, his voice choked with emotion.

Sienna's thoughts raced. What bad news could this be? Impatient with Larry's tearful demeanor, she urged, "What are you trying to say? Did you come here just to let me watch you cry?"

"No, it's not that," Larry wiped his eyes, adjusting his glasses. "Two days ago… the doctors say he's suffered acute liver failure… he's in critical condition."

Sienna was silent for a moment, then a bitter smile touched her lips. "So, Conner's dying. Congratulations, Larry. You finally got your wish."

Larry's eyes were bloodshot with desperation. "Sienna, no matter how much you hate me, Conner doesn't deserve this. He's…"

"Innocent?" Sienna interrupted, her voice dripping with mockery. "Fine, let's say he is. But tell me, what does his dying have to do with me?"

Chapter 208 (continued)

Larry's face paled. "The doctors said Conner needs a liver transplant. If we act quickly, he'll survive."

Sienna stared, disbelief freezing her. A cold sensation spread through her, making her tremble.

She forced out the words, her voice low and icy. "Don't tell me… you expect me to donate part of my liver to him."

Larry leaned forward urgently, grabbing her arm. "Your blood type matches Conner's, and you're his sister, his immediate family. You're the perfect donor."

Sienna stared, wide-eyed, as a wave of dread crashed over her. Her skin prickled with goosebumps. Why does it feel so cold all of a sudden? she thought numbly.