Chapter 221

Sienna considered Joyce far more important, but she couldn't voice this. "Where are you?" she asked, pressing her lips together to calm herself. "Can we meet and talk, please?"

Josiah let out a self-deprecating laugh, answering sarcastically. "What do you think?" They'd agreed he would pick her up from the Lightning Dance.

"I see," Sienna replied, frowning. "I'll come right away; please wait for me."

Josiah didn't respond. After the call ended, Sienna hurried to the dance. She quickly spotted his car, rushed over, opened the unlocked passenger door, and slid inside.

The car's warmth enveloped her. She took a moment to breathe, considering how to navigate the evening.

"Where have you been? What was so important?" Josiah demanded, his gaze intense.

His frown deepened, his eyes darkening with anger. "Is that all your explanation?"

Sienna hesitated, offering a vague reason. "My roommate needed help."

"This is your excuse?" Josiah's confusion turned to shock. "Sienna, I waited all night, and you canceled on me for some roommate?"

"Yes," Sienna admitted, looking down. It was her fault, but she didn't want to escalate the situation. "Josiah, I'm sorry. It was wrong of me…"

"What was it really about?" Josiah interrupted sharply. "What could be so important that you'd ditch our date and ignore my calls?" Sienna looked away. "It's not convenient to explain."

Anger surged through Josiah as he grasped her shoulders. "Our date fell apart, and you can't even give me a straight answer? Do you have any idea what I went through?" He felt torn between concern for her safety and frustration with her dismissive attitude. He'd suffered for her sake, and now couldn't get a clear explanation.

"Sienna, I am your boyfriend! Don't you care about me at all? Don't you think about my feelings?" His disappointment and frustration were evident.

All Sienna could manage was, "I'm sorry; it was my fault." Josiah didn't want an apology; her words felt insincere.

A cold smile touched his lips as hopelessness washed over him. "Do what you want." He released her, gripping the steering wheel as he started the car.

"Are you still coming with me?" he asked.

Sienna quickly nodded. "Of course." Seeing his serious face, she realized his anger. During the ride, Josiah remained silent, as if she didn't exist. At Silver Beach, he went straight upstairs.

Sienna sighed and followed. He didn't go to the master bedroom, but to the study. Reluctantly, she followed and knocked. "Josiah?" There was no answer.

She knocked again. "Josiah, I was wrong; please open the door. Don't shut yourself away." Still no response.

Inside, Josiah stood by the liquor cabinet. He uncorked a whiskey bottle, found a pack of cigarettes, and lit one. He thought, "She didn't care, so why should I stop drinking and smoking for her?"

Suddenly, Josiah paused. Complete silence outside. He pondered. "She left after such a short time? Did she have so little patience?"

"Sienna…" Josiah's breathing grew heavy. He loosened his tie, raised the bottle, and took a long drink. The room remained quiet. Josiah slumped onto the sofa, his head pounding.

He scoffed, thinking of her ingratitude. "What is Sienna doing? She couldn't have fallen asleep already, could she? A thankless little vixen! I've been so good to her…"

Suddenly, he heard a key turning in the lock, repeatedly. The door swung open.

"This is it!" Sienna whispered, pushing the door open. The strong smell of alcohol and smoke hit her immediately. "What are you doing?"

She saw alcohol bottles and an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts. "How much did he drink? And why has he gone back to smoking and drinking?" she wondered.

Frowning, Sienna opened the curtains and window for fresh air. Josiah was still surrounded by smoke. Feeling frustrated, she walked to him, took the cigarette from his hand, and extinguished it.

Josiah frowned but didn't speak. Meeting his eyes, Sienna pressed on. "Are you planning to live on cigarettes and alcohol? Don't you care about your health?"

Josiah found her concern amusing. "Oh, what's this? You're worried about me!"

"Yes," Sienna replied firmly.

Josiah laughed. "How funny—when did you start caring about me? You don't even think I exist."

Suddenly, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. "Sienna, tell me, do you like me? Do you like me or not?"

Sienna was caught off guard. How am I supposed to answer? she thought. She sensed he hoped for a "yes," but her lips felt sealed.

"Tell me!" His hand caressed her waist, but he felt her stiffen and her eyes turn away.

Josiah's heart sank. "I get it—you don't like me." The realization hit him hard. He sighed. "From the very start, I pushed this on you; you never wanted to be with me. It was all my fault."

He let her go. "Leave; I won't force you anymore."