Chapter 5

Three years flew by in the blink of an eye. At Jeiacrity International Airport, Sienna pushed her luggage, exiting the security area. Her face was fresh and makeup-free; her lively eyes scanned the bustling surroundings, reflecting a calmness 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, surprise flickering across his face.

“Yep.” Sienna nodded, smiling gently. She knew she looked quite different from four years ago; she’d lost weight and even grown taller, thanks to a second growth spurt.

After a brief moment of surprise, Zaid smiled warmly. “You’ve become even more beautiful.”

“You’re flattering me, Zaid,” Sienna laughed.

“Come on, hop in the car,” Zaid said, guiding her out of the airport. “The car’s right by the entrance. Miranda’s been looking forward to seeing you. She’s missed you terribly.”

Once outside, Sienna climbed into the car. As they drove, she realized the Flynn family had only sent Zaid—Josiah hadn’t shown up.

Eventually, the car pulled up to the South Jeiacrity Nursing Home. Miranda was dealing with heart disease and was scheduled for heart surgery. Sienna had been summoned because the surgery was risky, and Miranda, worried something might happen, wanted to see her beforehand.

As they reached the hospital room door, Miranda’s voice called out, “Are they here yet? Why so slow?” Zaid stepped forward and knocked lightly.

“Come on in!” Miranda called, her voice brimming with excitement.

“Ms. Shaw, please,” Zaid said, moving aside to let Sienna enter.

“Okay,” Sienna nodded and pushed the door open.

“Sienna?” Miranda squinted, trying to make out the figure in the doorway. She thought it was Sienna but wasn't entirely sure.

“Miranda.” Sienna strode over.

“It’s really you!” Miranda’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly reached out. “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 continued, “Josiah didn’t want me to stay in touch with you. He believed you needed to learn independence. 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.”

Chapter 3

Seeing Sienna so well-behaved, Miranda felt even more relieved. She gently released 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 a 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. “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 decided it was time for 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 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 returned to this place. But what could she do? She was broke. Having just returned to Jeiacrity, Sienna hadn’t found a place to stay. A hotel 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 meant mostly dealing with Josiah’s disdain. But so what? She was used to it. Over the years, she’d developed a tough skin.

Entering the hallway, Sienna placed her suitcase in the corner. She took out her toiletries and the clothes she planned to change into, leaving the rest untouched. She wasn’t planning a long stay—just a few days until she found another place, then she’d move out without fuss. Sienna headed to the downstairs guest bathroom and took a shower, washing away the dust and exhaustion from her trip.

As the sky slowly darkened, Josiah still hadn’t returned. Sienna went into the kitchen, but it looked untouched, lacking ingredients. After searching, she found an almost-expired pack of pasta and a few eggs in the fridge.

She boiled some water and prepared the pasta. In the end, she made a simple noodle soup with a poached egg, lacking any garnish.

“Mmm, smells so good,” Sienna murmured, holding the bowl and closing her eyes, taking a deep breath. Simple, clean food was delicious to her.

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