Chapter 7

“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. 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, and soon finished it.

She then opened the window and cleaned the kitchen. Once done, she lay down on the living room couch, planning to stay 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 provoke Josiah’s complaints. Tomorrow, she’d start looking for a place of her own.

The next morning, Sienna woke early, well before Josiah came downstairs. She needed to find a job and a new place to live—quickly. The previous night, she had mapped out her route. As soon as he left, she headed for the bus stop, transferring to the subway.

She was on her way to Maze, an entertainment hotspot in Jeiacity. Her major was modern dance, and she was there to apply as a dancer. Everyone in Jeiacity knew Maze was a flashy place where wealthy people spent lavishly. But Sienna felt no shame. She was there to earn a living, selling her skills, nothing shady.

When Sienna arrived at Maze, she found the manager, Henry White, as Hannah had instructed. Since it was daytime and Maze wasn’t yet open, she quickly met him.

“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 hadn’t expected it to go so 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 went to voicemail, but a moment later, her phone vibrated—Hannah was returning the call.

“Seriously…” Sienna said with a smile. “Why do you always do that?”

Hannah laughed. “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. “I know, Hannah, thank you. And thanks for the job too.”

“You made it?” Hannah paused before laughing joyfully. “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. Soon, they ended the call.

Then Sienna set out to find a place to live. She checked out several apartments, but none felt right. The ones she liked were too expensive, and the cheaper ones worried her.

Just as she was about to move on, her phone rang—it was Miranda. Sienna answered.

“Miranda?”

“Sienna, where are you?” Miranda asked.

Sienna glanced at the bustling surroundings. “Just taking a walk. Jeiacity has changed a lot.”

Miranda chuckled. “Take your time. Now that you’re back, just explore—you’ll get used to it in no time.”

Suddenly, she said, “You’ve been away from Jeiacity for four years. I’m planning a welcome party for you!”

“Huh?” Sienna was taken aback. “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 smirked—technically, Josiah was still single. “It’s really not necessary,” she refused again.

Miranda 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 do that party.” She figured making an appearance was the least she could do for Miranda.

“That’s my girl,” Miranda said, beaming. “I’ll get everything set up for you.”

“Thanks, Miranda,” Sienna said. After ending the call, she sighed, her enthusiasm for apartment hunting fading. With the day winding down, she decided to head back to Silver Beach.

Once she got off the bus, she bought some bread at a nearby supermarket—Josiah wouldn’t let her use the stove. She felt bummed there wasn’t a closer market with cheaper rolls.

Back at Silver Beach, Sienna ate the bread with water and stored the rest in the fridge, enough for a few meals. Then, she changed into her practice clothes and began dancing. As a dancer, she couldn’t afford to miss a day of practice—one minute on stage took years of off-stage practice.

That night, Josiah didn’t come home, and Sienna was unconcerned. 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 rolled his eyes, his voice irritated. “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 acknowledged the naivety that had clouded her judgment.

A sleepless night passed, and the next day, Sienna searched for a house. She browsed countless listings online, checking each carefully. After a long day, she finally found one she liked.

Just as she was about to call the agent, her phone rang—it was Josiah. Sienna remained 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 surprised. Instead of answering, she shot back, “What’s up?”

“You’re seriously asking me?” Josiah replied sarcastically. “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!”