Chapter 143
All the signs were there—Shirley knew Ethan was off-limits, but she still insisted on getting close to him.
“Sorry, but I can’t accept your apology. Right now, I’m standing here as a friend of the person at the center of all this. Miss Dalton, I don’t think I need to say much more—your actions are utterly disgraceful.”
“If Ethan were single, I wouldn’t care what you did. But he’s not. He’s still my best friend’s husband. By clinging to this position as the other woman, you’re subjecting my friend to endless gossip and rumors.”
Hearing the word “other woman” set Shirley off instantly. She snapped, “I’m not the other woman!”
Sienna continued. “But everyone thinks you are. All you see are the people online calling Nora a shrew, saying she’s jealous, and that Mr. Preston doesn’t love her but loves you instead. Doesn’t that just confirm your position as the other woman?”
“Maybe you haven’t realized it yet, but when a married man says he loves another woman, what do you call that woman? A mistress? Or, as you’d probably hate to hear, the other woman?”
Shirley trembled all over, the overwhelming sense of humiliation making her legs weak. She bit her lip so hard it almost bled, “Sienna Hart! Who are you to judge me? This is my own business!”
Sienna’s face stayed perfectly calm as she replied, her tone commanding. “Whether it’s your business or not depends on me. If I say it’s your problem, then it is. If I say it’s mine, then it’s mine. Understand?”
Shirley felt a suffocating pressure crash down on her, making it almost impossible to breathe.
Sienna’s tone suddenly shifted to a more neutral one. “Miss Dalton, you’re a rare talent. You graduated with top honors, won three international awards, and even have your own signature work."
“Why add a stain to your exceptional life? You should be making your life even more brilliant, not dragging it down, don’t you think?”
With that, Sienna turned and walked away, leaving Shirley standing there, frozen, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
Sienna’s words stunned her. It felt as though something deep inside her had suddenly disappeared, leaving her with a sense of emptiness. By the time Shirley snapped out of it and looked up, Sienna had already vanished.
“Hello, Miss Sienna. My name is Connor Dalton—I’m Shirley’s older brother. If Shirley has done anything to offend you, please accept my apology on her behalf,” Connor said.
Sienna looked at the man before her. His face was slightly pale, but he had a gentle demeanor. “Mr. Dalton..."
“Miss Sienna, I know my sister has interfered in someone else’s marriage, and I won’t try to defend her. I heard everything you said just now, and I appreciate your advice. I just have one small request—if you ever plan to do anything to my sister, please give me a heads-up first. I’ll handle it myself,” Connor added.
Connor only had this one little sister. She had always been the pride of the family, but when it came to love, she just couldn’t seem to get it right.
Sienna replied, “Mr. Dalton, you’re overthinking things. What I said earlier was just off the cuff. You’re a good brother, but if you keep letting her get away with things, you’re just helping her make more mistakes. Anyway, I’ll take my leave.”
Connor watched her walk away and could only shake his head with a wry smile. Just one sentence from her, and she’d laid his whole plan bare.
“Let go of me, Ethan Preston! I said let go! Are you deaf or something! I’ve told you a million times already…” Nora tried to walk away, but Ethan clung to her leg shamelessly, refusing to let go. This only made Nora feel disgusted.
“Nora, I’m not going to divorce you. I want to make things right. Please, don’t leave me, okay?” Ethan asked.
Nora said with a look of utter disdain, “Weren’t you the one begging for a divorce? Isn’t it enough that I’m giving you what you want! You’re seriously making me sick right now.”
Ethan felt like his heart was being torn apart—he regretted the harsh words he had once said to her. They used to be so in love.
“Nora, I’ll take any terms you give me, as long as you–" Ethan yelped as he was suddenly cut off.
Before Ethan could finish, someone yanked his arms, landed a solid kick to his stomach, and sent him rumbling into the pool with a huge splash.
Sienna took the white shawl from Lana and draped it over Nora’s shoulders. “Come on, let’s get you home!”