Chapter 15

The next morning, Sienna made Vivian a bowl of chicken stew. The familiar taste brought warmth to Vivian’s eyes.

“It’s the weekend, so you don’t have work, right?” Sienna asked.

Vivian nodded, “Right.”

“Good. We’re going back to the Hart’s residence,” Sienna said. “I’ve had it completely re-done. Your old room is gone. From now on, you’ll have the room next to mine. I even had them knock down the wall between them and put in a connecting door.”

Vivian’s heart swelled with warmth. Her sister knew everything. It was a good feeling.

Sienna had no intention of giving up the villa. It was their mother’s house, a symbol of their family. If her sisters didn’t like living there, she would tear it down and build a new one.

An image flashed in her mind: her mother in a red dress, her hair pinned up, pearl earrings catching the summer light. Her hand on Sienna’s head.

“Sienna, I want your life to be free, lived on your own terms,” said Selina as she rubbed Sienna’s hair. “You are meant to stand above everyone. You are the heiress I have chosen. Don’t disappoint me.”

“So, we’re going to live there from now on?” Vivian asked, a flicker of worry in her eyes. She was afraid of losing control again, of succumbing to her fears.

Sienna ruffled her hair, her voice gentle but firm. “Vivian, you have to remember this: running away never solves anything. You have to face the darkness to stop being afraid of it.”

Looking into Vivian’s eyes, she continued. “From this day forward, for every ounce of pain they inflicted on you, we will exact ten pounds of vengeance. For every grievance you suffered, I will make them pay a thousand times over.”

Vivian stared at Sienna, her eyes shining like stars, completely captivated. “I understand,” she nodded.

As they left the apartment to meet Lana, who had been waiting downstairs, a man suddenly ran towards them.

“I was wrong!” he wailed, collapsing before Vivian. “Miss Hart, please, let me go! I’ll never look at you like that again. I shouldn’t have said those things! It’s my fault, and I deserve to be punished!”

He started slapping himself, hard. Vivian stared in shock. It was the landlord, but he was a complete wreck now. She had no idea what had happened to him.

“Vivian, from now on, you’re the landlady of this entire building,” Sienna said, gesturing to Lana to bring over the deed. “Here’s the deed. It’s in your name.”

Vivian’s eyes went wide. She stared at her name on the document in disbelief. She tried to hand it back, stuttering, “Sienna… why did you buy this building? I can’t take this, it’s yours.”

Sienna feigned annoyance. “If you refuse one more time, I’m going to get angry.”

She knew Vivian had lived here for seven years. This place was her refuge. Sienna believed it was her second home, and she should be able to come back whenever she wanted.

Vivian quickly took the deed back, her eyes crinkling as a huge grin spread across her face. “Thank you, Sienna. You’re amazing!”

Sienna glanced down at the groveling landlord. “I know he’s been harassing you. I’ve already filed a police report, and they’ve opened a case. Vivian, all it takes is one word from you, and he goes to prison.”

Sienna didn’t look at Vivian. She wanted to see how her sister would react. Would she forgive this disgusting man, just as she had forgiven the girls who bullied her?

She didn’t mention that the landlord had harassed many other young women, all of whom had also filed reports. The man was going to jail one way or another.

Vivian clenched her fists, glaring at him. For years, he had harassed her, both openly and secretly. More than once, he had snuck into her room, trying to assault her.

The first time, she had been terrified, but she’d fought back, injuring him. She’d wanted to call the police, but he’d threatened her with eviction and lawsuits, knowing she had no money.

The constant verbal abuse and humiliation had once driven her to the brink of suicide. Later, she started sleeping with a knife by her bed. She’d cut him more than once, which had finally made him back off. Why should she let a monster like him go free?

“Fine,” said Vivian, her voice ringing with conviction, “I want him to go to jail. I want him to pay for what he did. I hate him. I hate him for what he did to me.”

Sienna nodded. “Good. He will go to jail.”

Watching the police led the landlord away, a single tear rolled down Vivian’s cheek.

She said, her voice firm. “Let’s go home.”

“Alright.” Sienna smiled. “Get in the car.”

Vivian slid into the car, watching curiously as Lana sat in the driver’s seat. Aside from Lana’s eyes, she didn’t look foreign at all. She had a striking, powerful presence, just like Sienna.

“Sienna,” Vivian asked, “Is she your assistant?”

Sienna nodded, “You can call her Lana.”

“Miss Vivian,” Lana said from the front seat. “I am Miss Sienna’s assistant. I am very grateful that she chose me. I’ve learned a great deal by her side.”

“Lana is a good person,” Sienna said. “If you ever need anything, you can talk to her.”

“Anything at all, Miss Vivian,” Lana added.

Vivian felt a surge of pride. Her sister was successful, powerful, and had such a capable assistant. She clutched the deed in her hand. It was a gift from her sister, and she would cherish it forever.

Meanwhile, back in the Hart’s residence, Linda and Aiden hadn’t slept a wink. The sound of construction had been relentless. Early the next morning, Madam Hart arrived, her mood already soured by the noise.

“Stop this racket! What is going on?” she shouted. “Don’t they see that I’m here? Who are these people? Linda, Aiden, get them out of here!”

But the workers wouldn’t listen to Linda or Aiden. When they’d tried to intervene, they’d nearly gotten their heads taken off by a sledgehammer. Madam Hart was furious. She never thought Sienna would be this outrageous.

“Just bear with it, Mom,” Aiden mumbled. “They’ll stop when they’re done.”

Madam Hart slammed her hand on the table, her whole body shaking with rage. “You said that brat was back! Where is she?”

She had already gotten the full story from Linda last night. To think Sienna would disregard her so completely, even daring to threaten to throw them all out.

“Sienna’s just a child, don’t be too angry. Even though she treated me so horribly last night, I’ve already forgiven her,” Linda said, playing the martyr. “They are Aiden’s daughters, after all. I’m the real outsider here.”

“Who dares call you an outsider? You are my rightful daughter-in-law!” said Madam Hart, taking Linda’s hand. “Linda, don’t worry, I will get justice for you. I’d like to see what she thinks she’s doing, causing such a commotion the moment she returns. Gone for ten years… who knows what she’s been up to.”

A cool, mocking voice drifted down from the stairs. “Which imperial palace did your family serve in, I wonder? All my life, I never knew my father’s ancestors were such esteemed court eunuchs.”