Chapter 171
Their argument inevitably disturbed the people inside. Sienna shot Reno a look, and she opened the door to find Winifred and Amber standing there.
Winifred had a nose for blood like no one else. The faint scent on Reno’s clothes was enough to set her off. She shoved past her and stormed into the room.
Reno was caught off guard. “Ms. Winifred Hart, you can’t just—”
But Winifred had already spotted Sienna getting dressed. She marched over, yanked up Sienna’s shirt, and saw the fresh bandages on her back.
“Winifred, how come you’re still up?” Sienna slipped on her jacket as if nothing was wrong, her expression showing no signs that she was injured at all.
“You got injured. When did this happen? Who did this to you?” Winifred’s voice was tight, her worry and concern spilling over.
“Who got injured? Sienna, you got injured?” Amber ducked under Reno’s arm, tossed her pillow on the bed, and rushed toward Sienna.
Winifred’s face turned stormy as she blocked Amber. “Don’t touch her, you clumsy idiot!”
“Hey!” Amber glared at Winifred, then turned to Sienna, her voice softening. “Oh, six.”
Sienna said calmly, “I’m fine, really. It’s just a little scratch. I’ll be good as new in a few days. Now, go back to bed. Amber, you’ve got school tomorrow.”
Amber sniffled. “Can’t I stay with you? I promise I’ll be really quiet. I can sleep on the couch, or even just crash on the floor if that’s okay.”
Winifred snapped, “She’s hurt, and you still want to bother her? Amber, do you even have a heart?”
“I just—” Amber mumbled, her voice trailing off. I really don’t want to leave Sienna, she thought to herself.
“Okay, I get it.” Amber quietly walked over, picked up her little pillow from the bed, and left the room, looking back at Sienna with every step, clearly reluctant to go.
“She’s so unruly. You should really send her to live at school—staying up late, probably sneaking around to play games…” Winifred didn’t even know why she blurted that out.
After she realized what she’d said, her expression turned a bit awkward.
“Amber’s still young,” Sienna said softly.
Before she could finish, Winifred cut her off. “She’s almost eighteen. How is that young?”
“Who hurt you?” Winifred pressed again, her voice steely. If someone had laid a hand on Siruna, she’d make them pay.
“It was just an accident. He won’t get another chance to hurt me,” Sienna replied, her tone calm and steady.
As soon as Sienna finished, Winifred stepped right up to her, her beautiful eyes burning with questions.
“You promised you wouldn’t leave again. Was that a lie?!” Winifred asked, her voice low and intense.
Sienna’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she subtly masked the flicker of emotion in her eyes. She stood up slowly. “Winifred, I wouldn’t lie to you—”
“Alright, it’s a deal. As long as you don’t lie to me, I’ll do anything you ask. Just don’t ever leave me alone. If anything happens, tell me. I can help you now, really,” Winifred said firmly.
Sienna felt as if her chest was stuffed with wet cotton, her throat tight with bitterness and sorrow. She forced down the ache, turned back to Winifred, and gave a faint smile—her icy, beautiful eyes seemed to speak for her.
“I will, Winifred. But can you promise me something too? Will you go back to school?” Sienna asked softly.
Sienna had learned about Winifred’s situation. She knew Winifred was expelled because someone deliberately targeted her. Winifred had created many works; she loved painting, loved art.
Sienna had looked closely at every painting of Winifred’s that had been destroyed, and from each one, she could feel all the emotion and effort Winifred had poured into them.
Winifred was stunned, not expecting Sienna to bring that up at all.
It had already been more than a year since she got expelled. Expelled… Maybe Sienna doesn’t even know about it, she thought, a bitter feeling rising within her.