Chapter 22

“Alright,” Sienna said, her voice tight. “Thank you.”

Hearing her formal tone, Jason’s face fell. “Enna... after all these years, does our friendship mean nothing to you? Every time you talk to me, it’s all polite and distant. Feels like I’m not even a friend to you anymore.”

Sienna looked at him, a complex mix of emotions in her eyes. They had known each other since they were children, grown up together. But a decade was a long time. The shy, awkward boy she remembered was now a confident, life-saving doctor.

“Jay,” she said, her voice softening.

“That’s better,” he said, his mood instantly lifting. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”

Vivian, waiting outside the office, peered through the glass, wringing her hands. Am I really that sick? she wondered, anxiety creeping in.

Seeing her anxiety, Sienna softened her expression when leaving the office, hiding any hint of concern.

“Alright, young lady,” Jason said, his voice cheerful and reassuring. “You’re perfectly healthy. Nothing to worry about.”

“Really?” Vivian’s eyes lit up with a fragile hope. “Are you sure? But sometimes I do things. I bit my sister.”

“You just get a little overwhelmed sometimes,” Jason said breezily. “It’s no big deal. You just need to learn to manage your emotions.”

“So I don’t need medication?” Vivian asked, half-convinced. She knew something was wrong with her. In the dead of night, she would often feel herself teetering on the edge of a complete breakdown, with only Mason as her lifeline.

Sienna put an arm around her. “No, Vivian,” she said gently. “You don’t. You are fine.”

Tears welled in Vivian’s eyes. “But I bit you. I…”

“That’s because you were having a panic attack,” Sienna explained patiently. “It was an understandable reaction. You have nothing to feel guilty about. The man who hurt you is in jail now. From now on, you won’t be triggered like that again. If someone mentions him now, would you still be…”

Vivian shook her head, the image of Sienna smashing the teapot over Kevin’s head flashing in her mind. “No,” she said, her voice firm. “No, Sienna, I’m not afraid anymore. I’m moving on.”

“Good,” Sienna said.

The next day, Vivian went to work as usual. Sienna had already known that she worked at Dynastis, a small company, but she was still confused. With Vivian’s grades, Sienna was sure she could have gotten a job anywhere.

Sienna decided to figure it out. She sent Lana a message to investigate before meeting up with her. “Lana,” she said, rubbing her temples. “Bring me the files.”

“Miss Enna, here you are,” Lana reported. “It appears someone has been deliberately sabotaging her career.”

Sienna’s eyes snapped open. She took the file. Vivian had graduated three years ago, paying her way through college with part-time jobs.

Her eyes fell on a name: Sophie Quinn.

“Sophie is the eldest daughter of the junior branch of the Quinn family,” Lana explained. “Three years ago, when Miss Vivian started dating Mason, Sophie was vehemently opposed. She demanded that Miss Vivian break up with him. When she refused, Sophie used her connections to blacklist Miss Vivian from every major company in the city.”

“Sophie Quinn,” Sienna murmured. “The name sounds familiar.”

The Quinns were a major player in Vallaris, but Mason’s branch of the family was less significant. Still, they had enough influence to make Vivian’s life difficult.

“I believe I have an unsigned contract with the main Quinn family,” Sienna said, a cold smile touching her lips. “Tell them I’m in Vallaris personally to oversee the deal.”

“Of course, Miss Enna. And regarding Miss Vivian’s company?” Lana asked.

“That little company threw my sister a lifeline when she was drowning,” Sienna said. “Acquire it.”

Lana nodded. That small, insignificant company had just won the lottery. “Yes. And one more thing. Ms. Lambert has been trying to contact you. She asks that you call her back when you have a moment.”

“I heard you,” Sienna said, waving her hand dismissively. “You may go.”

Lana nodded and left. Sienna stood at the window of her penthouse suite, a vision in a red silk dress, and looked out over the city of Vallaris.

Vivian returned to work a new woman. She was cheerful, optimistic, and full of energy.

“Vivian, you’re glowing!” a colleague teased. “Is there a wedding in your future?”