Chapter 3

Sienna had already dried her own hair and was leaning back against the headboard. Her expression was unreadable as she stared out the window, but when Vivian emerged from the bathroom, her gaze softened right away.

“Come here, Vivian,” she patted the spot beside her. “Let me dry your hair.”

Vivian wanted to refuse. Sienna had just come back, and she didn’t want to trouble her. But Sienna’s gentle, soothing voice drew her in before she could say no.

Before she knew it, she was sitting on the floor, leaning back with her head resting in Sienna’s lap as the warm air from the hairdryer surrounded her.

It felt… so safe, Vivian thought. Her eyes fluttered closed in contentment, but then snapped open again.

She was terrified this was all a dream, a beautiful, fragile fantasy she would wake from at any moment. She drank in the sight of Sienna’s face, her heart aching with a desperate question.

“Sienna,” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. “Are you going to leave again?”

Sienna’s hands paused for a moment. “No,” she said softly but firmly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She had made up her mind. From now on, wherever she went, she would bring her sisters along.

Hearing this, a pure, overwhelming joy blossomed in Vivian’s chest. Tears slipped down her cheeks, and Sienna reached down to wipe them away.

She knew Vivian must have suffered unimaginable pain in the years she was gone. She wouldn’t press her for details. Not yet.

The rest of her life would be free of suffering, Sienna vowed silently. Because she was here now.

“Alright, go get the hand cream from my suitcase,” she gently patted Vivian’s shoulder.

“Okay!” Vivian bounced up, grabbing a pink tube from the suitcase. She watched curiously as Sienna uncapped it.

“Here,” Sienna said. “Give me your hands.”

Vivian held them out, and the cool touch of the white lotion against her skin felt like a spark to her heart.

“You have to take care of yourself,” Sienna said gently as she rubbed the hand cream into Vivian’s hands. “That includes your hands, of course.”

Tears welled in Vivian’s eyes as she bit her lip, trying to hold them back. She couldn’t let herself cry again. She didn’t want to push Sienna away.

She just gave a faint nod, her throat closing up. The cream smelled lovely, a gentle blend of fruit, flowers, and a trace of tea that lingered without being too sweet.

“This smells amazing,” Vivian exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

Sienna smiled. “Just something I whipped up myself. If you like it, it’s yours. Use it every morning and night.”

Vivian’s face flushed. She shook her head quickly. “No, I couldn’t. It’s yours.”

Before she could finish, Sienna pinched her cheek again. “What’s mine is yours. Now, put it away and get some sleep.”

Vivian nodded, slipping under the covers and immediately plastering herself to Sienna’s side, clinging to her arm.

Just like when they were children, Sienna held her, patting her back gently until her breathing evened out.

It was the most peaceful night’s sleep Vivian had had in ten years, wrapped in her sister’s arms, just like old times.

Sienna was really home. She couldn’t be more happy.

“Sienna…” Vivian murmured in her sleep.

Sienna, her own eyes wide open in the darkness, gazed down at her. The carefully constructed dam around her own emotions finally broke, and a single, hot tear traced a path down her cheek.

Later that night, once she was sure Vivian was sound asleep, Sienna carefully slipped out of bed and stepped over to the window to dial a number.

“It’s me,” she said to the phone, her voice cool and clipped. “Lana, I need you to check on something. Pack a bag. You’re coming to Solara. I’ll be here for a while. Hand the company to the board.”

The next day, Vivian woke in a haze, a pleasant dream fading from her mind. Then reality crashed in, and she shot upright.

The other side of the bed was empty.

Was it all a dream? Had Sienna never really come back? She thought, disappointingly.

But then she caught the lingering floral scent on her hands, and her heart leaped with frantic hope.

She scrambled out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold floor. The clatter of cookware grew louder as she neared the kitchen.

She rounded the corner just in time to see Sienna, wearing an apron, carrying two steaming plates out of the kitchen.

“Already up?” Sienna asked, raising an eyebrow. “It’s only six. You should be sleeping in.”

Seeing her there–real, solid, and right in front of her–calmed the wild pounding in Vivian’s chest. She didn’t say a word, just stared at Sienna for a long moment.

“How many times have I told you? Don’t run around without shoes, you’ll catch a cold,” Sienna noticed her bare feet and immediately went into big-sister mode. “You’re not a child anymore. Go put on some socks and slippers, now.”

The familiar nagging was the warmest sound Vivian had ever heard. She sniffled, nodding vigorously. “Okay. I’ll go get them right now.”

“Slippers and socks, then wash up,” Sienna added. “Breakfast is almost ready.”

“Okay!” Vivian replied.

While abroad, Sienna’s adoptive parents had hired a renowned chef from Solara to cater to her tastes. She had learned a few breakfast recipes herself, dishes that were both delicious and nourishing.

Watching Vivian dig into the food the moment they sat down, Sienna figured it must have turned out all right.

“Slow down,” she said with a smile. “No one’s going to steal it from you.”

Vivian took a huge bite of the eggs. “But this is just so good!”

“Here,” Sienna passed her a napkin. “So, Vivian, are you working now?”

The light in Vivian’s eyes dimmed instantly. Her gaze shifted, a flicker of shame crossing her face, but she answered truthfully. “Yes. I work at a company called Dynastis.”

“Dynastis? Fine.” Sienna just ruffled her hair. “I’ll give you a ride there later.”

As the second daughter of the Hart family, Vivian could have lived a life of leisure, coasting on the inheritance their mother had left them, but Sienna didn’t ask why she was working.

There were so many questions, yet Sienna just held them back. She had already sent people to find the answers.

By the end of the day, she’d know everything. Her sisters might not say a word, but that didn’t mean she, as their older sister, would stay in the dark. And if she found out anyone had laid a hand on them, she would make them pray for a quick death.

“No, Sienna, you don’t have to!” Vivian protested. “You should rest. I can take the bus, it’s really fast.”

Sienna gave a wry smile. “Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?”

Vivian’s eyes went wide. She shook her head frantically. “No! Not at all! I would never think that! I just… I don’t want to trouble you.”

She looked down, ashamed. The truth is, she was afraid she would embarrass Sienna. At Dynastis, she was just… a nobody.

“I’m your sister. It’s never a trouble,” Sienna replied. As she spoke, her phone rang. She picked it up and stepped aside while Vivian continued her breakfast.

“It’s me,” she said firmly into the phone. After a brief pause, she finally added, “Good. Understood.”

When they went downstairs, the portly landlord was waiting, his face split in a sycophantic grin. He greeted them with an enthusiasm that was a world away from his venomous tirade the day before. His eyes, however, lingered disgustingly where they shouldn’t.

Sienna shot him a look so sharp and cold it could have cut glass. The man’s smile froze, and a flicker of fear entered his eyes. He quickly looked away.

I’ll deal with you later, Sienna thought, her eyes turning to ice.

She led Vivian outside the building. Parked beside the shabby apartment building was a crimson Rolls-Royce. Vivian couldn’t help but stare.

She didn’t know much about cars, but she knew this one was custom, and its price tag would have more commas than she could count. It was so out of place it was almost comical.

“Come on,” Sienna said, walking towards it. “Get in.”

“Huh?” Vivian blinked in surprise. Get in? She processed her words. The only other vehicle nearby was a shared bike. Was Sienna planning to pedal her to work?

Confused but obedient, she started walking toward the bike. Sienna sighed, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward the luxury car.

“This way. Get in,” said Sienna. “Or you’ll be late.”