Chapter 4

Vivian stared at the open car door, her mouth agape. She looked from the car to Sienna and back again, swallowing hard.

“Wait, Sienna,” she pointed a trembling finger. “Is this car yours?”

“Yes,” Sienna nodded. “If you like it, it’s yours. By the way, do you know how to drive?”

Vivian just shook her head, still trying to process it. One moment, Sienna owned a Rolls-Royce, and the next, she was offering to let her drive it. This was just too much.

Before her brain could fully process it, her body was already moving, sinking into the plush leather of the passenger seat. They’d been driving for a few minutes before the reality finally hit her.

“Sienna!” Vivian exclaimed, her voice buzzing with excitement. “This is really your car! Where did you get all this money? Oh, wait, that’s not what I meant. You’re incredible, of course you’d be successful!”

But this was beyond successful. She screamed inside. This car had to be worth a hundred or two hundred million, at least!

Sienna just smiled, the morning light catching the angles of her exquisite face. “You really think I’m that capable?”

“Of course!” Vivian declared proudly. “You are the most brilliant woman in the entire world! You’ve always been my idol.”

From a young age, Sienna had been a prodigy. She was always first in her class, with perfect scores in every subject. She’d been the top when applying for college.

And as for looks, she had been crowned the number one beauty in Vallaris. Their entire family was blessed with good genes; their mother and grandmother were both legendary beauties and scholars in their own right.

“You’re amazing too,” Sienna said quietly.

The simple words made Vivian freeze, her heart skipping a beat.

Me? Amazing? she wondered silently. But she had let Sienna down. She felt like a failure.

“You can just drop me off at the corner up ahead,” she said, her voice suddenly small. “My office is just a short walk from there.”

“Alright,” Sienna agreed, pulling the car over. A message notification lit up her phone. It was Lana, who had just arrived in Vallaris.

“What time do you get off? I’ll pick you up,” Sienna said, handing Vivian a sleek black business card. “Here’s my number. Take it.”

Vivian nodded, quickly adding the contact, labeling it simply: Sienna.

She walked toward her office, her heart light and happy. But then she spotted someone standing guard at the company entrance–Mason, dressed in a sharp blue suit. He kept glancing at his watch, his expression tight with impatience.

Vivian knew he was waiting for her, but she ignored him and walked straight past.

“Vivian!” Mason’s voice snapped as he saw her pass without so much as a glance. Anger flared inside him, but Vivian didn’t break her stride–she walked straight into the building.

Furious, Mason grabbed her arm, yanking her back. “Have I been too good to you? You dare ignore me?” he roared. “You think just because someone helped you last night, you can defy me?”

Vivian shook him off. “Mason, we’re broken up. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. Stay away from me.”

Mason was momentarily speechless. He took a breath, trying to regain control. “Look, I’m giving you one last chance. Apologize, come to the hospital with me right now, and I’ll still be your boyfriend.”

Vivian didn’t answer but let out a scornful laugh.

This was the man she once thought she loved. When she first met him, she’d been drawn to his seemingly endless kindness. He had been a light in her darkness, giving her the courage to live when she felt most helpless.

But in the end, he had wounded her again and again. The moment his precious Chloe Zalton so much as whimpered, it was always Vivian’s fault.

“Mason, you’re delusional. Starting today, I will never donate another drop of my blood to Chloe,” replied Vivian. “Get that through your head. Your family has always wanted to call off the engagement, right? Fine. Let’s do it. I don’t want the title of…”

Mason sneered. “Vivian, there’s a limit to these games. Did you really think a pathetic little trick like this would work on me? I have a gala tonight. Be there.”

With that, he turned and left, confident in his victory. He believed Vivian couldn’t break up with him. She loved him too much. How could she possibly want to end the engagement?

It was just a game of push and pull, he told himself. A way to get attention. All women were like that.

Vivian rolled her eyes. She brushed off the sleeve he had touched, her expression one of utter disgust. ‘Mason, how stupid was I to ever give you the impression that I couldn’t live without you?’ she sighed quietly, then headed back to her office.

Meanwhile, inside Vivian’s rented apartment, a glass shattered against the wall. Several documents lay scattered across the table. Standing before Sienna was a woman with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, dressed in a sharp black business suit.

“S-” the woman called out, but Sienna cut her off.

“I told you,” Sienna said, her voice dangerously low. “From now on, you will call me Miss Enna. And I don’t want my identity revealed. I trust you understand that.”

“Yes, Miss Enna. My apologies,” Lana Yost, Sienna’s assistant for years, replied quickly.

Sienna clenched her fist, eyes blazing with fury. ‘Aiden, how dare you treat Vivian like that?’ she muttered under her breath. ‘You’re dead. Just wait–tonight, I’ll make you wish you’d never been born.’

“Miss Enna, shall I acquire the Hart Corporation?” Lana chimed in. “It’s in chaos right now, and its development has stagnated. It would take half a month at most.”

Sienna waved her hand dismissively, her cool, indifferent eyes glinting like sharp ice. “Not yet. For now, buy up this entire block. And put this building in Vivian Hart’s name.”

“Yes, Miss Enna,” Lana replied. As she turned to leave, Sienna stopped her. “One more thing.”

Lana nodded, “Yes, Miss Enna?”

“Throw this out,” Sienna carefully wrapped the shards of broken glass in a handkerchief. “And buy me the same one.”

Lana was confused. The handkerchief alone was worth ten times more than the cheap glass. But she obeyed without question. Miss Enna always had her reasons.

Once she’d calmed down, Sienna picked up her phone and sent Vivian a message: [Are you tired? I’m bringing you a Silkstone Espresso.]

After getting Sienna’s text, Vivian left the building on time to meet her after work. She was usually the ever-compliant one, but this time she was the first to leave–much to her manager’s annoyance.

Silkstone Espresso was her favorite drink. Sitting inside Sienna’s car, she took the coffee cup and took a sip. A familiar ache, bittersweet and comforting, filled her chest. After Sienna had left, she had never again tasted her favorite drink.

Now she was back, and so was this small piece of happiness.

“Thanks, Sienna.” Vivian grinned, her pure, pretty face radiating joy.

Sienna reached out and brushed her bangs aside. The Harts were all stunning. Vivian had a delicate, beautiful face with the soft lines of an oval shape, gentle brow bones, and large eyes that shone with innocence.

But Sienna knew that Vivian was always too sensible, too used to swallowing her grievances and burying her pain.

“Let’s get you a conditioning treatment. Your hair is looking a little frizzy,” said Sienna. “Then we’ll go to the mall and buy you some new clothes.”

Vivian wanted to refuse, to say she didn’t have any money. But she couldn’t bring herself to spoil Sienna’s mood.

When had she–Vivian Hart, the second daughter of the family–become so timid? She didn’t even understand herself. Maybe it started the day she was thrown out of her home with nothing to her name.

As if sensing her hesitation, Sienna’s voice softened.

“Vivian, I know I was gone for ten years. I know you all suffered after I left,” she added. “But I promise you, from this day forward, you’ll never endure another injustice. So please, don’t treat me like a stranger, okay?”