Chapter 78

The butler froze for a moment, then composed himself, his face flushing with embarrassment as he turned to leave and call for help.

‘Seriously? Just trying to cozy up to the Preston family? Pffi, who does she think she is?’ he thought. He’d seen plenty like that before.

Hearing that Nora had come home drunk again, Ethan Preston ran his fingers through his hair, took off his glasses and set them on the table, then stood up abruptly and marched to the door.

Without even glancing at who it was, he snapped, “Hand her over. Give her some money and send her away.”

Sienna pulled Nora protectively closer, her eyes glinting with murderous intent.

With just a glance from Sienna, Lana instantly understood. She stepped forward and delivered a sharp slap across Ethan’s face.

Ethan never expected a woman could hit so hard. His whole face was stinging. He was completely blindsided; he never imagined Lana would just rush up and slap him out of nowhere.

“You’re dead–” The word froze on his lips as he recognized Sienna. His pupils dilated violently, and he stared at her in utter disbelief.

The butler roared, “Who the hell are you? How dare you lay hands on Mr. Preston?”

“Enough. Dismissed,” Ethan snapped.

The butler didn’t dare disobey and obediently withdrew.

Ethan fixed his gaze on her, his voice trembling. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating, and only after confirming it was real did he finally manage to speak, “Sienna? Is that really you?”

Sienna tightened her hold on Nora and swept past Ethan without so much as a glance. Ignoring the burning red slap mark on his face, Ethan, his heart pounding with unease, hurried after them. “Let me. I’ll take Nora to her room.”

Ethan reached out to take Nora from her arms, but Sienna didn’t even glance at him. Turning to Lana, she commanded, “Lana, take her upstairs to rest.”

“Yes, Miss Sienna,” Lana responded promptly.

Ethan motioned for a servant to lead the way, then poured Sienna a cup of coffee. “Enna, it’s really you. We all thought you were… When did you return?”

Sienna lifted her gaze to meet Ethan’s eyes directly. The boyish youth had completely faded from him, now exuding mature vigor, his broad frame radiating an elite nobility that Nora had often described.

Yet the faint but unmistakable aloofness in his piercing stare lent his presence an icy edge.

“Ethan, answer me this. Do you want a broken family or a happy home?” said Sienna.

Ethan froze momentarily before lighting a cigarette. His eyes grew deep and unreadable, and when he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse, laced with resignation. “Enna, you don’t understand. There’s no going back for us.”

Sienna cut him off decisively, “Enough. I understand.”

Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he hesitated, unsure what to say. After a moment, he spoke hoarsely, “Enna, I know I failed her. But if you were in my shoes, you’d break too. Nora is not the girl I used to know anymore.

“If I could, I’d want nothing more than to make things right between us. Enna, I’m hurting, and so is she. Instead of torturing each other, maybe it’s better if we both just let go and find our peace.”

Sienna sneered, “Save your pathetic excuses for cheating, Ethan. Nora gave you everything, and you stabbed her in the back. Look at you now–so high and mighty.

“Have you already forgotten that stormy night, when a girl risked her life to secure your position, taking your place in the doomed car?”

Ethan felt something inside him collapse, sending ripples through his entire being. He opened his mouth to say more, but Sienna was already on her feet, striding out without a backward glance.

Ethan hesitated, then offered, “Let me walk you out.”

Sienna said coldly, “Save it, Ethan. This isn’t torment. It’s your guilty conscience. I’m not involved.

“But from now on, if you ever make her shed another tear, I’ll take a pound of your flesh. Count on it. Tonight is just the beginning.”

Sienna’s icy gaze suddenly blazed with murderous intent. Without hesitation, she swung the glass vase at Ethan’s head. Blood instantly gushed from the wound.

The butler and servants gasped in shock. Ethan raised his hand, his voice cold and commanding. “Dismissed.”

Ethan hung his head. Only when he heard the click of Sienna’s heels did he slowly look up, watching her retreating figure.

Seated in the car, Sienna radiated a palpable aura of dark resentment so intense that Lana could feel its oppressive weight.

Lana said respectfully, “Miss Enna, I’ll hand over all the information about Miss Sinclair from the past few years to you tomorrow morning.”

Sienna gave a curt nod. “Okay,” she replied.

Sienna gazed out the window, lost in thought. In her mind’s eye, she saw the vivacious girl who had once been, lying pale in a hospital bed, her radiance faded.

When Nora noticed Sienna, she managed to summon a faint smile. “Enna, Ethan’s elder brother was imprisoned. Now, no one will threaten his position. He’s the sole heir of the Preston family.”

Battered and bruised all over, Nora looked happier than ever.

At seventeen, when most girls cared only about their looks, Nora’s back was marred with scars, lasting reminders of the car crash. She knowingly walked into that trap alone, clearing away every threat for the one she loved.

If they ever truly parted ways, Sienna would make sure Ethan experienced a car crash, repaying him in kind.

Ethan simply bandaged the wound on his head, then took a warm towel and gently wiped his wife’s face as she lay on the bed.

With careful, trembling hands, he helped her out of her dress, revealing more than a dozen faint scars on her back, barely visible unless examined closely.

Ethan’s heart constricted as if gripped by invisible hands, leaving him breathless. A painful lump formed in his throat, choking him.

“Nora.” Ethan planted a tender kiss on her back as if solidifying a resolution. “We’re not getting divorced.”

“Miss Enna, shall we return to Charmvale?” Lana asked.

“Has Vivian returned yet?” Sienna said.

Lana shook her head. “No.”

Sienna nodded. She thought to herself, ‘I could use a drink. Ten years have changed so much.

“Lana, come sit and have a drink with me,” Sienna said casually.

“Yes. Miss Enna,” Lana replied respectfully.

Sienna watched as Vivian laughed cheerfully with her classmates, then turned her gaze to the wineglass in her hand, lost in thought.

“I said, bow. Bow, damn it. Today, I own you and your drink.” At the next table, a bald man with a gaudy gold chain around his neck snarled at a young man.

The young man stood firm, drink in hand, completely unfazed.

Beside the bald man sat a woman whose predatory gaze kept roaming over him. She leered at him and purred, “Hey, pretty boy, name your price for the night. You’re mine now.”

The bald man bellowed, “Didn’t you hear? She’s talking to you. Answer her right now.”

The young man said calmly, “Sorry, that’s not in my job description.”

With that, he turned to leave, but the bald man kicked him square in the back.

The young man lunged forward and crashed to the floor, the wine bottle shattering as he fell. The spilled wine looked mundane under the lights, nothing compared to the vivid crimson stain now marring his striking features.

“You don’t know what’s good for you, do you? Who the hell do you think you are? Even if I beat you to a pulp today, you’d damn well deserve it. Now get your sorry ass up,” the bald man shouted.

Adrian Winslow struggled to his feet. Hearing the commotion, the manager stormed over. Taking one look at Adrian’s disheveled state, he snarled, “What the hell?

“Can’t even do a damn job right. Watch it, or I’ll dock your pay. Get the hell out of here unless you want me to drag you out myself.

Adrian murmured, “Sorry,” and turned to leave.

But the bald man roughly blocked his path. “Hold it. Who said you could go?” he growled.