Chapter 81
She slammed the door shut with a bang, clenched her fists, and pounded her pillow in a fit of rage. “Who the hell does Vivian think she is, warning me like that?” she fumed.
Amber thought furiously. “Vivian actually suspects that I’m conspiring with Jocelyn to hurt Sienna? What a ridiculous joke.”
The next day, as Sienna opened her eyes, she found Amber slumped on the sofa, nodding off, her head bobbing sleepily.
“Miss Sienna, Miss Amber got up unusually early today. I told her it’s the weekend with no school, so she could sleep in, but she insisted she had matters to attend to and has been waiting all this time,” Elisa reported respectfully.
Sienna replied coolly, “Got it.”
Elisa lowered her voice and said, “Miss Sienna, there’s something else. Early this morning, Linda escaped from the dark room. We don’t know where she went.”
Sienna had already gotten Lana’s report on Linda’s whereabouts, smirking inwardly at Linda’s attempt to bring Aiden back for the show. Sienna decided to put on a performance they wouldn’t forget.
“Let Jocelyn out,” Sienna ordered.
“Yes, Miss Sienna,” Elisa nodded.
Jocelyn finally stumbled out, weak and exhausted. The moment she spotted Amber, she rushed straight over. “Amber—”
Amber had nearly dozed off when a sound startled her awake. Rubbing her eyes, she looked up in confusion. “Jocelyn, what’s wrong?”
Jocelyn wiped away her tears and began pouring out her grievances. “Amber, I know I’m not blood-related to the Hart family. You’ve always treated me like an outsider. I understand that. I really do.”
“Jocelyn, I’ve never thought that way,” Amber said earnestly. “Even though we’re not blood-related, you’re still part of the Hart family.”
“No, I’m not, Amber. I know Sienna has never liked me. She thinks I stole Dad’s love from you all and drove a wedge between you and your real sister. It’s all my fault.” Jocelyn, with tears in her eyes, poured out her grievances, leaving Amber completely bewildered.
“Why would she think that way?” Amber wondered.
“Sienna, all I want is to live peacefully with Amber. Please, won’t you stop targeting me?” Jocelyn pleaded, her vulnerability clearly feigned.
Sienna looked down at her with an icy expression, her eyes brimming with undisguised mockery. “Jocelyn, if you’re that delusional, I’d be more than happy to have you committed to a psychiatric facility for a couple of days.”
At those words, Jocelyn felt a chill run down her spine. Fear slowly crept through her as her half-open mouth froze mid-sentence.
Jocelyn clenched her fist so tightly that her nails dug painfully into her palm. Only when the sharp sting pierced through did she finally push past her fear.
‘Today,’ Jocelyn thought viciously, ‘I’ll make sure Sienna gets kicked out of the Hart residence for good. There’s no turning back now!’
Jocelyn continued, “Sienna, why must you mock me like this? All these years while you were gone, I was the one by Amber’s side. I treated her like my own sister and gave her everything she needed. I—”
“Get out,” Sienna snapped, cutting her off before she could finish.
“Jocelyn didn’t do it on purpose. She has always been good to me. Please, cut her some slack,” Amber spoke up in Jocelyn’s defense.
Sienna took a deep breath, a fleeting shadow of disappointment passing through her cool, composed eyes before she turned and ascended the stairs.
Jocelyn watched Sienna’s retreating back as she ascended the stairs, a triumphant smirk curling her lips.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Linda. [Aiden is almost home. Make your move now.]
Jocelyn steeled herself, clenched her teeth, and chased after Sienna. “Sienna, please don’t be upset. Amber didn’t mean to blame you. I’d never want to come between you two.
“You’re family, after all, and I’ll always be an outsider. I know my place, Miss Sienna. If my presence ever causes any rift between you and Amber, I honestly couldn’t live with myself.”
Sienna retreated two steps, while Jocelyn stood right at the top of the stairs.
Sienna fixed Jocelyn with a cold stare. “Drop the act, Jocelyn. Did you really think I’d let you stay here without seeing right through your scheming little plans?”
Sienna’s icy gaze swept over her. “Jocelyn, has anyone ever told you your pathetic schemes are downright embarrassing?”
“You-“ Jocelyn gaped at her, utterly stunned.
At that moment, Jocelyn thought Sienna could see right through all her schemes. Jocelyn was just a helpless puppet in her hands. No matter how she struggled, she could never escape her clutches.
“Don’t get too cocky, Sienna. What do you think Dad would do if I took a tumble down these stairs right now?” she murmured. Just picturing that scene, Jocelyn couldn’t help but let out a triumphant laugh.