Chapter 3 3

Sienna sat on the edge of the massive bed, the sheets still tangled around her legs, staring at the empty space where Damian had been hours ago.

The night replayed in her mind over and over,the anger, the kiss, the way he held her like he actually felt something.

The door opened, and Damian walked in, perfectly dressed in another sharp suit, already buttoned up and flawless. His hair was neat, his expression unreadable, the same as always.

"You're awake," he said, his tone flat, as if they hadn't just spent the night tearing each other apart.

Sienna stood up, pulling the robe tighter around herself. "That's all you have to say?"

Damian glanced at her briefly, then picked up his watch from the dresser. "What do you want me to say?"

"You kissed me like you..." She stopped herself, clenching her fists. "You can't just pretend last night didn't happen."

His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Last night was a mistake."

The words stung, deeper than she expected. "A mistake," she repeated slowly.

"Yes." He didn't even hesitate.

"Then why did you do it?" she demanded.

Damian slid the watch onto his wrist, his movements calm, controlled. "Because we were angry. That's all it was."

Sienna stepped closer, her voice rising. "You don't get to kiss me like that, touch me like that, and then act like I'm just... nothing."

He finally looked at her then, his gray eyes cold. "You agreed to this marriage knowing exactly what it was. Don't change the rules now."

"Rules?" She laughed bitterly. "What rules? You don't talk to me, you don't look at me, and when you finally do....just once, you act like I imagined it."

Damian didn't move. His silence only made her angrier.

"Do you even feel anything at all?" she asked sharply. "Or am I just... part of your plan?"

His jaw tightened again, but his voice stayed calm. "You're overthinking this."

"Am I?" Her hands clenched at her sides. "Because it feels like you go out of your way to remind me how much you hate me."

"I don't hate you," he said finally, his voice quieter, though his expression remained blank.

Sienna stared at him, shocked by the words. "Then what do you feel, Damian? Tell me."

He didn't answer. He simply adjusted his cufflinks and walked toward the door.

"Are you even going to explain?" she called after him, her voice shaking with anger. "Are you going to tell me why you're destroying my father's company?"

He stopped briefly, his back to her. "No."

And then he left, the door closing behind him with a quiet click.

Sienna stood there for a long time, staring at the door.

Then she grabbed her phone, her hands trembling slightly as she dialed her mother's number.

"Sweetheart," her mother's soft voice came through, weak but warm. "How are you? Are you eating well?"

"I'm fine," Sienna said quickly, though her throat felt tight. "How are you feeling today?"

"A little tired, but the doctor says the new treatment is helping."

"That's good," Sienna whispered.

Her mother hesitated. "And Damian? Is he... treating you well?"

Sienna forced a smile, even though her mother couldn't see it. "Yes, Mom. Everything's fine."

"Good," her mother said softly. "He's doing so much for us, Sienna. I hope you're being kind to him."

Sienna bit her lip. "I'm trying, Mom."

"Good girl."

When the call ended, Sienna sat for a moment, gripping the phone tightly. Then she stood, determination hardening in her chest.

If Damian wouldn't tell her the truth, she'd find it herself.

******************

That afternoon, Damian stayed locked away in his study, as always. Sienna waited until she heard the sound of his car leaving the driveway before slipping down the hall.

She opened the study door again, her heart racing as she stepped inside. The papers she had disturbed last night were neatly stacked again, of course they were. Damian was meticulous, almost obsessive about order.

She moved to the desk, pulling out the folders she had seen before. This time, she looked deeper, flipping through every page, every note.

Most of it was business strategy, mergers, stock movements, meetings. But then she found something tucked between two files.

A photograph.

It was old, slightly creased. Her father stood in it, shaking hands with a man she didn't recognize. Next to them was Damian, younger, looking different, less guarded, almost human.

On the back of the photograph, written in neat handwriting, were the words: "Everything started here."

Sienna frowned, her fingers tightening on the photo. "What started here?" she murmured under her breath.

She turned back to the desk, searching for more. She found letters, notes in Damian's handwriting, short, angry lines that didn't sound like the cold, controlled man she knew now. Words like betrayal, loss, and ruin stood out to her.

Her heart pounded as she read faster, piecing things together. Damian wasn't just destroying her father's company for business. This was personal.

She was so focused she didn't hear the sound of the front door until it slammed.

Her head snapped up, panic rushing through her.

Damian was back.

She scrambled to put the papers back in place, but her hands shook too much.

The footsteps grew louder, firm and steady down the hallway.

The doorknob turned. Sienna shoved the last folder into the drawer just as the door opened.

Damian stepped inside, his sharp gray eyes immediately locking onto her.

"What are you doing in here again?" His voice was quiet, but it held a dangerous edge.

Sienna straightened, forcing her voice to stay calm. "I... was waiting for you."

His gaze dropped to the slightly crooked stack of folders on the desk.

His eyes narrowed. "Were you going through my things?"

Sienna lifted her chin, meeting his stare. "What if I was?"

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Damian stepped closer, his presence overwhelming as he stopped just inches away from her.

"You really don't know when to stop, do you?" he said softly, almost like a warning.

"I'm not afraid of you," she shot back, even though her heart was racing.

His eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as he stared at her.

"Maybe you should be," he said quietly, his voice almost dangerous.

And then, without another word, Damian reached past her and locked the study door.