Sienna Lewis had been with Sea City’s cold and distant CEO, Zayden Scott, for four years, but he still refused to let his guard down.

So, she called her mother.

“Mom, you can go ahead and arrange that pilot interview for me now.”

On the other end, Helen Bennett sounded shocked.

“Really? Didn’t you want to stay in Sea City and get married? You even gave up your dream of becoming a pilot.”

Sienna looked at Zayden under the dim lights. He was madly obsessed with that girl and terrified of losing her.

She smiled self-deprecatingly.

Once she returned to Helmswick, her career would pick up again.

From then on, nothing would hold her back. She would be Sienna Lewis, the pilot, again, not some pathetic woman—trapped in a forbidden love affair.

Sienna Lewis had been with Sea City’s cold and distant CEO, Zayden Scott, for four years, but he still refused to get close to her.

So, she called her mother. “Mom, you can go ahead and arrange that pilot interview for me now.”

On the other end, Helen Bennett sounded shocked. “Really? Didn’t you want to stay in Sea City and marry Zayden? You even gave up your dream of becoming a pilot.”

Thinking about the stupid things she had done four years ago, Sienna smiled self-deprecatingly.

She had given up her career for Zayden.

But in the end, it was all for nothing.

“I was just too full of myself.”

She thought he would warm up to her.

But she had lost completely.

Helen chuckled and said, “Silly girl, when your career takes off, you’ll have any man you want. Don’t waste yourself on just one man. Leave Zayden and come back to Helmswick.”

“Okay. I’ll get ready.”

With that, Sienna hung up.

The sounds of pleasure from the next room continued without an end in sight. When she reached the door, she heard Zayden’s low, muffled groans.

Peeking through the crack, she saw the dimly lit study in utter chaos. A white dress hung around Zayden’s waist as his hand moved up and down.

In the end, he leaned his head back and softly called out a name.

“Riley.”

A strawberry brooch was pinned to the white dress.

Sienna recognized it instantly. The dress belonged to Zayden’s adopted daughter, Riley Scott.

Sienna clenched her fists. The pain of her nails digging into her flesh was nothing compared to the stabbing ache in her heart.

This had happened a dozen times in the past month.

At first, she was shocked. Then, she broke down.

In the end, she felt nothing but disgust.

So, the heir of the Scott family in Sea City, who everyone said was cold, distant, and acted high and mighty, actually had urges he could not control. Also, the person he used to satisfy them was not his girlfriend, Sienna, but his own adopted daughter.

Sienna numbly walked back to her room.

She looked at their photo hanging on the wall, and her mind drifted back to four years ago when she had first met Zayden.

It was her first year in Sea City. She had joined a flying competition, and Zayden was there as an investor.

No one expected an accident to happen during the competition. She had almost been trapped inside a model plane. It was Zayden who saved her.

With just one glance, she fell hopelessly in love with him.

Later, she asked her friends about him and learned that he was the only son of the Scott family in Sea City, a cold CEO famous for never indulging in sexual pleasures.

“You like him? Just give up. Zayden said he’ll never get married or fall in love with anyone. People like us aren’t even in his league.”

But Sienna did not believe them.

She kept asking around and got a job at Scott Corp using her family’s connections.

She gave up the flying career she loved so much and worked as his assistant. She ran errands for him all day. She had never done any housework in her life, but for Zayden, she spent an entire year learning how to cook.

She had tried getting him into bed by getting drunk and dressing up in a maid outfit, but he tied her hands and feet up without hesitation.

She tried to act pitiful and stood outside in the pouring rain. She hoped he would feel sorry for her and let her stay in his room for the night. But he asked the housekeeper to bring her some cold medicine and told her to stop going out in the rain.

Her most desperate attempt was to hide under Zayden’s desk at the office and tease his calf while he worked. But he coldly called security to throw her out and tossed her a towel.

He looked down at her and said, “Since you like cleaning so much, spend the day doing housework.”

Helen’s heart ached seeing Sienna throw herself at him like she was chasing the wind. “Why humiliate yourself for someone who doesn’t even love you?”

Sienna refused to give up. “Mom, if I don’t try, how will I ever find out what’s possible?”

For four years, she followed Zayden everywhere.

Everyone in Sea City knew she was Zayden’s lovesick fool.

In the end, all her devotion was for nothing.

When people mocked her, Sienna sometimes doubted herself.

She even thought about giving up.

On Valentine’s Day, she decided to make one last effort. Just as she was about to leave, she got a call from Zayden.

“Sienna, let’s get together.”

Even after all these years, she remembered the heavy rain that day.

Zayden stood outside in the rain with a bouquet of wilted flowers.

She burst into tears of joy and threw herself into his arms. She thought her suffering had finally paid off.

She treasured those flowers and kept them in her bedroom as if they were something precious.

Looking back, they were probably flowers someone else did not want.

But she was so caught up in her fantasy of love that she never realized it.

During their first year together, Sienna never even held Zayden’s hand.

Whenever she tried to get close, he would frown, move away, and go back to reading his finance magazine.

Sienna thought he had been celibate for too long. A man who had never touched a woman would need some time to adjust.

So, she patiently waited for almost three years.

Eventually, she could not take it anymore and wanted to confront him about it. That was when she found her answer in the study he always kept locked.

Inside the place she was never allowed to enter, Zayden held someone else’s dress. His eyes were dazed and frantic with desire.

It seemed he did have desires after all. It was just that the person he wanted was not her.

All along, the person who could awaken his desire had been his adopted daughter, Riley—the girl he had adopted for eight years.

He was only with Sienna to cover up his forbidden relationship with Riley from the world.

At that moment, all the love Sienna had held onto for the past four years crumbled to dust.

When she came back to her senses, the noises from the study had stopped.

Zayden took off the dress and held it close to his chest. He inhaled its lingering scent like a madman.

He was no longer the untouchable man he pretended to be for the world.

Sienna’s stomach churned.

She leaned over the trash can and retched until her stomach was empty.

Tears streamed down her face.

She yanked the matching couple ring off her finger and hurled it out of the room with all her might.

From that moment on, she swore she would never shed another tear for Zayden.

Early the next morning, Sienna went to the Sea City Aviation Center.

She had originally come to Sea City for a flying competition. But after falling in love with Zayden unexpectedly, she moved to Sea City.

She planned to return to what she loved and go back to where she started.

“Your documents will be mailed to you in three days. Just sign for them when they arrive.”

Sienna took the receipt and left the aviation center.

As she looked up at the bright blue sky, a sense of relief washed over her.

She was finally about to leave this place that had trapped her and the man, Zayden, who had wasted five years of her youth. She had overestimated herself.

For him, she gave up her career. For him, she turned from a bright, confident woman into someone who humbled herself and begged for scraps of his affection. Everyone’s mockery had been right.

She could never awaken any desire in Zayden. They were from different worlds. They did not belong together.

“This is where it ends.”

She put the receipt back into her bag.

When she got home, she saw Zayden sitting on the couch with a dark expression. He looked like a solemn, unmoving statue.

The way he sat there so upright and composed made it hard to believe he was the same man who had lost control the night before.

But Sienna had seen it with her own eyes.

A wave of nausea rose in her throat, and she almost threw up again.

“Where did you go?” Zayden asked.

“To a place you’ve always wanted me to go.”

He had tried countless times to persuade her to get her license and leave.

She had finally done what he wanted.

He must be happy.

Zayden frowned and walked to her. “There’s a business dinner tonight. Get ready.”

A business dinner…

After four years by his side, if there was one thing she had done plenty of, it was drinking. Every time, it felt like it was killing her.

This time, Sienna did not want to go.

“I’m not feeling well. I don’t want to go.”

Zayden looked puzzled. “What are you throwing a fit about?”

Every time she went against his wishes, he made it seem like she was being unreasonable.

“That’s final. As my assistant, it’s your job.”

He did not give her a chance to respond before walking away.

In the end, Sienna showed up as expected. No one else in the company wanted to go because they were all terrified of Zayden, so it fell on her.

“Who is this?”

At the dinner table, aside from Zayden, every other person was a middle-aged man. Sienna had a great figure, and even in her neat work clothes, she drew lingering stares from the men around her. Their blatant gazes made her feel physically sick.

She looked over at Zayden. His expression remained cold, and he did not spare her even a glance.

“My assistant.”

His words only made the men at the table even more eager.

Sienna saw their restless movements and clenched her hands in nervousness.

She heard one of Zayden’s business partners tease him softly, “Isn’t she your girlfriend? Aren’t you afraid these old men will do something to her if you call her just your assistant?”

Zayden’s answer would decide her fate. Sienna could not help biting her lip.

Zayden remained calm and emotionless. “It’s fine. She can handle it.”

In that instant, all the dignity she had carefully built up shattered.

She could handle it?

The table had strong, high-proof liquors.

Did he think that she was just a useful tool? Did he simply not care whether she lived or died? If these men did something to her tonight, would he not care at all?

“You really can put up with anything. She’s your girlfriend. If she doesn’t matter to you, then what does?”

At that moment, the door to the private room suddenly swung open.

Zayden’s bodyguard rushed in.

“Sir, there’s bad news. Ms. Scott just left with a strange man!”

Zayden’s face changed instantly.

He did not even have time to put down his glass before striding out in a hurry.

Outside the door, Riley laughed and chatted with a man. Her arm was linked through his.

“What on earth are you doing?!”

He shoved Riley aside in anger and grabbed her wrist to drag her into his arms.

Riley froze at the sight of him and struggled with all her might. “Don’t touch me!”

“If I don’t, then who? Are you hoping he will?”

Zayden’s eyes were bloodshot. He was like a beast on the verge of losing control.

In the five years Sienna had known him, this was the first time she had ever seen him show any kind of emotion besides indifference.

“That’s none of your business! You don’t want me anyway, so who I’m with doesn’t concern you!”

“Who said I don’t want you?”

Riley took a step closer and asked, “Then, why are you ignoring me? Why didn’t you come home for my birthday? Why didn’t you buy me anything for Valentine’s Day? Why? You never missed a single holiday before!”

Her questions left Zayden momentarily speechless.

Standing behind him, Sienna could see everything clearly. Zayden appeared aloof and proud, but his whole body was trembling.

He was scared.

But scared of what?

Scared Riley would discover his filthy, depraved thoughts?

Scared she would find out that him being with Sienna was just to hide his twisted desires?

Scared she would find out he stole her dresses to do those disgusting things behind her back?

Sienna let out a bitter laugh.

How pathetic! Even at this point, Zayden was trying to protect Riley.

Seeing her with another man made him jealous. Because of her, the high and mighty Zayden was afraid and frantic.

Sienna was nothing but a shield he used to hide his ugly truth.

“It all started because of Sienna. Ever since you met her, you’ve changed, Zayden! You treat me like this because of her. Did you forget that you promised to pamper and spoil me? How could you ever look at another woman?

“Those men at the dinner… they’re no good, right? Zayden, if I get rid of her, you’ll come back to me, won’t you?”

At that, Riley looked up, and her devilish eyes locked onto Sienna.

She quickly walked to the private room’s door and yanked it shut.

Panic rose in Sienna. She tried to get out before Riley shut the door, but only her hand made it through.

Riley’s face twisted in madness. She pulled the door harder and harder.

Sienna’s fingers were crushed. They turned red and swollen. The searing pain forced her to cry out.

“Who told you to steal Zayden from me? Just you wait! You’re going to get played to death.”

With that, Riley gave the door another yank.

Sienna could not bear the pain and pulled her hand back.

Bam!

The loud sound echoed through the room.

At once, the men inside stirred restlessly.

“Ms. Lewis, Mr. Scott doesn’t want you anymore. Isn’t it better for you to be with us?”

The group of men began to surround her.

Their body odor hit her nose and made her gag. Sienna clenched her fists and stepped back in terror. “Get away from me!”

Smack!

Someone slapped her. Another held her chin in a tight grip.

“Don’t act like some innocent, young girl. You’ve been with Zayden for years. Who knows what he’s done to you? I bet you’re well-trained. Hahaha! Otherwise, why would he bring you here?”

“Yeah, so be smart about it. Behave, serve us well, and maybe we’ll go easy on you.”

The men closed in on her. Sienna’s fear reached its peak.

She saw the balcony nearby and ran toward it.

In the next moment, she jumped and hit the ground hard.

Pain exploded through her entire body.

Sienna used her last ounce of strength to scream for help. She saw Zayden through her blurry vision.

She could not take it anymore and passed out.