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.

When Sienna woke up, she was in her own bedroom.

Her head was pounding, and every inch of her body was sore.

The housekeeper, who was bringing her some medicine, rushed over when she saw that she was awake. “Ms. Lewis, are you okay?”

Sienna shook her head. Her voice was hoarse. “How did I get back here?”

She remembered jumping from the balcony and crashing onto the ground.

Before losing consciousness, she thought she saw Zayden’s shadow.

Did he bring her back?

“The driver saw you passed out by the roadside and brought you home,” the housekeeper said.

Sienna’s mind went blank for a moment. It was not Zayden?

Had she imagined it?

Well, that made sense. He was probably with Riley.

As she thought that, her phone suddenly started vibrating nonstop.

She picked it up and saw texts from her friend.

[Sienna, are you feeling better now? Go check my social media! I avenged you for what happened yesterday!]

Sienna clicked on her friend’s social media.

She saw a long post that detailed everything that had happened yesterday.

It called out Riley for her actions and questioned her relationship with Zayden.

This friend of Sienna was well-connected in Sea City. She had the contact details of countless rich heirs and socialites.

As soon as the post was up, gossip-hungry elites rushed to it.

[Is Riley insane? Sienna would become a member of the Scott family someday, right? So why does Zayden allow her nonsense?]

[You didn’t know? Zayden has spoiled her rotten for years. With how close they are, do you really think there’s nothing going on?]

[That’s Zayden for you. He sure knows how to have fun.]

…

The comments kept pouring in.

Before Sienna could finish reading, the door to her room was kicked open with a loud bang.

Zayden stormed in angrily. He did not say a word and threw a phone at her.

The phone’s sharp corner nearly hit her eye.

“Why did you do it?!”

It was not a question. It was an accusation.

He did not even ask how she was feeling or if she was recovering properly.

The moment Riley was in trouble, he came running.

Sienna laughed at herself. She had treated him well for so many years and done so much for him. She had paid such a heavy price, yet he had never spared her a single kind word.

“It wasn’t me.”

Sienna met Zayden’s gaze.

Zayden did not believe her and sneered. “If it wasn’t you, then who? Sienna, I know exactly what kind of tricks you play. If you have a problem, come to me. Why go after Riley?”

Tricks?

Sienna frowned.

What tricks was he talking about?

Was it the “trick” of seducing him? Or the “trick” of drinking so much for him that she ended up in the hospital, vomiting blood, and ending up as Sea City’s laughingstock?

Or did he mean the “trick” of almost being violated like some throwaway object?

The terror from last night still haunted her. Everything felt as fresh and vivid as ever.

She clenched her fists and snorted. “Why? Did that post hit the nail on the head, and now, you feel guilty?”

Smack!

Zayden slapped her hard across the face.

The slap was forceful. A red mark bloomed on her pale cheek. It looked painful and humiliating.

Even the housekeeper standing by could not bear to watch. “Sir, Ms. Lewis just woke up. She really doesn’t know anything.”

Zayden shot her a glance. “You think I can trust you? Throw her out!”

“No!”

This housekeeper had come with Sienna from her mother’s house. She had been with her for over ten years. She was one of the few people Sienna could call family in Sea City.

How could Zayden treat her like this?

Sienna bit down hard on her lip. Her eyes turned red with tears as she looked at him and asked, “Riley treated me like that, and you didn’t punish her. But now, just because of a post that only tells the truth, you’re treating me like this? Zayden, is there really no place for me in your heart?”

Seeing her stubborn yet wounded face, Zayden felt a strange pang in his chest. But it vanished as quickly as it came.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Delete that post, and I’ll let this go.”

Let it go?

How merciful!

Sienna almost laughed out loud. Her hand was bandaged.

If she had not jumped off that balcony last night, she would be a laughingstock in the city and nothing more than an empty shell.

How could he be so heartless?

“If I don’t?”

Zayden’s expression turned icy. “Then… don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

In the end, the post was deleted.

The Scott family held too much power in Sea City, and Sienna’s friend had no choice but to back down.

But as compensation, Zayden made Riley apologize to Sienna.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Lewis. I didn’t mean to.”

Looking at the smug, taunting smile on Riley’s face, Sienna clenched her fists.

Did they really think a simple “sorry” could erase everything she had suffered?

What did they take her for?

“I don’t accept your apology,” Sienna said.

Zayden frowned. Just as he was about to say something, Riley stopped him.

She smiled sweetly and said, “That’s fine, Ms. Lewis. Of course, you’re upset. Let’s have a drink, okay? Alcohol fixes everything!”

Without waiting for a response, she started drinking on her own.

Riley had a poor tolerance for alcohol.

Zayden stood by her side and held her with care. He looked like he was afraid she might bump into something and get hurt.

The scene made Sienna’s chest tighten, but she said nothing.

She got up and walked to the bathroom. Out of sight, out of mind.

By the time they got home, Riley was passed out drunk.

“Riley will stay here tonight,” Zayden said.

Then, he walked into the kitchen.

He tied on an apron and began making her some hangover soup.

He moved with such focus and care that he looked like a loving husband taking care of his wife.

Sienna remembered the time she drank too much and landed in the hospital.

He did not even call to ask if she was okay.

She would never have a place in his heart like Riley did.

She turned away and went upstairs.

When she reached her room, she realized that she had left her phone in the living room.

As she opened her door to go back down and retrieve it, she saw something that almost suffocated her.

She saw Riley with her arms around Zayden’s neck. Their faces were so close that their lips were only inches apart.

“Zayden, I’m wearing the lipstick you bought for me. Don’t you want to know if it tastes sweet?”

Riley leaned in close. Zayden froze for a moment.

Then, all of a sudden, he pulled her into his arms.

The kiss was fiery and desperate. Their bodies soon pressed tightly together.

“Riley…”

He whispered her name before pinning her beneath him.

Sienna could not hold back anymore. She turned and fled back to her room.

The moment she shut the door behind her, the strength she had been clinging to crumbled all at once.

She broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.

All the pain and humiliation she had endured over the past five years came flooding back at once.

She recalled accidentally cutting her finger while learning to cook for him.

She remembered drinking so much that she ended up puking blood all over the hospital floor.

Every moment and memory was nothing more than a cruel joke.

That night, Sienna could not sleep.

Early the next morning, she packed her things.

When she opened her door to carry her luggage out, she saw Riley leaning casually against the doorframe.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Sienna shot her an icy glance. “None of your business.”

She lifted her luggage and was ready to head downstairs. But just as she stepped forward, Riley stuck out her foot.

Sienna could not dodge in time and was sent tumbling down the stairs.

She struggled to get up. Blood was already seeping from a cut on her forehead.

Riley walked down the stairs slowly and stopped in front of her.

She grabbed Sienna by her hair. “How dare you talk to me like that? Zayden spoils me. Even if I kill you, he’ll take my side.”

Then, she stomped down hard on Sienna’s injured hand.

“Didn’t you love flying? I’ll make sure you never touch a joystick again!”

Crack!

Sienna could hear her bones shattering.

She struggled desperately, but Riley refused to lift her foot.

It was not until a man’s furious shout came from the doorway that Riley finally stopped. “Enough!”

Sienna’s vision went dark, and she lost consciousness.

When she woke up, she was in a sterile white hospital room.

As soon as she woke up, she grabbed her phone and called Helen. “Mom, help me sort out my flying documents. I can’t stay here another day!”

She did not want to stay in Sea City any longer.

Just then, the door swung open.

Zayden walked in.

“What flying documents? Didn’t you give up flying?”