Chapter 2

"What the hell are you trying to do?! Destroying me does you no good!"

I didn't say a word. I just listened quietly.

I listened to his tone shift from pure rage to accusation, and finally, to a faint, barely-noticeable trace of panic.

On the other end of the line, I could hear the howling wind.

And the roar of a car engine.

As expected.

Less than ten minutes later, the front door of the villa was slammed open with a deafening bang.

Julian stormed in, drenched in the cold night rain. Water dripped from his tailored suit trousers, staining the polished floor.

And right behind him stood a shivering figure.

Bianca.

She wore a thin white sundress, her wet hair plastered to her face. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she shrank back timidly behind Julian.

What a perfect, fragile little white lotus.

Julian’s chest heaved violently, his eyes bloodshot.

"Sienna, you owe me an explanation."

I leaned back against the sofa, not even bothering to shift my posture. My gaze bypassed him entirely and landed on Bianca.

"Who is she?"

Julian froze. Clearly, he hadn't expected me to ask that.

Subconsciously, he stepped back, shielding Bianca even more protectively.

"She's Bianca, my assistant. But that doesn't matter!"

He raised his voice, trying to regain control of the conversation.

"What matters is, what right do you have to call a press conference? What right do you have to take over my company? That is my company!"

"Your company?"

I smiled.

I picked up the cup of chamomile tea from the table—which had already gone cold—and took a slow sip.

"Julian, did you forget who put you in that CEO chair in the first place?"

His face instantly turned ash-gray.

"Sienna, don't push me too far! Does our eight-year relationship mean nothing to you over a couple of stupid photos?"

Behind him, Bianca started sobbing right on cue.

"Julian, I’m so sorry, this is all my fault… If it weren't for me, you and Sienna wouldn't be fighting like this…"

She wept, her large, innocent eyes casting a subtle, cautious glance at me.

Was that a silent victory lap?

I set my teacup down, stood up, and walked over to stand right in front of them.

My eyes, however, remained fixed on Bianca.

"Photos?"

I repeated softly, then shook my head.

"What got you kicked out wasn't the photos."

I turned my gaze to Julian, meeting his angry, confused stare. I spoke clearly, letting every single word sink in.

"It was the way you looked at her."

"Julian, you can play around all you want."

"But falling in love? No."

The color drained from his face, inch by inch.

I didn't spare him another glance. I simply turned to Maria, who was hovering nervously by the door.

"Maria, call security."

Maria looked torn. "Sienna…"

"Please escort Julian," I paused, "and this young lady, off the property."

Julian stared at me as if I had just told a hilarious joke.

"Sienna! You wouldn't dare! This is my house!"

"Oh?"

I arched an eyebrow.

"Starting tomorrow morning, the security system will be updated with my biometric data. Your fingerprints and face ID will be wiped."

"Do you really think you'll be able to step foot in here again?"